Stay tuned for more updates.... Next up: New Dawn VI 5.8 A3 Sept 21-25
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Zodiac Solo Video link
THE VIDEO Link for the video I put together from my recent 5 day solo on the Zodiac route on El Cap.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Final Gear Sort
One of the reasons I like the right side of El Cap is that it it STEEP!
Hauling pitches 1 & 2 on the Zodiac
which makes all the hauling way more pleasurable than on the low apron of the left side of El Cap, making me slightly less concerned about the amount of gear I will be hauling this week on the Zodiac (but just slightly). Today was the final gear sort and stockpiling and there is PLENTY. 7 gallons of fluids, food for 5 days, all the climbing hardware, software and ropes, portaledge, rainfly, clothes, sleeping bag, rain gear, recharging devices with batteries, boom box (a must), beer (another necessity), headlamp, extra batteries, spare headlamp,
Starbuck's espressos in a can, duct tape, first aid, poop kit, video and photo equipment, haul bags, sleeping pad, etc, etc, etc.
Thankfully I have someone helping me ferry loads to the base and another buddy helping carry off the top... still the amount of gear and equipment is immense!
Stay tuned as hopefully the next post will be from Yosemite...
Friday, August 5, 2011
It's all about the journey
Pitch 1 on the Zodiac (only 2,000 feet to go!)
People sometimes (actually a lot) ask why I climb big walls and especially why I would want to solo big walls. It's sort of a loaded question since to try and put into words anything you are extremely passionate about can be challenging. For me I think it boils down to the fact that it is a place where I can be completely in tune with myself and nature and the true sense of discovery that each adventure brings. Every trip I learn more and more about myself and what I am capable of. There is nowhere that I feel more connected to the universe than when I am floating across a sea of granite. Combine all of that with the pure physical and mental challenge and focus that you achieve for days on end and perhaps that may give you a glimpse into what it is that attracts me to these beautiful granite walls.
It can be a bit unnerving and overwhelming to sit at the base and look up and realize you are embarking on such a massive undertaking. But like any goal you have to cut it down into bite size chunks. Each day is broken down into pitches and rope lengths and individual moves as you make your way up. Once I begin climbing and get into a groove the minutes, hours, days pass by like clouds on the wind. As long as I am moving up eventually I know I will reach the top. One climb can be a lifetime of discovery even though it is just a small moment in time.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Gear Sort
Today was like christmas at REI as I had to get new gloves, some additional Nutrinos, got a new .75 camalot, new #3 camalot as well as the small size Metolious master cam (grey) so sweet! Not to mention a new small pulley, two pairs of socks (every other pair I own has holes in them) and some assorted food stuff.
And so the packing and unpacking continues. The nice part is I have a poor soul who I have never met who agreed to meet me on top to help carry all my shit down so I can pretty much take as much as I want. Now I can take the luxury Black Diamond portaledge instead of the old Gramici lightweight ledge and fly that you can basically see through, I can take extra underwear and of course plenty of batterise for the Big Wall Boom Box.
Now it's down to doing the food shop (probably Tuesday before I drive up) and going through the gear 5 or 6 more times to try and cut out anything I don't need and take only what I will need.
The question is can I get someone to help me carry everything to the base... that would be too sweet!
Monday, August 1, 2011
8 days and counting... Zodiac solo
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