> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.novaugust.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Flying Solo (With Friends) - URL: https://blog.novaugust.net/flying-solo-with-friends/ - Published: 2017-02-01T20:37:38.000Z - Updated: 2017-02-01T20:45:10.000Z - Author: Matt Enlow - Tags: red rocks, @megsmegge, post, Climbing, @steele, Desert Season '16, Flagstaff, #Import 2026-06-21 14:43 [Gallery](http://novaugust.photography/Stories/December-Red-Rocks/?ref=blog.novaugust.net) --- This was the first part of Desert Season I was flying solo on, but it didn't really feel that way, as everywhere I was going I had friends to find. Megan, Matt and Allie in Flagstaff, and Gary, Erika, and Darren in Vegas. Is good to know people, no? ### Flag I woke from a cold night's sleep outside of Flagstaff, Arizona in what's known as the "Hobo Jungle". ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/P3380104.jpg) I visited each of my three friends in town - Allie, Steele, and Megan - and passed a much warmer night on Megan's couch. Looking at the forecast of continued cold and drooling over the nice temps in Vegas, I decided to bail to sunny Red Rocks and come back to Flag when the weather was on my side. ### Birdland I corresponded with Erika, who I'd just met [a few months earlier in Ten Sleep](https://blog.novaugust.net/the-last-sleep/), by email and had a climb lined up before I even got into town. Early in the morning we were the first pair on **Birdland**, a 5.7 multipitch that is apparently an eminent classic. This is a fact I discovered as we came back down and rappelled through at least five parties. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/15304653_10108573902038505_3157309895959652175_o.jpg) Back at the lot, I said bye to Erika as she called Vegas quits, then took a nap in Ahab, right there in the lot. Vans are nice. ### Gechan After that, I was staying back at my old friend Gary's place. Well, in Gary's parking lot anyways. It was the first time in a few years it was just he and I hanging at his place and we took advantage of it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/DSCN0790.JPG) *A photo from more than a* "few" *years ago.* Our date itinerary was quite packed. One night, we cooked a fancy Japanese meal together at his place. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/20161202_201059.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/20161202_201230.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/20161202_201242.jpg) Another evening we went to Red Rocks and did a short hike around Sandstone Quarry as the sun set. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/P3380107-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/P3380109.jpg) Somewhere along the way we took a selfie together. I made an Instagram story of it a subtitled it *Ge-chan to*. We had a good laugh when I pointed out that the text under our mugs could be parsed to either "Hanging with Gary" or "Definitely gay." Both seemed appropriate. ### Sunny and Steep (I am weak) I climbed two more days in Red Rock with Darren. One day was passed at Sunny and Steep, where I discovered that I have the arms of a small and weak man. In other words, my rematch with [Bullets](https://vimeo.com/145745073?ref=blog.novaugust.net) went very poorly. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/P3380112.jpg) Seeing how sad I was from trying hard and yet still being terrible at life, Darren admonished me ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/P3380111.jpg) You will climb long easy trad, and you will like it. Also, it will be simulclimbing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/95/9b955960-2312-4b04-8b46-7e66317cd0ed/content/images/2017/02/P3380125.jpg) Don't fall.