Jason Lancaster

Chris and I went hiking last Sunday on the Gunpowder Central trails. I can’t help but go in the woods and get poison ivy. I don’t know why I’m so prone or how I manage to get it even when I’m careful to wash myself down after. This time I have it on my elbow. I figure I had the oil on something of mine (shoes maybe?) and scraped my arm with them.

It was worth it though. I found some cool bouldering in a little cave just off the trail. The picture below was taken before I put my five fingers on and tried climbing in them. Unfortunately, I was a little high so I needed Chris to spot me which means no pictures of what I ended up putting together. My plan is to go back there on Saturday with a crash pad, real climbing shoes, and a brush or two to clean the rock. I forgot how annoying dirt was. I also forgot how sharp real rocks feel compared to rocks in the gym. Hope I don’t tear up my hands too bad!

Last weekend Chris flew in from Ottawa to spend some time here in Baltimore. I took him hiking at Old Rag and introduced him to the world of Maryland blue crabs. It was quite a bit of fun, mainly due to the nice change of pace for me to have a friend that wants to do something outdoors. All of my friends are slackers, and you know it.

Ultimately, what I have to show from his being here is a couple of beat up ankles, due to my trail-hiking shoes which just didn’t want to cooperate with me. They are bloody and scabbed, and not very pretty. On top of that, I can’t get my climbing shoes (or any other shoes) comfortably on, so I’m stuck not being able to do much in the way of physical activity. What a drab!