Happy X-max!

I went through my pictures that I had uploaded into my "i-should-really-blog-or-people-will-think-i'm-lazy-(even-lazier-than-not-capitalizing)-folder" and I decided I would blog before Jeff killed me in my sleep...

Here are a couple from Tram over the summer and fall 2008


Abbie trying to get the FA of The Heist, V5
Photo - Eric Lang

The next two photos are of Power Windows, V6 at the Tram. Here is Shaun crushing it. On this short day at Tram, Shaun managed to climb 2 V7s in a total of 3 tries... you do the math... well actually I'll do it for you (he flashed Swingdance and did Crouching Tiger second go!). Oh and he had only previously climb V6 (he also did one of those...)! Shaun had been nursing a finger injury and has been avoiding crimps, but is now back to crushing rocks and grabbing whatever holds he damn well pleases!


Shaun on Power Windows, V6
Photo - Eric Lang


Shaun on Power Windows, V6
Photo - Eric Lang

Time for a throwback... to the summer!

Here are some pictures from Way Lake.

All in all, it was a pretty successful season. A lot of problems got sent, some projects got done, and a lot of new people were introduced to the awesome climbing this place has to offer!


Eric is cuckoo for Kook's crimps... that was just lame... i'm sorry.
Kook V8
Photo - Jeff Sillcox


Wes trying to make a decision like Mark Wahlberg about to leave the Funky Bunch on the V6 on the 1-6-9 boulder.
Photo - Eric Lang


Eric eliminating all the moves on Avada Kedavra, V10? There are no moves, There are no moves...
Photo - Wes Dodson

And now it is Bishop season...


In this picture, Eric is demonstrating that he can take cool pictures of the sun too... Oh yea, that's Charlie on Evilution, V12...
Photo - Eric Lang

And here is a picture from the east rim of the sads... I think there are mountains and maybe even the Buttermilks over there... this is bulls*@#!!!!!!!!!


Photo - Eric Lang

And on a completely unrelated note... I appreciate this guys honesty; maybe he should be president for the next couple of weeks!


This place is the truth!
Photo - Eric Lang

Joe's: Return of the Peach

Okay, I give up. I can't condense the photos from Joe's Valley down to a reasonable number. So the new plan is to do one post per climber. I have to apologize to much of the Colorado crew since I didn't get any pictures of them and to Cory, who I got one crappy picture of. However, you can watch a video of him crushing Beyond Life (V10) on Jamie Emerson's blog. Also a big thanks to Isaac for showing me a bunch of boulder problems and to his dog Sage for bringing me a bunch of sticks.

The lineup: (maybe in this order, maybe not)
Nate (yes, he's first)
Ben
Eric
The 4runner
Jamie
Jim

Nate

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Driving to Joe's one year ago (or more accurately, one year before this Joe's Valley trip), Nate flipped his car 35 times avoiding a monster truck (driven by a drunk bear) and some ice dancers. Read last year's version of the story just in case I forgot anything important. Long story short: broken neck, surgery, a neck brace for a really long time, and no climbing for six months. On Nate's first day climbing after the accident, he sent The Marble (V10) in tennis shoes. (Nate, you should have written this one up yourself so the details were slightly more accurate.) Obviously he is back to full strength and crushing again. It would be a pretty inspirational story if we didn't make fun of it so much.

Nate is not afraid of the ground below Michelangelo (V3/4). It can't drive down the wrong side of the highway.

photo - Jeff Sillcox

The Wind Below (V8)

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Flashing the classic Wills a Fire (V6)

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Nate trying Dark Continent (V8). (Insert joke about his lack of endurance).

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Nate putting up a new classic on more perfect sandstone in the Rocklands, South Africa.

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Cabin fever from a week of rain in South Africa...

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Procrastination

I'm having a hard time sorting through the 350 pictures from Joe's Valley right now, so here's a little filler post until I get my act together.

Andrew sending Brian's Project (V9), Buttermilks


photos - Jeff Sillcox

The amazing sunset at the Buttermilks Sunday evening. What could be better than that?

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Maybe a silhouette of Charlie sticking the first move of Evilution (V12) with the sunset in the background?

photo - Jeff Sillcox

How about one of him at the lip staring down the upper crux?

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Or maybe his feet would cut and he would be perfectly lined up between Basin Mountain and Mt. Tom? Yeah, that would be perfect...

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Buy a Pad

Josh over at Organic Bouldering Mats is offering full size pads for only $150-$160! That's cheap for any bouldering pad, let alone the best foam out there. Here's the catch: You have to order by tomorrow (12/5). Also, solid colors only which isn't really a big deal. Mine is practically a solid color or you could get creative and paint something on yours like this:

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Okay, that's enough marketing... Joe's Valley post coming soon...