5/20/00 - Mom visits Rocktown

By Wayne Busch

This weekend answered a lot of questions that otherwise would never have been asked. Yes, you can get a 30 ft motor home to the top of Pidgeon Mountain. It took a lot of 3-point turns on the sharper switchbacks, but it can be done. Yes, home cooking tastes just as good away from home. And yes, mom can climb.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) is a program  that helps women become familiar with the outdoors and outdoor skills. It's a national program, sponsored in Florida by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission . It's one of the groups my mother is active with. This weekend, she convinced 8 of her adventurous friends to come north and try rock climbing. They traveled as two groups, one from West Palm Beach, the other from Orlando.We all met up at  the trailhead to Rocktown on Friday evening.

It rained that night, then on and off during the day on Saturday. We passed the wet day climbing and rappelling at several sites in Rocktown. Everyone climbed something, learned new skills, and challenged themselves. When it showered, we sheltered beneath the rocks. It remained warm and comfortable all day, and into the night. Sunday morning, we moved down the mountainside to the Lost Wall, spending the morning climbing there.

So what's different about climbing with your mom? Not much really. We made the best of the weather, shared some good climbs, had a good time. Can't ask for much more than that.

Best part of the trip for me was  the food! What a treat. These ladies are used to much finer camp fare than is my norm. Shrimp scampi, lasagna, beef stew for dinners. Pancakes, eggs, biscuits for breakfast. Plenty for all! Your cup and plate stayed full.

I look forward to climbing with these women again.

Group photo - click to enlarge

Trip report from Mt Rainier,WA  

Rocktown Climbing Area page
Rocktown Gallery

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