After more car repairs than I thought possible for having owned a car for less than two weeks, I finally arrived in Carbondale, Colorado, on Memorial Day. The last four hours of driving, from Denver to Carbondale, were the most beautiful I have seen to date. Denver itself didn’t impress me. Granted, I didn’t exactly take…
Author: Liz Haas
Rest Day Activities
As much as we’d like to, few of us can climb hard for even five days in a row without suddenly being unable to send V4 (or V1 if you’re me). If you’re climbing outside on a week-plus-long trip or just psyched on a project near home, your skin is likely destroyed after a few days,…
Making Time to Play on Rocks
I didn’t have time to climb. I needed to run to Walmart, CVS, and buy bulk pasta from BJ’s before picking up my sister from school. I needed to start packing to move back to UNH for my summer research internship that would start in a few days. I didn’t have time to drive an hour…
The Art of Climbing Slowly
Like downclimbing, climbing slowly takes much skill and practice; however, once mastered, this art can enhance your climbing experience greatly. All genres of climbing can be slowed down, from taking as long as possible to set up for a one-move-wonder boulder problem to taking your time to place each piece with perfection on a 10-pitch…
NO EXCUSES: Go Climbing
There are many excuses for not climbing. Do not give in. Here are solutions for a few common “I can’t climb today” excuses that will get you off the couch and onto some rocks: Originally published May 3, 2015, on coffeetapeibuprofenclimb.blogspot.com.
12 Ways to Hate Climbing
Buy a gym membership and feel like you have to “get your money’s worth.” Set a schedule and climb five days a week on the same problems/routes whether it’s pouring rain and 33 degrees or sunny, 55, and perfect in every way for sending your outdoor project(s). Even better, do this to yourself every day….
Scared of Being Scared
Fear is a familiar feeling for climbers. It’s natural. Your instincts are telling you that you’ve greatly increased your chances of dying by hanging yourself 20 to hundreds of feet above the ground and relying on a few nuts and cams or bolts, a rope, a belay device, and another person to keep you from hitting…
The Ultimate Guide to Dry Climbing Snacks
There are many benefits to packing extremely dry snacks for a day of climbing, hiking, or any other type of adventuring that involves cramming food into the bottom of a backpack. First, they won’t get your backpack incredibly sticky or damp when crushed against the rest of your gear, unlike the bananas I too often attempt…
A Letter to Spring
Dear Spring, According to my very colorful assignment book, it is April, and it has been for almost a week. This means that we should be solidly in spring. Easter has come and past, and I’m ready for sunshine, no snow, and more sunshine. So Spring, I’m wondering where you are. I’ve seen a few…
The Hierarchy of Climbing According to…
Originally published March 30, 2015, on coffeetapeibuprofenclimb.blogspot.com.
Peaking Sending
My friends like to joke that they have tons of time till peak sending age: 33. I don’t know where they got this number from, but it got me thinking: When will I peak? And, perhaps more concerning: At what grade? Climbing is one of those sports that seems to have endless possibilities. Depending on…
The Art of Car Camping
According to the calendar, spring is less than a week away. This means the season of car camping is quickly approaching—or, if you don’t mind overnight temperatures in the teens, it is already here. There are many benefits to car camping. First, there is little setup required. There are no tent poles to assemble, stakes…
Coffee. Tape. Climb. 