Spain Please.

I can only describe the past month as intense. Life has been non-stop. Complete with driving cross country, family over load during the holidays, hyper socializing in Boulder, constant training in the gym, epic drives in the snow, schmoozing at the show, plus week long birthday celebrations in Vegas, all coming to head with boarding a plane to Spain in a few hours. It has definitely been a wild ride, and crazy fun seeing so many old friends in the midst of it all. I feel like photos have taken a back seat to my super social environment and the film projects we have lined up back to back. Thankfully Instagram still lets me get a taste of taking pictures right in the moment. I’m interested to see what will happen to our iphone media addiction once we hit Europe. I have a feeling we won’t really care. That’s the way it tends to be in Spain, only your friends, climbing and a nice bottle of wine really matter.

 

img_0833-1.jpg

 img_0847.jpg

 img_0857.jpg

 

img_0895.jpg

 

img_0911.jpg

 

img_0793.jpg

 img_0944.jpg

 img_1066.jpg

img_1075.jpg

 img_1201.jpg

 img_1206.jpg

 img_1984.jpg

 img_1986.jpg

 img_2015.jpg

 

img_2071.jpg

 

img_2074.jpg

 

 

 

 img_2100.jpg

 img_2106.jpg

 

 

 

img_0026.jpg

 img_0035.jpg

 img_0052.jpg

 img_0055.jpg

 img_0060.jpg

 

img_2097.jpg

 img_0065.jpg

 img_0077.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

img_0087.jpg

img_0094.jpg

 

img_0101.jpg

 img_0112.jpg

 img_0133.jpg

 img_0137.jpg

 img_0138.jpg

 img_0144.jpg

 

img_0192.jpg

 

img_0203.jpg

 img_0169.jpg

 

 

 img_2111.jpg

 

img_2122.jpg

 img_2162.jpg

 img_2170.jpg

 

img_2172.jpg

 

img_2180.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Hospitality

  I used to define sections of my life with blog posts. Each submit would tidily tie up a trip or stay somewhere. These days we’ve been moving too fast to keep up with blogs, footage, photos or people for that matter. While my content for blogs keeps getting greater, the time to organize it, tell about it, and really comprehend it seems to diminish inside each intertwining trip and travel. As of lately it doesn’t look like things will change much or settle down for one minute. I have the next three months of my life planned out to be unplanned, packed with as much media and traveling as possible, (read Boulder for training, Salt Lake for business, Vegas for a party, Spain for dream climbing, then St George for a home stay.) I can’t say I didn’t sign up for it, and I won’t complain about such a great opportunity to travel, but I will relish in this special moment of an empty house, no companions and precious alone time only for sitting and chilling as I plan and contemplate my next adventure.

img_0077.jpgimg_0068.jpgimg_0037.jpg  %</p  img_0041.jpgimg_0049.jpg  img_0053.jpg  img_0055.jpgimg_0073.jpgimg_0100.jpgimg_0088.jpg  img_0092.jpg  img_0112.jpgimg_0116.jpg  img_0121.jpg  img_0141.jpgimg_0129.jpgimg_0124.jpgimg_0152.jpg  img_0166.jpg  img_0171.jpgimg_0178.jpg  img_0187.jpg  img_0219-1.jpgimg_0218.jpgimg_0209.jpgimg_0216.jpg  img_0228.jpg  img_0229.jpgimg_0253.jpg  img_0270.jpg  img_0271.jpgimg_0295.jpgimg_0238.jpgimg_0235.jpg  img_0274.jpg  img_0277.jpgimg_0280.jpg  img_0279.jpg  img_0285.jpgimg_0314.jpgimg_0349.jpgimg_0296.jpg  img_0333.jpg  img_0299.jpgimg_0304.jpg  img_0336.jpg  img_0340.jpgimg_0522.jpgimg_0623.jpgimg_0533.jpg  img_0541.jpg  img_0550.jpgimg_0626.jpg  img_1007.jpg  img_1000.jpgimg_0925-1.jpgimg_1014.jpgimg_0934.jpg  img_0951.jpg  img_0947.jpgimg_1021.jpg  img_1036.jpg  img_1365-1.jpgimg_1034.jpgimg_1082.jpgimg_1088.jpg  img_1093.jpg  img_1096.jpgimg_1106.jpg  img_1127.jpg  img_1175.jpg  img_1115.jpgimg_1188.jpgimg_1179.jpg  img_1269.jpg  img_1365-1.jpgimg_1373.jpg  img_1387.jpg   img_1189.jpgimg_1382.jpgimg_1229.jpgimg_1575.jpg  img_1629.jpg  img_1653.jpgimg_1663.jpg  img_1698.jpg  img_1721.jpgimg_1450.jpgimg_1611.jpgimg_1323.jpg  img_1343.jpg  img_1346.jpgimg_1727.jpg   img_2559.jpg  img_2985.jpgimg_1684.jpgimg_2204-1.jpgimg_0403.jpg  img_0414.jpg  img_0462.jpgimg_0427-1.jpg   img_0464.jpg img_0408.jpgimg_0401.jpgimg_0445.jpgimg_0495.jpg  img_0508.jpg  img_0643.jpgimg_0484.jpg  img_0534.jpg  img_0555.jpgimg_0465.jpgimg_0476.jpgimg_0472.jpg  img_0485.jpg  img_0525.jpgimg_0542.jpg  img_0647.jpg  img_0650.jpgimg_0546.jpgimg_0687.jpgimg_0790.jpg  img_0797.jpg  img_0798.jpgimg_0816.jpg  img_0818.jpg  img_0826.jpgimg_0839.jpgimg_0899.jpgimg_0830.jpg  img_0855.jpg  img_0889.jpgimg_0897.jpg   img_0904.jpg  img_0912.jpgimg_3037.jpgimg_3080.jpgimg_3018.jpg    img_3029.jpg  img_3039.jpgimg_3041.jpg  img_3045.jpg  img_3047.jpgimg_3066-1.jpgimg_3178.jpgimg_3024.jpg   img_3050.jpg  img_3082.jpgimg_3110.jpg   img_3120.jpg  img_3142.jpgimg_3248.jpgimg_3368.jpgimg_3173.jpg img_3189.jpg img_3177.jpgimg_3208.jpg  img_3216.jpg  img_3247.jpgimg_3408.jpgimg_3426.jpgimg_3258.jpg  img_3280.jpg  img_3283.jpgimg_3304.jpg  img_3376.jpg  img_3385.jpgimg_3438.jpgimg_3482.jpgimg_3402.jpg  img_3412.jpg  img_3423.jpgimg_3447.jpg  img_3451.jpg  img_3468.jpgimg_3507.jpgimg_3510.jpgimg_3470.jpg  img_3476.jpg  img_3480.jpgimg_3501.jpg   img_3512.jpg  img_3526.jpgimg_3520-1.jpgimg_3529.jpgimg_3531.jpg  img_3537.jpg  img_3544.jpgimg_3304.jpg  img_3554.jpg  img_3576.jpgimg_3627.jpgimg_3599.jpgimg_3577.jpg  img_3592.jpg  img_3600.jpgimg_3607.jpg   img_3663.jpg  img_3683.jpgimg_3702.jpgimg_5024.jpgimg_3860.jpg  img_4105.jpg  img_5004.jpgimg_5054.jpg  img_5194.jpg  img_5518.jpg

2012 Women of Climbing Calendar!

covery.jpg

If you’re finishing up your holiday shopping these next weeks, consider picking up Sharp Ends Publishings 2012 Women of Climbing Calendar here! This calendar is consistently filled with powerful and beautiful images of amazing women climbers from around the world, all shot by climbing’s best photographers. I’m honored to be included in this years publication! Thanks as always to Keith Ladzinski for the great shot, and Sharp End Publishing for putting together a gorgeous product!

colcc.jpg

Newest Sterling Rope Video with Joe Kinder!

Here is the final Sterling video from our European travels last Spring. We had a great time shooting this footage out in the land of perfect limestone! Joe’s edits are better all the time, and it looks like we’ll have plenty more of this kind of work on our plates in the new year!Joey Kinder - Living the Climbing Life with Sterling Rope from sterling rope on Vimeo.

The ride, the road, the Red.

I fancy myself being a Southerner, and since becoming a rock climber I’ve experienced some small town America living. But in this part of the country I’m a city girl, and even the most podunkest of towns look metro compared to the back woods in this part of Kentucky. Being “out here” is not so much about how far out of town I am, or how deserted my physical location is, it’s a mentality in these hills that make The Red so different and removed from other areas I’ve been to.

Appalachia is historically one of the poorest areas in the country, a sad result of the ended coal mining industry and scandalous oil proprietors who followed years later. For some locals history is all they have, and the title of a local isn’t giving away easily. It’s been cool to see more small business popping up around Yhe Red and the local climbing community seems to be growing every time I’m here. “Local” climbers are serious about taking care of their community and upholding the standards they believe are historic to this area. The Red is one, if not the best sport climbing we have in the States, it seems it was only a matter of time before everyone found out.

 To be honest I haven’t been too culture shocked since I’ve been here. Most days I’m hanging with a big group of old friends at my buddy Keith’s house. DaveEmilyJoe and I all climbed in China together, so we’ve just continued our adventure down here with Sheyna, AndyJonathan, Marisa, Scott, Lev and KY Joe.  In typical eastern style, I’ve had some of the best conditions of my life over the last couple weeks, followed by heinousness on all levels. We spend those days Instagraming our faces off, visiting Hot Topic (everyone’s new favorite mall hangout) and drinking by 4pm. It all seems to be working out fine, but I think everyone is just keeping their finger crossed that they will send before any of these three things gets old.

 

img_7901.jpgimg_7870.jpgimg_7857.jpg  img_7860.jpg  img_7864.jpgimg_7874.jpg  img_7883.jpg  img_7895.jpgimg_7936.jpgimg_8021.jpgimg_7930.jpg  img_7945.jpg  img_7978.jpgimg_8025.jpg  img_8051.jpg  img_8060.jpgimg_8176.jpgimg_8252.jpgimg_8134.jpg   img_8091.jpg  img_8144.jpgimg_8166.jpg  img_8170.jpg  img_8174.jpgimg_8247.jpgimg_8259.jpgimg_8195.jpg   img_8201.jpg  img_8219.jpgimg_8260.jpg  img_8274.jpg  img_8297.jpgimg_8303.jpgimg_8307.jpgimg_8265.jpg  img_8322.jpg  img_8335.jpgimg_8344.jpg  img_8356.jpg  img_8328.jpgimg_8316.jpgimg_8352.jpgimg_8391.jpg  img_8392.jpg  img_8420.jpgimg_8430.jpg  img_8450.jpg  img_8427.jpgimg_8425.jpgimg_8498.jpgimg_8508.jpg   img_8521.jpg  img_8526.jpgimg_8543.jpg  img_8545.jpg  img_8560.jpgimg_8505.jpgimg_8518.jpgimg_8569.jpg  img_8603.jpg  img_8634.jpgimg_8644.jpg   img_8650.jpg  img_8656.jpgimg_8614.jpgimg_8804.jpgimg_8666.jpg  img_8672.jpg  img_8690.jpgimg_8713.jpg img_8757.jpg img_8726.jpgimg_8776.jpgimg_8777.jpgimg_8778.jpgimg_8806.jpg  img_8852.jpg  img_8870.jpgimg_8873.jpg  img_8897.jpg  img_8913.jpgimg_8864.jpgimg_8799.jpgimg_8898.jpgimg_8879.jpg img_8902.jpg  img_8909.jpgimg_8960.jpg  img_8974.jpg  img_8992.jpgimg_8997.jpgimg_9030.jpgimg_9016.jpg  img_9020.jpg  img_9025.jpgimg_8967.jpg  img_8987.jpg  img_9086.jpgimg_9074.jpgPhoto Emily Harringtonimg_9068.jpgimg_9084.jpg   img_9088.jpg  img_9091.jpgimg_9096.jpg  img_9097.jpg  img_9099.jpgimg_9140.jpgimg_9047.jpgimg_9109.jpg   img_9122.jpg  img_9123.jpgimg_9143.jpg  img_9765.jpg  img_9779.jpgimg_9857.jpgimg_9967.jpgimg_9776.jpg img_9807.jpg  img_9819.jpgimg_9851.jpg  img_9859.jpg  img_9882.jpgimg_9880.jpgimg_9981.jpgimg_9894.jpg   img_9912.jpg  img_9921.jpgimg_9971.jpg  img_9974.jpg  img_9973.jpgimg_9903.jpgimg_9948.jpgimg_9925.jpg  img_9931.jpg  img_9951.jpgimg_9984.jpg   img_9995.jpg  img_9996.jpg

Gettin’ down in and out of the Getu!

As promised here are the rest of the photo overload from our Getu Valley China trip. For anyone still on the hunt for more Chinese image goodness here are the links to some web sites of my trip confidants. Climbing trips are always a blast because you’re climbing duh, but your company is by far the biggest make or break factor for me. I had so much with fun this crew (Emily Harrington,  Sasha DiGiulian, Andrew Bisharet, Joe Kinder, Mayan Smith-Gobat, Jon Cardwell, Ethan Pringle, Dave Graham, Daila Ojeda and so many more!) at the Rock Trip and you should definitely take a second to check out their pics and perspectives if you haven’t already.As of now I’m likely half way across the states. Apparently Joe and I are looking to do a full circle around the world going east this year. We’ll see if we make it. Onwards to The Red, family time in St Louis, Kansas City and Nashville, finishing off a east coast tour in Chatty with friends. More pics to come for sure, stay tuned…img_9176.jpgimg_9151.jpgimg_9170.jpgimg_9127.jpg  img_9133-1.jpg  img_9137.jpgimg_9158.jpg  img_9192.jpg  img_9167.jpgimg_9160.jpgimg_9252.jpgimg_9143.jpg  img_9202.jpg  img_9205.jpgimg_9218.jpg  img_9224.jpg  img_9247.jpgimg_9146.jpgimg_9147.jpgimg_9149.jpgimg_9149.jpg  img_9257.jpg  img_9264.jpgimg_9293.jpg  img_9297.jpg  img_9298.jpgimg_9292.jpgimg_9271.jpgimg_9309.jpg  img_9315.jpg  img_9325.jpgimg_9339.jpg  img_9352.jpg  img_9353.jpg  img_9362.jpgimg_9364.jpgimg_9365.jpgimg_9355.jpg  img_9375.jpg  img_9392.jpgimg_9403.jpg  img_9412.jpg  img_9428.jpgimg_9381.jpgimg_9436.jpgimg_9435.jpg  img_9454.jpg  img_9443.jpgimg_0013.jpg  img_0015.jpg  img_0016.jpgimg_0004.jpgimg_0029.jpgimg_0021.jpg  img_0035.jpg  img_0049.jpgimg_0056.jpg  img_0059.jpg  img_0094.jpgimg_0084.jpgimg_0140.jpgimg_0098.jpg  img_0116.jpg  img_0136.jpgimg_0143.jpg  img_0146.jpg  img_0160.jpgimg_0172.jpgimg_0263.jpgimg_0183.jpg  img_0940.jpg  img_9463.jpgimg_9465.jpg   img_9473.jpg  img_9489.jpgimg_9480.jpgimg_9482.jpgimg_9490.jpg  img_9493.jpg  img_9496.jpgimg_9486.jpgimg_9504.jpgimg_9509.jpg  img_9510.jpg  img_9520.jpgimg_9522.jpg  img_9523.jpg  img_9527.jpgimg_9512.jpgimg_9540.jpgimg_9536.jpg  img_9539.jpg  img_9547.jpgimg_9553.jpg  img_9558.jpg  img_9560.jpgimg_9565.jpgimg_9568.jpgimg_9571.jpg   img_9577.jpg  img_9566.jpgimg_9580.jpg  img_9610.jpg  img_9614.jpgimg_9581.jpgimg_9615.jpg   img_9617.jpg  img_9621.jpgimg_9626.jpg  img_9632.jpg  img_9638.jpgimg_9640.jpgimg_9654.jpgimg_9642.jpg   img_9652.jpg  img_9653.jpgimg_9667.jpg  img_9673.jpg  img_9677.jpgimg_9655.jpgimg_9659.jpgimg_9683.jpg   img_9682.jpg  img_9693.jpgimg_9694.jpg   img_9695.jpg  img_9699.jpgimg_9660.jpgimg_9679.jpgimg_9701.jpg  img_9704.jpg  img_9710.jpgimg_9716.jpg  img_9732.jpg  img_9720.jpgimg_9706.jpgimg_9749.jpgimg_9736.jpg   img_9757.jpg  img_9763.jpgimg_9779.jpg   img_9798.jpg  img_9802.jpgimg_9742.jpgimg_9796.jpgimg_9799.jpg  img_9797.jpg  img_9806.jpgimg_9807.jpg   img_9810.jpg  img_9854.jpgimg_9774.jpgimg_9819.jpgimg_9812.jpg  img_9822.jpg  img_9826.jpgimg_9837.jpg  img_9856.jpg  img_9840.jpgimg_9828.jpgimg_9858.jpgimg_9863.jpg  img_9866.jpg  img_9881.jpgimg_9884.jpg  img_9888.jpg  img_9889.jpgimg_9894.jpgimg_9898.jpgimg_9891.jpg   img_9899.jpg  img_9893.jpgimg_9904.jpg   img_9901.jpg  img_9906.jpgimg_9913.jpgimg_9936.jpgimg_9920.jpg   img_9907.jpg  img_9938.jpgimg_9943.jpg   img_9951.jpg  img_9955.jpgimg_9971.jpgimg_9981.jpgimg_9963.jpg  img_9965.jpg  img_9985.jpgimg_9996.jpg  img_9998.jpg  img_9957.jpgimg_9749-1.jpgimg_9759.jpgimg_9751.jpg  img_9769.jpg  img_9773.jpgimg_9793.jpg   img_9797-1.jpg  img_9802-1.jpgimg_9861-1.jpgimg_9819-1.jpgimg_9806-1.jpg  img_9828-1.jpg  img_9837-1.jpgimg_9841.jpg  img_9852-1.jpg  img_9858-1.jpgimg_9864.jpgimg_9869-1.jpgimg_9862.jpg  img_9865-1.jpg  img_9895.jpgimg_9930.jpg  img_9963-1.jpg  img_9936-1.jpgimg_9931.jpgimg_9994.jpgimg_9897.jpgimg_9972-1.jpg  img_9956-1.jpg  img_9958-1.jpg

Sterling Ropes video with Enzo Oddo in Ceuse

Enzo Oddo working Jungle Boogie with Sterling Rope from sterling rope on Vimeo.

Above is the third in a series Joe and I filmed last spring in Europe. Enzo is a total badass and still in highschool, pretty crazy huh?! The future of climbing is looking bright!!

Series good foodstuff for the brain- Getu Valley China 1

I read the book Wild Swans by Jung Chang during my very first trip to Spain. Though I had been abroad before (most of my family lives in England and I had visited there throughout my childhood) Spain was different. I was intimated by the language barrier and cultural unfamiliarity. I shied away from speaking with locals even though I had a few years of Spanish under my belt. I comforted myself with croissants and wine, focused on climbing, and stuck my nose in my book to deal with my unease.

Since Wild Swans I’ve become more comfortable with international travel, visiting Mexico, South Africa, and Morocco among others. I discovered that not being shy and not being afraid to make mistakes was the best way to delve into a culture and find out about the place I was given a unique opportunity to experience.

When this year’s Petzl Rock Trip was slated for China I knew it would be the pinnacle of my travels thus far, breaking the crust of a shell of misinterpretation and ignorance about a culture so huge, far away, and complex as any. I thought of that book Wild Swans and the impression it made on me. I had always been interested in Asian culture, and realized I knew next to nothing about its history or its present cultural significance. This memoir follows Chinese history through three generations of women in the author’s family. I was continually taken aback by stereotypically inaccuracies pinpointed in the book, many of which I had mindlessly ingested throughout my childhood. In one chapter she writes, “Growing up in a upper class Chinese family we were taught never to waste any food, ‘Think of all the poor starving Americans out there,’ my mother would scold.” This quote was one of many that reminded me I didn’t know what to expect in China. I decided to do minimal research in an effort to let the experience take over, and take in a new culture the best way I know how, by being there.

When the parade of Petzl Rock Trip Athletes marched into the Getu Valley, the locals were as amazed by us as much as we were by them. Imagine tourists face-to-face with locals each holding cameras a few feet from each other’s faces, each capturing an image considered intriguing and different. Within my first few hours in China I had more photos taking of myself than I had of the new country. I made a mental note; ‘Being modest with taking photos was not the custom; check.”  

Needless to say this event was a spectacle before even considering its location. Over 50 Petzl Athletes and 500 added international climbers from all over the world met together to climb, chill and party in Getu. There are people I’ve met on Rock Trips, that I would never see otherwise and usually never see again until the next year’s event. But often you meet a new person, swap plans, trade beta and touch base along the way on your next climbing trip. It’s really a very cool thing, and something Petzl has nailed in terms of celebrating what it means to be a climber and traveler. They bring this feeling to a new community in each event, and later display the experience for the entire world through video, photos and blogs. Bravo!

Though it goes without saying I suppose it must be said that of course the climbing was incredible, all found on features and in a scenery that can only be described as completely foreign. Mountains jut out of the Getu Valley in endless giant lumps canopied with lush bamboo greenery. When rock becomes visible through the plants it’s blue, white and grey streaked pieces of limestone. Every walk to and from the cliff you’d pass through the tiny farming town where we stayed. There the locals walked the streets with farming supplies and various bushels of farmed and wild plants on their backs. Motorcycle would speed by you while chickens, dogs, goats and water buffalo roamed freely through the roads and patty lands. In the distance a foggy hue laid between the teeth like mountains creating different shades of blues and greys as the sun set. On special days, the clouds cleared enough to see a thin moon slice lay in the backdrop behind a foreground of dark drooping bamboo limbs. To say the climbing was awesome is an understatement, but the fact that Petzl had the best of the best equipping, creating and vision-ering lines out what I considered the most majestic area, The Arch, obviously helped. There are always climbers of all abilities at these events, but I can’t help but be motivated by the exceptional performance put on by the top athletes. I always leave an event like this wanted to get better and motivated to do so.  

Maybe the funniest thing about this trip was finding what I expected and then feeling differently about it than I would think. We were warned China might have harsher accommodations than some past Rock Trips. No clean drinking water, no hot shower water, a cuisine that didn’t vary and wasn’t recognizable at times. And that was right. Our hotel rooms were actually very nice considering what we were warned they may be; wooden beds, no running water. But after a few days of lax cleaning regulations, even these rooms weren’t quiet up to par with what we’re accustomed to back home, ie sinks that work and water that’s hot. Personally I thought the food was incredible, spicy noodles in savory sauce, rice with a variety of veggies and meat dishes seasoned to a delicious flavor, but even your favorite meal can get old at about day 12, we had it for 16.

As a traveler we all know food (coffee!!!) and comfort are all expendable, what was the most difficult part for me was feeling so helpless in terms of communication. This area of China wasn’t very dramatic with hand gestures or body language. Plus the language and culture are so foreign the most simple of ideas felt impossible to convey, and often left you and your fellow interact-ee looking at each other with blank stares. In the end Google translator was a God-send, and I became incredibly impressed with the information that could be transmitted through numbers alone. Our most impressive cultural send definitely goes to Dave Graham on our last night out. With all odds set against him, and nothing but single word Google translation, intense hand gesturing and award winning intensity Dave G got our entire group to and from the city of Guiyang for an incredible dinner and story I’ll remember for a lifetime.

So I guess what I found surprising was at the end of feeling out of my element, gargley bellied and like a communication disabled person, I wasn’t homesick at all. In fact I’m feeling more stoked to travel than ever. Turns out being lost, hungry, disoriented and incommunicable is something I like? Who knew. Until the next adventure, here are half of the million photos Joe and I snapped along the way. Enjoy!

img_7524.jpg

 

img_7802.jpg

 

img_7205.jpg img_7209.jpg img_7220.jpg

 

img_7265.jpg  img_7270.jpg  img_7277.jpg

 

img_7220.jpg

 

img_7235.jpg

 

img_7295.jpg  img_7306.jpg  img_7316.jpg

 

img_7312.jpg  img_7351.jpg  img_7318.jpg

 

img_7315.jpg

 

img_7350.jpg

 img_7299.jpg  img_7324.jpg  img_7348.jpg

 

img_7353.jpg  img_7363.jpg  img_7376.jpg

 

img_7378.jpg

 

img_7382.jpg

 

img_7389.jpg  img_7399.jpg  img_7404.jpg

 

img_7406.jpg  img_7414.jpg  img_7420.jpg

 

img_7467.jpg

 

img_7478.jpg

 

img_7436.jpg  img_7447.jpg  img_7456.jpg  img_7458.jpg  img_7468.jpg  img_7508.jpg

 

img_7496.jpg

 

img_7514.jpg

 

img_7493.jpg  img_7503.jpg  img_7528.jpg

 

img_7542.jpg  img_7545.jpg  img_7559.jpg

 img_7556.jpg

 

img_7534.jpg

 

img_7551.jpg  img_7552.jpg  img_7569.jpg

 img_7596.jpg  img_7626.jpg  img_7631.jpg

img_7567.jpg

 

img_7575.jpg

 img_7587.jpg  img_7619.jpg  img_7621.jpg

 

img_7525.jpg  img_7635.jpg  img_7638.jpg

 

img_7586.jpg

 

img_7609.jpg

 

 img_7644.jpg  img_7646.jpg  img_7647.jpg

 

img_7659.jpg  img_7666.jpg  img_7670.jpg

 

img_7663.jpg

 

img_7681.jpg

 

img_7682.jpg  img_7678.jpg  img_7687.jpg

 

img_7686.jpg  img_7696.jpg  img_7699.jpg

 

img_7700.jpg

 

img_7715.jpg

 

img_7722.jpg  img_7726.jpg  img_7732.jpg

 img_7744.jpg  img_7752.jpg  img_7758.jpg

 

img_7746.jpg

 

img_7763.jpg

 

img_7753.jpg  img_7769.jpg  img_7772.jpg

 

img_7784.jpg  img_7789.jpg  img_7792.jpg  img_7854.jpg

 

img_7896.jpg

 

img_7800.jpg  img_7865.jpg  img_7802.jpg

 

img_7822.jpg  img_7809.jpg  img_7825.jpg

 

img_7863.jpg

 

img_8003.jpg

 img_8010-1.jpg  img_8012.jpg  img_8017.jpg

 

 

img_8023.jpg img_8032.jpg  img_8026.jpg

 

img_8025-1.jpg

 

img_8041.jpg

 

img_8034.jpg  img_8037.jpg   img_8053.jpg

 

img_8058.jpg  img_8066.jpg  img_8061.jpg

 

img_8067.jpg

 img_8076.jpg

 

img_8070.jpg  img_8077.jpg  img_8079.jpg

 

img_8086.jpg  img_8093.jpg  img_8104.jpg

 

img_8127.jpg

 

img_8130.jpg

 

img_8157.jpg  img_8163.jpg  img_8167.jpg

 

img_8197.jpg  img_8192.jpg  img_8179.jpg

 

img_8194.jpg

 

img_8189.jpg

 

img_8205.jpg  img_8196-1.jpg  img_8198.jpg

 img_8221.jpg  img_8243.jpg  img_8211.jpg

 

img_8199.jpg

 

img_8254.jpg

 

img_8250-1.jpg  img_8251.jpg  img_8263.jpg

 

img_8269.jpg  img_8273.jpg  img_8283.jpg

 

img_8288.jpg

 

img_8299.jpg

 

img_8305.jpg  img_8312.jpg  img_8278.jpg

 

img_8302.jpg  img_8298.jpg  img_8306.jpg

 img_8293.jpg

 

img_8287.jpg

 

img_8290.jpg  img_8270.jpg  img_8285.jpg

 

img_8292.jpg  img_8294.jpg  img_8320.jpg

 

img_8331.jpg

 

img_8355.jpg

 

img_8311.jpg  img_8312.jpg  img_8328.jpg

 

img_8332.jpg  img_8333.jpg  img_8334.jpg

 img_8364.jpg

 

img_8371.jpg

 

img_8366.jpg  img_8363.jpg  img_8336.jpg

 

img_8345.jpg  img_8361.jpg  img_8363.jpg

 

img_8393.jpg

 

img_8397.jpg

 

img_8377.jpg  img_8348.jpg  img_8380.jpg

 

img_8387.jpg  img_8388.jpg  img_8400.jpg

 

img_8405.jpg

 

img_8409.jpg

 

img_8415.jpg  img_8412.jpg  img_8418.jpg

 

img_8424.jpg  img_8427.jpg  img_8428.jpg

 img_8457.jpg

 

img_8458.jpg

 

 

 img_8451.jpg  img_8465.jpg  img_8468.jpg

 

img_8467.jpg  img_8480.jpg  img_8484.jpg

 

img_8472.jpg

 

img_8540.jpg

 

img_8471.jpg  img_8473.jpg  img_8487.jpg

 

img_8493.jpg  img_8501.jpg  img_8508.jpg

 

img_8497.jpg

 

img_8545.jpg

 

img_8505.jpg  img_8529.jpg  img_8517.jpg

 

img_8512.jpg  img_8542.jpg  img_8544.jpg

 

img_8547.jpg

 

img_8550.jpg

 

img_8560.jpg  img_8549.jpg  img_8546.jpg

 img_8567.jpg  img_8569.jpg  img_8572.jpg

 

img_8581.jpg

 

img_8592.jpg

 img_8574.jpg  img_8578.jpg  img_8579.jpg

 img_8583.jpg  img_8598.jpg  img_8600.jpg

 

img_8596.jpg

 

img_8612.jpg

 

img_8613.jpg  img_8633.jpg  img_8647.jpg

 

img_8670-2.jpg  img_8679.jpg  img_8707.jpg

 img_8711.jpg

 

img_8718.jpg

img_8679.jpg  img_8689.jpg  img_8713.jpg

 

img_8737.jpg  img_8740.jpg  img_8741.jpg

 img_8727.jpg

 img_8912.jpg

img_8791.jpg  img_8795.jpg  img_8798.jpg

 img_8904.jpg  img_8917.jpg  img_8928.jpg

 

img_8937.jpg  img_8958.jpg  img_8940.jpg

 

img_8996.jpg

 

img_9007.jpg

 

img_8975.jpg  img_8982.jpg  img_8988.jpg

 

img_9036.jpg

 

img_9043.jpg

 

img_8997.jpg  img_9022.jpg  img_9030.jpg

 

img_9048.jpg  img_9049.jpg  img_9070.jpg

 

img_9116.jpg

 

img_9121.jpg

 

img_8868.jpg  img_8879.jpg  img_8886.jpg

 

img_9088.jpg  img_9094.jpg  img_9101.jpg

 

img_9119.jpg  img_9109.jpg

 

 

China, Chapter…

This is definitely not my first Rock Trip. In fact I’ve been turning up at these events since my first year climbing. It was a complete newbie when my rock climbing mentor demanded we attend a Petzl Rock Trip happening at our “local” climbing spot, The Gunks. I had no idea was the Petzl Rock Trip was, who was supposed to be there, or what went on. But all I really needed to know was there was a mega after party after all the climbing hoorah. Since then I’ve soireed at a number of Rock Trips from the The Red River Gorge in KY to Millau. These events are always full on with incredible climbing, social smorgasbords, new friends, familiar faces and a unique adventure at each new area. This trip to China by far takes the cake. As of now we’re in the very first step of the journey, that will take over 20 hours of travel to get there. But we’re with a great crew, and are beyond excited to reach the other side of the world and see what awaits…

img_3797.jpgimg_3791.jpgimg_3725.jpg  img_3734.jpg  img_3729.jpgimg_3764.jpg   img_3765.jpg  img_3770.jpgimg_3754.jpgimg_3748.jpgimg_3776.jpg   img_3793.jpg  img_3781.jpgimg_3801.jpg  img_3825.jpg  img_3826.jpgimg_3872.jpgimg_3901.jpgimg_3840.jpg  img_3863.jpg  img_3898.jpgimg_3912.jpg  img_3942.jpg  img_3956.jpgimg_3964.jpgimg_3973.jpgimg_4063.jpg  img_4094.jpg  img_4144.jpgimg_4172.jpg   img_4247.jpg  img_4013.jpgimg_4130.jpgimg_4138.jpgimg_4151.jpg  img_4236.jpg  img_4251.jpgimg_4381.jpg  img_4282.jpg  img_4283.jpgimg_4189.jpgimg_4231.jpgimg_4520.jpgimg_5242.jpgimg_5593.jpgimg_5322.jpgimg_5949.jpgimg_5888.jpgimg_6891.jpg

Valley-time

     Send-tember has come and gone while we’ve settled here in Glenwood Springs, CO for the past month, and though I’m still flailing away on my project in Rifle, I’ve never been happier to be back in the area. I’m sure it has more to do with the roof over my head and the bed I get to lay it on every night, though the perfect conditions and sunny skies when I wake most mornings don’t hurt either. Rifle is one of my favorite climbing areas and it’s in best form. It was no time before I had some staple post duck-tape rings around my thighs, and initiation style beer drinking tactics under my belly. I haven’t felt the need to be anywhere else, and all futile attempts to do anything but hangout out in this valley have been dismissed. With some creative production work on the side, I’ve been wallowing in some good ole’ domestication and acting like a local at our “home” crag. I better enjoy it while I can, a wild ride starts for Joe and I in three weeks, when we head to China for the Petzl Rock Trip, and then hit the road across the US for most of the winter. Until then enjoy some our Colorado pictures from the last month.     

img_7439.jpgimg_2738.jpgimg_2737.jpg   img_2744.jpg   img_2810.jpgimg_2821.jpg  img_2848.jpg  img_2865.jpgimg_2880.jpgimg_2884.jpgimg_2886.jpg   img_2898.jpg  img_2901.jpgimg_2908.jpg  img_2903.jpg  img_2904.jpgimg_2922.jpgimg_2928.jpgimg_2948.jpg  img_2917.jpg  img_2957.jpgimg_2961.jpg  img_2980.jpg  img_2990.jpgimg_2989.jpgimg_3017.jpgimg_3031.jpg img_3080.jpg img_3111.jpgimg_3120-1.jpg   img_3129.jpg  img_3146.jpgimg_3153.jpgimg_3177.jpgimg_3088.jpg   img_3168.jpg  img_3219.jpgimg_3248.jpg   img_3258.jpg  img_3195.jpgimg_3288.jpgimg_3298.jpgimg_3352.jpg   img_3354.jpg  img_3355.jpgimg_3372-2.jpg  img_3391.jpg  img_3401.jpgimg_3340.jpgimg_3429.jpgimg_3418.jpg   img_3434.jpg  img_3471.jpgimg_3480.jpg  img_3485.jpg  img_3499.jpgimg_3495.jpgimg_3440.jpgimg_3512.jpg  img_3523.jpg  img_3543.jpgimg_3611.jpg   img_3614.jpg  img_3626.jpgimg_3530.jpgimg_3602.jpgimg_3637.jpg  img_3628.jpg  img_3649.jpgimg_3655.jpg  img_3663.jpg  img_3665.jpgimg_3633.jpgimg_3660.jpgimg_3671.jpg  img_7816.jpg  img_3690.jpgimg_3696.jpg  img_7877.jpg  img_8640.jpgimg_3675.jpgimg_7868.jpgimg_7851.jpg  img_8676-1.jpg  img_8690-1.jpgimg_8745-1.jpg  img_8765-1.jpg  img_8789-1.jpgimg_8682-1.jpgimg_8723-1.jpgimg_8720-1.jpg  img_8782-1.jpg  img_8784-1.jpgimg_8805-2.jpg  img_8806-2.jpg  img_8859-1.jpgimg_8807-2.jpgimg_8855-1.jpgimg_8873.jpg  img_8881.jpg  img_8891.jpgimg_8895.jpg  img_8900.jpg  img_8906.jpgimg_8885.jpgimg_8894.jpgimg_8902.jpg  img_8909.jpg  img_8916.jpgimg_8934.jpg  img_8947.jpg  img_8951.jpgimg_8937.jpgimg_8942.jpgimg_8943.jpg  img_8961.jpg  img_8964.jpgimg_8966.jpg   img_9051.jpg  img_9097.jpgimg_8958.jpgimg_9041.jpgimg_9057.jpg  img_9061.jpg  img_9062.jpgimg_9078.jpg  img_9088.jpg  img_9116.jpgimg_9071.jpgimg_9121.jpg