Category Archives: Climbing

Posts about…you guessed it – climbing! Trip reports, anecdotes, and musings about my favorite recreational pasttime.

Tennessee = Thunderstorms and Composting Toilets

Jun 22 2011

We set off late Friday afternoon on another weekend climbing trip, this time to the Obed River, in Eastern Tennessee. The forecast called for a 30% chance of afternoon showers on both days – so of course that meant storms the majority of the day on both days (yet again). Although I’m relieved that we always manage to make trips more than worthwhile (thankfully once again we were still able to crank hard both days), I’ll be honest that the rain is starting to get old…fortunately this time we didn’t have to spend our evenings hanging out in a soggy campsite. …Read the rest of this entry →

A Day of Hot Flashes

Jun 14 2011

Don’t worry, this post has nothing to do with skewed hormones and ticking biological clocks. For those readers who are non-climbers, here’s a quick little lesson in climbing linguistics… Onsight – Completing a route from bottom to top with no falls or rests on the rope the first time you attempt it, without any prior knowledge about the route. Flash – Same as an onsight except that you had some helpful beta (info/tips) before attempting the route – such as observing someone else climb the route, reading someone else’s ascent notes, etc. Redpoint – Completing a route from bottom to top with…Read the rest of this entry →

Interview with Chicks Climbing

Jun 09 2011

Recently I was asked by Maijalisa Burkert of Chicks Climbing if I was up for an interview. Who is Chicks Climbing, you might ask? They are only the premiere go-to place for all things related to women’s climbing, both on ice and on the rocks. Their instructional clinics (“Chicks with Picks and “Chicks Rock“) can be found all over the country, where they promote self-reliance by teaching technical skills to help women become knowledgeable, independent climbers. The theme of both their ice and rock climbing clinics is “Women climbing with women, for women.” These Chicks also aren’t afraid to give back…Read the rest of this entry →

Memorial Day Madness at Grayson Highlands

Jun 02 2011

After spending the first part of the weekend hanging out with family, we met up with some friends late Sunday morning up at Grayson Highlands State Park for some bouldering fun. It was the first time we’d been back to GHSP since last fall, and I’d almost forgotten what a spectacular setting it is! The weather was pretty warm both days, but I’m fairly certain cooler than the majority of climbing areas in the Southeast. Our first day consisted of a high volume of moderates. We started out at the Picnic/Rock House Area before ending up at the Cap-Gun Boulder…Read the rest of this entry →

New River Rendezvous Recap

May 26 2011

After skipping last year’s ‘Vous b/c Cragbaby was still really new on the scene, we were back this year, this time as a family that was bigger (and I like to think C has made us better…) than before! The weather was great – the driest trip to the New we’d had in a really long time! We had a whole posse of friends that met us up there, ran into tons of folks we hadn’t seen in a long time, and of course met lots and lots of new friends! We rolled in just before dark on Thursday night…Read the rest of this entry →

“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN