Labor Day brought Ellie and me to a climb of Boulder’s First Flatiron, or as they say in Boulder, the First Flatty. It was good to spend the day with Michael Brown, who lead the pitches so Ellie and I could climb together. Michael directed many of my films and has joined me on some stellar expeditions including Everest. Lately, he’s been busy accepting awards for our latest film, The Weight of Water.
With record-setting heat in the forecast, we made our first pitch at 5:30 AM. Ellie, off the couch, climbed with grace and style and the kind of fluidity that showed off her athleticism (Hope that sounded really good, since Ellie will surely read this).
There was one tricky steeper section that saw a change in her demeanor, however. Labor Day seemed fitting as she grunted and groaned with effort. Finally, not quite able to get over the ledge, I offered her my shoulder which she stood on – pretty gentlemanly if I do say so myself! Up she went, leaving an imprint on my shirt and a smile on my face. “Climb on,” I shouted.
The day ended with a meal at Michael’s house, enjoying pizza from their outdoor oven and a garden tour with their three awesome boys and wife, Julia. Chickens clucking, boys romping, wild turkeys darting through the trees, and the sun setting on the iconic flatirons of Boulder in the distance. Summer of 2019 was spectacular.
