Short version: Betsy met John at Stone Gardens, and invited her to go climbing outside. I wanted to go, too, and so did Ez, and my cousin Matt was visiting that week from Hawaii. So we all piled into the Volvo one Saturday and drove to check out Exit 38 (aka Deception Crags). After a donut stop in North Bend, we got to the crags and peered intently at their wetness. In desperation, I almost climbed the only somewhat dry route around, but everyone's concern for safety won me over. We turned around and headed for Exit 32/Little Si. John knew of a wall that stays dry on account of its overhangingness, but nonetheless has moderate routes we could climb.

Only a few people were at World Wall I and it looked dry. One guy was working on his 5.14 project (still unfinished almost a month later). Matt ran around all day and took photos (all of the images you see on this page) while we climbed. We all got on three routes that day, all 5.9s: two slightly sloppy routes and a nice and dry Reptiles and Amphetamines. It was Betsy's first time outside, and she did admirably, easily dispatching her first two routes. We even got Matt to climb for the first time, in his clunky street shoes, on R&A. Wearing an unpadded Alpine Bod harness while holding his 200-lb. weight on the rope is not recommended.

Our fine outing ended at an Indian restaurant in Queen Anne, where we gorged ourselves silly.