Climbing

After all the writing last week, some nice photos to mix it up today. If anyone discusses over whether to get an iPhone or not, my default answer is for the camera alone, an iPhone every time (the Panaroma feature works automagically, no extra apps/gimmicks required. Enjoy. Portrane last week on a beautiful day. Fond memories of my first forays bouldering outdoors here! Naomi, of ElementsYoga (and provider of the climbing yoga classes at Awesome Walls and near Gravity) making the most of a nice platform up the path. Main bouldering area in Glendalough all below and to the left. First time I'd ever seen this happening in Glendalough! Theo walking a slackline across the river yesterday. Super inspiring to watch! ....and thinking about the return journey. Which turned out to be much harder as the line was downhill so requires more preparation. Next time Theo!!!!!

Beau Kahler was on the scene in Guanella Pass, CO yesterday as Daniel Woods and Paul Robinson did the 2nd and 3rd ascents respectively of Dave Graham’s The Ice Knife (V15).  Graham put up the problem back in 2011 calling it one of the most challenging problems he had done in some time.  The problem hadn’t seen much effort in the intervening years, but once Woods and Robinson set to work it didn’t take long before quick progress was made toward seeing a repeat or two.  There is mention of a sit start being possible so this probably isn’t the last we’ve heard of this boulder. Woods was fresh of doing the FA of a new problem called The Purge in Tickland Elkland outside Estes Park, CO.  On his 8a scorecard he calls this proposed V14 “the full package line” and notes that he had to climb on it at night to get better conditions.

I didn't travel out of the Northeast in April. It was a strange feeling. Although climbing was kept to the local crags, I did accomplish a lot-- I hired 10 new summer camp staff members and put some final details on the summer camp that I run, SumMAT Camp (which stands for SUMmer Mountain Adventure Training) through Petra Cliffs Climbing Center in Burlington, VT. For the record, I tried to drop the T and change the name last year to Summa Camp, but met resistance. A little Bahston flair, what do you think?Evan climbing in Acadia National Park, Maine, during an 11-day expeditionDuring SumMAT Camp, kids ages 6-16 participate in day camps and 4-11 day overnight trips involving rock climbing, caving, kayaking, ropes courses, backpacking, camping, and general Leave No Trace, environmental stewardship, and climbing ethics/etiquette. I am so proud of all of the kids who come through our program, and I'm excited that they are exposed to the Mammut brand at an early age-- they love Stompy! Some kids are naturals at the activities, some have to work hard. All, by the end of camp, understand "challenge by choice" and "perceived risk vs. actual risk"-- and many of the campers stick around to become employees, and then friends. It's a great community and we're happy to be using Mammut gear all around!Hanging out at home base.The El Cap helmet is perfect for kids!Vermont has some spectacular swimming holes, clear and cold.Kayaking on the Winooski River. Mammut carabiners are essential for containing the guide's gear when the kids flip him.The Mammut Gym Rental harness allows for maximum flexibility at the ropes course...Camp often closes with a Friday afternoon Limbo sessionMe and a favorite camper, RoryThe 2012 SumMAT StaffClimbing in the neighboring AdirondacksVermont has some amazing views! Bolton, VT, with a view of Mt. MansfieldMammut emerges from the underground, Weybridge, VT (a 50' rappel into the cave!) I did manage to score the cover of Climberism Magazine this month though, climbing the classic Rose, a 100' overhanging handcrack in Bolton VT!Hasta pronto~ Andrea Charest

Paul Robinson and Daniel Woods have done two nice double sends in Guanella Pass by flashing Double Dutchez 8A+ and doing the first repeates of dave Graham's excellent The Ice Knife 8C for which Daniel comments. "Perfect alpine temps... Snow mixed with blue skies and rolling clouds made it a majestic day. Overhung and technical compression climbing. Everything must click perfectly. Was fun to work it with Paul and have a double send day. Nice one Dave! The sit is next!

Join the adventure on Friday June 21st and make a small adventure big!We've teamed up with Al Humphreys and our friends at Trek, Howies and Osprey for the #Microadventure 2013 Challenge.Adventure? A spirit of trying something new, pushing your boundaries, going somewhere different, leaving your comfort zone? It could be one of many things, but above all, adventure is about enthusiasm, ambition, open-mindedness and curiosity.Some may see an adventure as being something big, expensive or time consuming, but it need not be. Adventure isn’t all about rowing oceans, climbing mountains or cycling around the world; by simply entering the 2013 Microadventure Competition you could soon be out there on an adventure of your very own. So what is a microadventure? Well in simple terms, it’s an adventure on your doorstep. Having a 9 to 5 job need not prevent you from having an adventure, what about your 5pm to 9am? Those 16 hours of freedom are crying out for a #microadventure! Get out there & explore the beauty and wilderness at a minimal cost and close to home. Do it alone, with friends & family or even with your work colleagues, it’s totally up to you. The choice is yours when it comes to a #microadventure!(heres a video of Al and the team from Trek on their recent Microadventure)Wherever you might be, however busy you are, sign up to the competition and commit to a #microadventure, you will soon be asleep under the stars, wrapped up in your bivvy enjoying the local surroundings of the great outdoors.The #Microadventure 2013 Challenge: June 21stThe aim is to get as many people as possible having an overnight summer solstice #microadventure on the evening of June 21st. The summer solstice will be in midsummer, a Friday night, and there will be an almost full moon (which this month also happens to be a "super moon"). After work, instead of going home, head out into the countryside with your chosen #microadventure crew and cycle, run, walk, kayak, scrap the tent if you dare, and spend a night under the stars. It’s a simple idea but full of fun.Enter the CompetitionIt’s important to note that anyone can take part in the #microadventure, but to be in with a chance of winning, whilst on your adventure or when you arrive home, you must choose to do one of the following: • Twitter - Drop a tweet/pic about your expedition and #microadventure• Facebook – ‘Like’ us on Facebook and post your pic:http://on.fb.me/11RLCJE• Instagram - Upload your micro adventure snap and #microadventure• Flickr – Submit an image and tag microadventure.• Vine Video - Submit your video and #microadventure, check out the example: https://vine.co/v/brJ5BOr10tH• Vimeo - Add video to group Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/groups/microadventuresBy entering the competition you will automatically be entered into a prize draw, and as an added extra, if you make a movie of your adventure and share it, you could be in with a chance of winning big! There are no set rules because that would be boring; we just offer guidance, asking you to stay safe, have fun and be wild. Oh and don’t forget to submit your media to any of the above – make your adventure seen and be in with a chance of winning. Explore it, climb it, ride it, experience it… remember, adventure is only a state of mind, go create!You can check out more Microadventures at - www.alastairhumphreys.comPhotos: Geoff Waugh & Al Humphreys

We are very excited to sponsor the 2013 LUNA Chix Pro Bike Team, which is the most successful, longest-running team in the history of professional Mountain biking and XTERRA racing. LUNA Chix Pros have been in the Olympics, won world championships in MTB and XTERRA; the overall UCI MTB World Cup title three times; five U.S. National XTERRA Championships; and countless national MTB and cyclo-cross championships in the United States, Canada, and the Czech Republic. Enjoy some recent pictures of the ladies having fun… .new-royalslider-5 .rsThumbsVer { width:80px; } .new-royalslider-5 .rsThumb { width: 80px; height: 65px; } prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (9) prAna-sponsors-the-Luna-Chix-2013-(2) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (5) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (18) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (1) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (7) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (15) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (35) prAna-sponsors-the-Luna-Chix-2013-(8) prAna-sponsors-the-Luna-Chix-2013-(13) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (20) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (14) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (23) prAna-sponsors-the-Luna-Chix-2013-(25) prAna sponsors the Luna Chix 2013 (17) Learn more about the Luna Chix at http://teamlunachix.com/proteam/

I've been setting routes for nearly 7 years. It's something that interested me from early on in my climbing. Something about the symphony of mechanical knowledge necessary, physical demands, creativity and logistical considerations makes it a strangely satisfying work. Over the years I've set for a plethora of comps, set for big recreational gyms, for elite climbers and just for fun. I've always felt that it made me a better climber, and helped me to envision sequences and be imaginative with my climbing. My favorite form of setting is certainly comps. You slave for days, making the best routes you can and also (more accurately) making the routes as specific as possible to challenge the competitors and create separation in the field. There's so much mystery when the morning of the comp arrives... you've forerun everything countless times, tried to think outside the box, tweak this, tweak that... but you'll never know who exactly will show up, how they will feel and ultimately, what the outcome will be. It's always something of a nerve-racking event to watch, but also super satisfying. Last week I set for Youth Regionals over the course of 3 long days. We built some really rad routes, and the turn out was awesome. Seth Lytton is a great friend of mine and he was the head setter for the event. He's done tons of setting for the last decade, and is super skilled at what he does. However, he's also strong well beyond his own beliefs, and I've been called a sandbagger a fair number of times as well -- I think our routes ended up perhaps a touch too hard..(?).. but there were no ties so that's what matters. It was awesome to see the Team BRC take the Regional Champion as well. This is a very burly region, and the kids fought hard to secure this huge victory. Very impressive work kiddos !!!I am super stoked to be part of the event. Thanks for the invite to set! Shortly after finishing up the comp I was off for Vancouver, BC to attend the Arc'Teryx Global Sales Meeting. Over a action packed and rapid two and a half days I watched presentations, hung out with the crew, explored Vancouver and peered into the numbers, into the money, into the business. Athletes rarely see this side of the operation and I think it is important. The backbone of any functioning business is the bottom line, no matter how rad the products are or how cool the vision is - businesses need money to survive - and it was eye opening to see how the sales side of things function. Hats off to the hard working Reps out there... and big thanks to Arc for bringing me out to be part of the program!I did a couple awesome runs through downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park during my stay -- it really made me reconsider Van.. it's a pretty damn cool place. Overflowing with life.. beauty of the maritime business and harbor.. skyline in reflections on the water.. snow-capped mountains in the background.. maybe I could live here? not while I care this much about climbing though, the weather (although it was briefly acceptable) usually sucks. I'm aware. RT Beak Peak Mission.... For a few years, running was mostly painful, but I was addicted to cardio activity after racing bikes for so long. I've grown to love trail running now. Behind climbing and music it's becoming one of my favorite things in life. My runs are usual short and brutal, but this last week I took it up a notch and developed a running goal. I've hiked Bear Peak from the convenience of my parents home many times. Mostly at a brisk pace, but also just for fun. I always thought a quick time would be fun to go after. Originally I was stoked to go for a summit time of sub 45 minutes, but after my first attempt last week went quite well, I decided to up the ante considerably. On my first attempt last week I made the summit from my parents house in about 46 minutes, and I hauled ass back-down to make a RT time of under 1:15 from my folks house which is maybe ~.6 miles from the trailhead. On this attempt I stopped on top for

Warning: Adult Language… Eddie Stern interviews comedian and actor Russell Brand about his transformation through yoga. Brand discusses how yoga helps him deal with his sex and substance addiction, and how yoga has changed the tempo of his life. [yt]

Jan Hojer (6) GER - Juliane Wurm (3) GER Dima Sharafutdinov (5) RUS - Anna St?hr (1) AUT Kilian Fischhuber (3) AUT - Akiyo Noguchi (6) JPN The fifth Boulder World Cup in Innsbruck was a great show on nice problems. Jan started first as he was sixth in the semifinal and secured the gold even if five climbers remained to try the last boulder. The same thing happened for the result of Dima and Juliane. It can be noted that during 2013, 40 % of the winners have actually started first in the final as his/her semi final results were the worst of all finalist. This relatively good results for the last ranked guys coming into the final, we have seen since 2007 and especially in the four last world championships.