Fall is my absolute favorite season for several reasons: The mornings and evenings are refreshingly cool and crisp, but there’s no snow, and it’s not cold enough for me to start numbing out on routes or lose feeling in my feet while belaying. Headbands. Dad sweaters. Flannels. The thick socks I wear year round no…
Tag: sportclimbing
Don’t Do It In The Gym
This is not a complete gym etiquette article. I won’t tell you how many laps you can acceptably hog the auto belay for or how to tell that V1 crusher that they’re going to blow up every tendon in their arms if they keep doing weighted hangs. Instead, this a mini “Don’t Do It In The…
The “Adult” PB&J
Sugar and fat smeared between two slices of bread: Whoever invented the PB&J was a genius. They’re also to thank for my current go-to climbing snack. Here’s how I’ve upgraded a childhood classic into a not-so-unhealthy, cheap, delicious, “adult” cragging snack: THE ADULT PB&J INGREDIENTS: Peanut Butter – The kind with just peanuts and optional salt,…
10 Reasons Why I Suck at Training
As you guessed from the title, I have a confession to make: I’m terrible at training. In fact, it would be hard to argue that I train at all… I have zero books, Excel spreadsheets, apps, notebooks, or pieces of scrap paper outlining possible training regimens. I have never even attempted to follow one…
So Who The Heck Writes This Stuff Anyway?
Maybe you’ve read my brief “About” section. Maybe you haven’t. It tells you very little about me. So for those who are curious about who the heck writes this blog, here are some fun facts about this small female. Fun Facts: Age: 22 Height: 5’5″ Ape Index: 0 😦 Current City of Residence: Louisville, Colorado (essentially Boulder)…
The End of the Day Brew Life
It’s the end of a long day, and your arms are tired and sunburnt. You got up at 5:30 a.m. to drive to the crag, shook your way up the warm-up due to over-caffeination, gave your project five unsuccessful but solid burns, and then decided to climb “fun” routes for the rest of the day. It’s…
YouTube Movie Night: The Best Short Climbing Films (thus far) of 2017
The beauty of Reel Rock is in its variety and quality. The tour brings audiences a collection of the top climbing and adventure films from the past year. Each video is long enough to tell a complete story, but short enough that one’s attention never waivers. In two hours, viewers travel around the world, watching athletes…
10 Reasons Why I’d Love to “Magically” Improve My Climbing
Most days I wish I was better at climbing. Even on the days I happen to send, I often secretly wish I was topping out something harder, not just for the V points or glory, but because breaking into V8 and 5.13 would allow me to send–or at least productively hang-dog–so many amazing routes. Now you might…
Valentine’s Day Special: 10 Reasons to Date Another Climber
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and I hope you’re giving chocolate, and/or flowers, and/or cams, and/or hand salve to a special someone. If you’re single, no worries; I highly recommend you buy yourself and your mom some chocolate. I also recommend that you choose your next date wisely: Here are ten reasons why, as a climber, you should…
INTERVIEW: Margo Hayes on Her Semester in France, Three Gold Medals at the World Youth Championships, and Gaining Confidence Through Climbing Outside
Margo Hayes is one of American’s top female climbers both indoors and outside. She has ticked well over a dozen 5.14s, including the first female ascent of Bad Girls Club (5.14d), while consistently taking the podium indoors nationally and internationally, most recently winning three gold medals (lead, bouldering and combined) at the World Youth Championships in China. She’s also…
Pulling Plastic in Berlin: The Best Indoor and “Outdoor” Climbing in the City
Berlin isn’t known for its fantastic highballs, limestone tufas, splitter hand cracks, or really any other type of outdoor climbing beyond a bit of illegal buildering. There isn’t any good climbing directly outside of the city either. The Frankenjura is over four hours away by car, the Alps are a 10-hour bus ride south, and…
The Ten Commandments Part 2: Trad Climbing
1. Thou shalt never fall. 2. Thou shalt not associate with sport climbers; they are wimpy ethic-less bolt-clippers. 3a. Thou shalt run out all easy sections. 3b. Thou shalt also run out all cruxes. 4. Thou shalt not become discouraged by extreme amounts of rope drag. However, thou shalt also not create excessive rope drag….
Coffee. Tape. Climb. 