We join our friends Pete & Jess, Jess’ brother David, and his daughter Alex at Ruby Mountain campground on the Arkansas River today. It’s a little cool for floating so we rally to Rainbow Rock, a wall of pumice cliffs along the river, for some climbing. There are a couple of anchors good enough for a toprope, and the climbs are surpisingly solid and good considering the porous rock. Pete brings his parakeet Jaws along to help out sorting the gear. Before we’ve had our fill of climbing it starts to rain, and before I can pack up and make it back to the car I’m being pelted with giant, wet snowflakes. And of course the car keys are buried in my pack. Brrr!