Friends in the Desert, March 2003

And the call went out throughout the Land: Many Days in March, Canyons to be Done, Old Friends and New. Come and enjoy. Bring lots of gear. Gotta do some of those Roost Canyons before the Hordes of the Prophet Kelsey descend upon the desert.

Doing the Siren's job - the Ram.

First on the list is a quick run through Cheesebox, using the famous Ram/Pitney Lefty-Righty variation. Recent rains and chilly temps made it clear this was going to be a cold one.

Larry, Barbara and HelloPitney, starting in to Cheesebox.

An intricate downclimbing route leads into Cheesebox. Ram downclimbing a bit of a crack "belayed" by the youngster in the crowd.

Ram jumping the Cheesebox gorge. Ram and I went down and fixed a rope on the hardest drop coming up the West Fork. Then we jump the gorge and cross over to the East Fork.

Across the slickrock, between the canyons.