We tied the knot!

After more than 7 years of adventuring through life together we decided to tie the knot. We had always thought, “if we’re going to get married, we’ll just get married!” – we weren’t really big on the idea of an engagement period. We got engaged on the last day of April and went promptly into spending 4 months apart working in different provinces. Once September rolled around, we had seven weeks together before our big day arrived on October 15. 

 

Many people said to us, “I’m surprised you guys didn’t elope on the side of a mountain!”

As tempting as the idea may have been, it was more important to us to celebrate with our family and friends. So we got married on the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, nearby to where we both grew up. 

Climbing was a central theme for us in our wedding – how could it not be when the mutual love we have for the sport is such a strong bond we share? Our friends and family shared memories and stories that brought climbing to life throughout the day, but our celebration went so much further than that. It was incredible to hear and read words of support and encouragement for our relationship, advice for the future, and general stoke from so many amazing individuals. And of course, we had a blast and danced the night away. Our day was perfect and we cannot express in words how overjoyed we are by the love we felt. 

We are thrilled with how our photographer Brodie captured the magic of our day and want to share a few of our special moments. He took TONS of amazing photos and if you’re interested in seeing them all, sign into the guest account here using the password Catsmaid.  

Fifteenth time's a charm! #tiesaretough

Practicing the vows

So much hairspray!

Mama buttoning the dress. This is the dress she wore to her wedding in 1984 - after a few modifications ;)

Our boys <3

The inevitable wrist hair elastic - those have got to go!

Stepping into shoes

Oh hey! We're married now!!

Yippeee!!

Oliver, our perfect ring bearer, has to pee!

Three generations of women

Our girls <3

The full team!

We of course had to bring the Millenium FalcVan to the wedding

Inside our van home

Seasonal wedding bouquet 💐. 📸 @brofie . • • • #weighmyrack #climbing #rockclimbing #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbinglife #partnersinclimb #liveclimbrepeat #iloveclimbing #flashfoxy #fallwedding #climberwedding #pnw #climbmoja #tradisrad @weighmyrack

A photo posted by Kim and Graham McGrenere (@kimstagraham.mcg) on Dec 2, 2016 at 9:31pm PST

Our wedding rings, which now live around our necks!

Celine, our kitteh of honour <3

There were some funny moments at our reception :D

Rock climbing cake toppers, hand made by Michelle

Dancing dancing!!!

<3

What happened to our fall season?

We leapt into September this year with a vengeance. Graham and I had spent the four months of summer apart. I had a fantastic job doing biodiversity monitoring in northern Alberta with the ABMI (they’ve posted positions for next year already!) and Graham settled back in Vancouver and returned to his awesome job at MEC. Autumn just around the corner, we were psyched to be back together again, psyched to be climbing, and psyched to planning our rapidly approaching October wedding. 

For Graham, September was to be an exciting time on the rock for a few reasons. The summer is usually hot in Squamish with unfavourable conditions, and this year was warm and wet – a terrible combination. He was hoping for dry, cool temperatures that tend to get people all over the continent geared up and excited. A classic “Sendtember”, as they say.

I was just excited to get back on the rock. I had to give up climbing entirely for three months, which was desperately difficult having just come back from our road trip. Fortunately, my crew moved to Edmonton in August, which allowed me to begin to build back some fitness in the evenings at the U of A climbing gym, and on weekend trips to Jasper and the Canmore. A four hour drive to get to your weekend destination hardly gets a second thought when you haven’t been climbing for months. 

Ffantom Love (5.11d) at The Lookout in the Bow Valley. Photo credit: Bonar McCallum

September DID start out promising. 

Graham sent his long term project Division Bell (5.13d) on the Big Show on the second day of the month. I started working Ill Communication (5.13b), and had one-hung it by the end of my third day. Graham resurrected another old project to work on, Permanent Waves (5.13d), and I started trying Young Blood (5.13a) for my fall-project-in-the-forest. Graham made progress on Black Council (V11). 

First and last try of the season on Young Blood (5.13a). Photo credit: Kirsten or Yannick :)

And then……….

The rainpocalypse landed. 

Rainpocalyse outside The Hive North Shore

It just kept coming and coming.

In Vancouver, it rained 28 of the 31 days in October. That is more October rain days for the city than have EVER been recorded. 

There was a TINY gap in the wetness on October 11. Graham drove to Squamish after work, waiting patiently in line at the base of the Cacodemon Boulder, and gave Permanent Waves one more try before darkness crept into the forest. He sent!!!!!!! Then he headed to the ferry and made his way to meet me in Victoria where we would tie the knot four days later.

🦄 few days in Squamish with a break from the precip-pocalypse. I made it up after work and before heading to Victoria for a last ditch effort at Permanent Waves (5.13d). It paid off! This marks my last send before becoming a married man! 💍 • • • #climbing #rockclimbing #squamish #noplacetoofar #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbmoja #squamishisawesome #climbonsquamish #justgoclimb #outdooroots #getoutside #ilovesquamish #grippedmagazine #happyclimbing #climbingisbliss #pnw

A photo posted by Graham McGrenere and Kim House (@kimstagraham.mcg) on Oct 11, 2016 at 9:29pm PDT

Despite all odds, we aren’t giving up yet. Graham and I check the weather daily… usually this is disappointing, but sometimes there is a glimmer of hope at the end of the two-week forecast. However, so far November has been almost as bad as October. Sigh. 

A couple things help us to keep the psych alive. Training with friends. Religiously browsing Instagram and getting stoked about what everyone else is climbing. And dreaming big for the next time we can hit the road. 

Graham, Yannick, and Andrew doing weighted pull-ups as part of our training

The path near our house. Wet wet wet.

Division Bell

Summer is drawing to a close and it is time to start wrapping up those projects. September is one of our favourite months of the year for climbing, and Graham took it upon himself to usher in the season of Sendtember with style. So now I get to gush a little...

Graham had been projecting Division Bell (5.13d) at Chek on and off for a couple summers. One of Squamish's Top 100 climbs, it climbs the striking diagonal crack from the bottom left to the top right of the 35-40 degree overhanging "Big Show" wall. The route has two cruxes: the "real" crux just before a midway alcove, and an unforgiving redpoint crux at the second to last draw. 

Stoked to have made some great progress on Division Bell (5.13d) as rains hit the #squamish valley this weekend. Can't wait to jump back on this fun line. #climbing #rockclimbing #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #climbonsquamish #justgoclimb #noplacetoofar #e9climbing #e9clothing #liveclimbrepeat #getoutside #climbinglife

A photo posted by Graham McGrenere and Kim House (@kimstagraham.mcg) on Aug 11, 2015 at 8:16am PDT

The redpoint crux is a major mental challenge that has thwarted many a climber, many a time. Graham fell at this point in the route a number of times, and had this to say about the process and the send: 

"My epic with this route is finally over. It was definitely a mental roller coaster for me. Many beta changes, some unconventional beta in the crux, wobblers, and falling 18 times at the redpoint crux culminated in FINALLY sticking the slopey pinch and making my way to the top. A wonderful start to Sendtember. We had a great group out on a rainy Thursday AND Kim is back in town! I wasn't able to make the finger lock in the crux work for me - see Beta section for alternate beta ;)"  Source: Graham's Sendage

Projecting can be very mentally draining. Falling in the same spot over and over can become discouraging. It is important to remember that progress can be measured by more than just a high point. Tonight that rang true for me after falling for the 15th time in the same spot at the end of Division Bell (5.13d)...but this time I am leaving with renewed psych. 📷 @dan.beland of me pulling the crux on one of many goes last year. #climbing #rockclimbing #climbmoja #grippedmagazine #liveclimbrepeat #iloveclimbing #noplacetoofar #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #justgoclimb #squamish #knowyourroutes #iloooveit #squamishisawesome #climbingisbliss #mecstaffer

A photo posted by Graham McGrenere and Kim House (@kimstagraham.mcg) on May 31, 2016 at 9:26pm PDT

So when a grey and drizzly September 1st rolled around and Graham cruised up the route he had been on dozens and dozens of times to clip the chains at last, we were ecstatic! It was a superb day. I know that Graham (and I) are both super thankful for the ongoing support and encouragement from so many wonderful friends over the course of this (fun!) battle. 

Many thanks to Squamish Climbing Magazine and Gripped Magazine for their supportive shout-outs as well:

http://squamishclimbingmagazine.ca/recent-news-graham-mcgrenere%E2%80%8E-sends-division-bell-5-13d/

http://gripped.com/news/graham-mcgrenere-sends-division-bell-big-show/


Aaaaaaand a few more photos from last week, with photo talent credit going to our good friend Dan :) 

We can't wait to see what the rest of Sendtember will bring :D

Crag Dogs of North America

A four-legged friend isn't in the cards for Graham and I right now, so we are especially thankful to all of the humans who have allowed us to extend our love towards their furry partners in crime.

While on our year and a half long road trip we met tons of wonderful people, but we also had the pleasure of encountering the many delightful crag pups that are their faithful sidekicks. A sampling of some of those we were lucky to force snuggles upon...

Roscoe

Shephard

Charlie

Not a crag dog, but ain't she pretty? At the bookstore in Penticton, BC

Bones

Herp: Crag kitty and inhabitant of the Beer Trailer.

Chai

Bailey

Bengen

Dirty Sanchez

some wolfy pups

puppy Zoe

Gus and Rhodie

Chewie

Fritz

Reese (photo credit: Kirsten Hundza)

Benton

Willow

Dakota

Franklin

Jackson

Rain

Riley

Roxy

Sequoia

Storm

Vito

Kona

So many diverse personalities. THANK YOU all you beautiful pups for enriching our lives <3