I went back to Indian Creek this past May after a year and a half of first going. I think I climbed three routes total, completely flailing on at least one of them. This was also climbing on top rope. My dirtbag buddy, Neil was there to put up the routes and I was there … More Return to Indian Creek: It’s Just as Hard as Last Time!
My life is guided by permaculture and as a permaculturist, I am part of a certain counter culture. That being said, even within the counter culture of permaculture (culture culture culture) there are many different expressions. Cultures, as it turns out, defy simplicity (like most things). So, there is a faction of new-aged counter culture … More Getting Festy
I will unfortunately not be able to provide maps of my final dispatch from the Grand Staircase today, but I will try to update again later once I have access to my mapping program. Honestly, though, the walk out to Phipp’s Arch is a bit of a local’s secret, and I don’t want to give … More Phipps Wash and Arch: The Magic of Discovery
Another dispatch from the Grand Staircase, and it’s a classic. Lower Calf Creek Falls is probably the most well known, easy to find, easy to navigate trail/destination in the National Monument. It’s where the locals will tell you to go if they size you up as a tourist. I’ve driven passed the trail head the … More Return to Escalante 3: Calf Creek Falls
Another trail dispatch this week! I’ll make it quick because this trail was rather straight forward. The Grand Staircase National Monument has two general bio spheres. There is the low, hot canyon lands and the high, chilly mountain gulches. The area surrounding Hole-in-the-Rock Road is mostly hot, dry canyon lands, whereas the area surrounding Hell’s … More Return to Escalante 2: Box Canyon
Ironically, while I was in Central America, all I could think about was the desert. Costa Rica and Nicaragua were amazing and lush and green and teeming with life, but I think that I am really a high desert/mountain person at heart. At least right now. Who knows in the future how I will feel, … More Return to Escalante: Fence Canyon
Everything at EPC changed once I met Ryan, and through Ryan, Sean. Ryan and Sean were roommates from Ohio who were meeting a crew of friends down at EPC for a week of climbing multi-pitch. Ryan and I hit up a multi-pitch called TNT, a five pitch 10a. I ended up leading the 10a pitch, … More El Potrero Chico Part 2: A Breakthrough
That first day I was planning on doing a few easy climbs, just get back into the swing of things, remember how to tie my knots and be safe, etc. … More El Potrero Chico Part 1: It’s Been a While
Sloths. Perezosos. Lazy One. Sloths get kind of a bad rep about being slow. But, I know one member of the Ramrod Team that emulates sloths in her climbing technique. It is true that climbing slowly is harder than climbing quickly, but (depending on the climbing circles of which you are a part) climbing quickly … More ALERT ALERT: CAN OFFICIALLY CONFIRM THAT SLOTHS ARE MASTER CLIMBERS
Please pardon my missing a post last week, I had just returned from Central America to the United States and there were many transitions to be made all at once. Firstly, I spent the night in the Mexico City airport, decidedly NOT sleeping, so I was tired. Secondly, I had not the use of a … More Secret Beaches and Accidental Trespassing: A Manuel Antonio Adventure
