My mother is fantastic. She has always been incredibly supportive of my fondness for scaling rocks, even when she didn’t understand quite what I was doing. She bought me my first pair of shoes, my first chalk bag, and my first harness for my 19th birthday without knowing anything more than that I’d joined the…
Tag: climbing
Six Tips for All-Day Climbing Energy
You know the unfortunate 3 p.m. slump, where suddenly you go from feeling strong to feeling a strong urge to nap. You’ve been climbing and belaying since 7:30 a.m., but there’s still five hours of potential climbing time left before sunset—Don’t waste it. Your initial thought might be: I’ll just chug a Red Bull. However, if you’re like me,…
The Power of Doing Home Workouts in Your Underwear
Most of us lead what we consider “busy lives.” We have jobs, families, school, attention-loving dogs, and dirty bathrooms that demand too much of our attention. For those of us die-hard weekend warriors who are forever squeezing seven days worth of commitments into Monday to Friday at 4:30 p.m., training at the gym three days a…
Gear Review: Point6 Socks for Odor Control and All-Day Comfort
I have smelly feet. My sneakers usually aren’t too funky; since, I wear socks with them 98.7 percent of the time. But my climbing shoes smell terrible. My comfy multi-pitch/gym shoes are the worst–my sweaty bare feet remain in them for hours without air. To give you some additional insight: my two comfiest pairs smell bad enough that I…
When People Ask What Your Crash Pad is: 10 Responses
Tired of explaining to hikers walking by what that “thing” on your back is? Me too. It can be a daunting task: Explaining how you love climbing small rocks but usually aren’t successful and thus require cloth-encased foam to fall onto when you fail, yet again, at your “project.” Many hikers will ultimately be uninterested, most…
The Power of Getting Your Butt Kicked
Some call it being humbled, and they aren’t wrong. But, when I struggle to simply pull off the ground, I usually call it getting my butt kicked. Occasionally, I use slightly more explicit language. Known for sharp crimps and no feet, Pawtuckaway bouldering kicks my butt, and most days I come away with shredded pads and no sends….
10 Ways to Save Money on Your Next Road Trip
Summer road trip season is almost here! And chances are you’re trying to stretch your funds as far as possible. Here are some tips to help you save money and make what you do have go further, allowing you to take a longer excursion. On The Road: Save gas $$$ with Gasbuddy.com. Look up the cheapest gas stations…
The Art of Donning One’s Crash Pad
The Ground-Up Method: The Friend Method: The Tree–as–Friend Method: Or just pick it up off the ground…
Climberize Your Car in 5 Easy Steps
STEP 1: Buy the right car. This is the first and most important step. No one will take you seriously as an outdoorsperson if you’re behind the wheel of a baby blue mini-cooper convertible. Instead, go for a hardier and/or roomier rig based on your needs: The Subaru Outback/Impreza: This is the perfect vehicle for…
Remembering that Falling is Fun
I knew I shouldn’t be scared. I had a rope, five draws, and an experienced belayer to catch me, yet there I was overgripping the red sloper that was supposed to be my clipping jug with my shoulders up by my ears from anxiousness. “I don’t think I can clip here,” I yelled down to James. “Want…
Backup Plans for Blowing a Finger Tendon/Pulley
No, I haven’t blown a tendon or a pulley, but some days my left ring finger aches enough that after 1,000 words my typing is reduced to my grandfather’s pointer-finger-only method. And then I go climbing. While I occasionally figure-eight tape my fingers to make myself feel better–the placebo effect works wonders–I’ve heard enough two-months-off horror stories…
Gear Review: The Original Buff
Throughout high school, I saw my cross-country ski friends sporting buffs at practice. I thought they looked like neat little neck warmers and frequently wanted one while skiing in single-digit temperatures, but I had no idea of their warmth and versatility until this fall. This cylindrical seam-free, breathable, sweat-wicking, wind resistant microfiber cloth changed my outdoor…
Coffee. Tape. Climb. 