Santa Goes Climbing in California

You ever wonder what Santa Claus is up to besides eating reindeer meat, checking his list, and figuring out if you’re naughty or nice? Well, it turns out that the bearded bloke does manage to get a vacation in every year before the holiday rush. I know this because my fellow guide Brian Milne, About.com’s fly fishing guide, sent me an update on Santa’s whereabouts. It turns out that the old fellow’s been adventuring in southern California.

Santa’s been trying his hand at mountain biking, surfing, skateboarding, as well as rock climbing. Despite his girth and that hefty bellyful of beer, the ole chubby tackled Cerro Cabrillo in Morro Bay north of Santa Barbara. He noted in his blog at The Tribune News: “Yeah, bad idea. Santa’s boots weren’t made for climbing. In fact, I didn’t even make it halfway before I slid down the face like a walrus on an icecap.”

Check out this video of Santa rock climbing and let me know your thoughts. I think Santa needs some climbing lessons. He’s going about it all wrong. Like where the heck is his rope? Or does he use “magic dust” to slide down the rock and avoid the crash-and-burn syndrome? He better start reading about Climbing at About.com to refine his technique or, better yet, schedule his next vacation in Colorado. I’ll be happy to get him out on the rocks…but the fat man might have to shave that beard and trim his belly to see the footholds!

Photo above: Santa shows bad form while climbing at Cerro Cabrillo.
Photograph by Joe Johnston/SanLuisObispo.com