The Trade of Showing

I'm back from Salt Lake City. Mostly it was hot. I was there. So were Jon and Olson. And Olson's Prius. Oh, and there was a comp. I feel like I did well in my first ever climbing competition - I placed 18th.


Also, comps are fun! I really enjoyed my 25 minutes of climbing and I'm looking forward to competing more often this year.

But the comp was just a bonus - the real reason we drove 8 hours through the Wyoming countryside was to meet and greet at the Outdoor Retailers Trade Show. The thing was huge. Needless to say there was a lot of wandering around. I found that I kept retracing my steps from the 5.10 booth, to the Verve booth and the Organic Booth, and back to 5.10.
Speaking of 5.10, they have some rad new product coming out soon. Check out the Team 5.10s and the Chase. There will also be some older shoe models in new colors. And the Five Tennie is coming back. Oh, and jeans!

In the end I found my two days at the show to be quite productive. I'll be back next year.

Also, according to John Dorough, Ronnie Jenkins put up quite a hard route back home. I don't know anything about it, I don't even know exactly it is, but I'm excited to try it soon! Nice work Jenkins!

-Brion

The Grand Teton National Park

I was in Jackson, Wyoming last week with Jo Beth. Did I mention that the Tetons are beautiful?

So was the girl I was with.

We didn't do a whole lot - a little hiking but not much else. I really enjoyed myself. For a few days I had nowhere to be and no boulders to climb. I've found that if I push myself too hard and for too long my motivation fails completely. Even a few days away goes a long way toward rebuilding psyche.

A moose

-Brion

I Need A Break

I'm leaving tomorrow for the Grand Teton with Jo Beth and her family. I'm excited to have a little break from climbing, my body is exhausted. Then it's on to Salt Lake City for the trade show and comp. I don't really know what to expect but I'm excited to be involved.

Also, Nate put together some of that footage I promised. Still to come is video of me climbing Freshly Squeezed (v12). Stay tuned...



-Brion

Doin' Work

It's 90 degrees in Boulder today, 88 in our house. We have a small fan and one window AC unit. If the AC and the dishwasher are running simultaneously, the breaker trips and our power goes out. Breakfast is the best meal of the day.

On rest days we will do anything to get out of the house and into an air-conditioned building. Lately that has meant the Boulder Public Library. I haven't been resting too much though - there is too much climbing to do and too many new areas to be seen. Last week we visited an area called Guanella Pass. Its a small area, comparable to the Citadel or Zahnd back home, but the climbing was definitely worth the two hour drive from Boulder. I was extremely happy to climb the incredible Mind Matters (v12).

Here are some pictures of the day:

Bessie (v10)

Mind Matters (v12)

After our day at Guanella Pass, temps dropped, setting us up for some great days at the park. Sending time! In two days I was able to climb Freshly Squeezed (v12), Blood Money (v12), Skipper Roof Left (v11), Marble Direct (v10), Skipper Roof Right (v10), Far Left El Jorge (v9) and Teradacyl (v9).

Blood Money

Skipper Roof Left

Nate was also able to finish off some projects. He sent Eternia (v11), Skipper Roof Left (v11) and his first v12, Wildcat.

Skipper Roof Left

Wildcat

Also check out this video from Jimmy. In it I climb Skipper D (v8), an amazing problem in Upper Chaos.

-Brion

Oh, and stay tuned the next couple days for some video of the sending spree!