The Recap

As it turns out, that time to write I was talking about, well now is that time. I decided to get to the airport about an hour and forty-five minutes early for my flight home for the holidays. So, as I sit here and wait, I figure, “Why not hit up that blog thing that I’ve been slacking so hard on lately?” So, here goes:

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of climbing, training, working, and climbing some more. Since the Cruxmas comp we had I have been climbing like a madman, taking little to no rest days. On top of that, the rest days have been more or less just rest days from climbing, but not working out. If it’s not climbing, it’s lifting weights, doing cardio, and now yoga. Yeah, that’s right, yoga. I was a bit apprehensive going into it, but psyched nonetheless and am even more psyched to keep doing it. I think that it will be a great help in helping me increase both my flexibility and increasing my awareness of body position and balance. So, if you haven’t tried yoga, get your ass out there and give it a whirl.

I’ve also managed to get back outside, which was rather interesting. Shannon and I made the three hour drive down to ibex this past Saturday for a short and sweet crushing session. We knew it was going to be cold; the high was supposed to be 25 degrees. Cold, for sure, but the wind there can make warm days too biting to climb. So, it was a crapshoot and we took it. This is what we found when we got there, but said fuck it lets climb anyway, and I’m glad we did.


Ibex is situated on this "dried" up lake bed...can you say HOT!!


The Red Monster Boulder

Shannon walking all over Ju


The end of another phenomenal day on the boulders

So, with a bunch of snow on the ground, missing all of the sunlight on the boulders, no wind thank god, temps between 10 and 20 degrees, and more winter clothes than you would wear snowboarding, we hit the boulders and shook the place up a bit. Though we were climbing in down coats and I didn’t bother pulling off the smart wools to put the climbing shoes on, we still manages to rip off sends of Ju, Purple Flowers, Bruce Lee, and the sit start to White Arete. I can’t say that it was the best climbing day, but despite the cold I had a damn good time and would be first in line to do it all over again…maybe with a space heater next time for the toes though!

Other than some good climbing, some great nights hanging out with the crew, new experiences with cold, and just loving being out here in SLC, I don’t know what to say. Well, it’s 4:08 and I have about half an hour till my flight starts boarding. So, I’m off to grab a bite to eat and start getting psyched to see all of you crazy ass people back in Cincy later on tonight. I hope you’re all ready for me! To the rest of you people, Happy Holidays and keep crushing!

Wow!

So, it's been a week and a half since I last posted something on here. So much has happened in that time and I will get to that when I have time, but for now...I can't wait for this Friday. I leave Salt Lake around 5 p.m to head home for the holidays. It's going to be a good time hanging out with all my friends in Cincy and hopefully dragging them all out to the bars after a good session of crushing this weekend! Well, to all of you Cincy freaks out there...I comin' home bitches!!! So, get ready to party like a rock star!

I'm sore...

bored, and have a picture for you. First, it's the Mormon temple, church, whatever...second, I'm sore from setting and forerunning for the Cruxmas comp that took place at the front today. So, back to number one. Enjoy!

And so it goes...

Since my flailing at Joe's a week and a half ago I have been determined to crush. I have undoubtedly climbed or worked out far more days than I have rested, and am starting to feel the pain. My body feels like it got hit by a truck and then ran through a wringer. It's been a long time since my back has been so tight, my forearms so gorged, and my eyelids so heavy. I know, it sounds like this is the perfect time for a rest day, or two, or three. Unfortunately, I have already given my word to Shannon to help set for the Cruxmas comp here at The Front, which is this Saturday. So, I get to set boulder problems and forerun for the next 2 nights after work. Yay!!! Or maybe not.

So, I wish that I could say that I have been outside all of these days punishing my poor body, but I can't. I have been a gym warrior. Between climbing for hours on end at The Front and Dave Bell's home wall, I've been lifting with Shannon, running, riding the exercise bikes, and doing some stretching as well...and no, I still can't touch my toes! Maybe someday I'll get down there. Until then, I guess I'll just keep working on it and hoping it never hinders me on a climb.

I know, why haven't I been outside lately with everything sooo close by? Well, why don't I give you a little peak.

Yeah, that's why. Over the course of one night, the heavens opened up and dumped about six inched of snow on the valley. Fortunately, it has all melted. However, Little Cottonwood is a fair bit higher and cold air from the ski resorts at the top constantly rushes down through the canyon keeping it cold even when everything else is starting to warm up a bit. Not to mention, the South side of the canyon doesn't get light at ANY point in the winter, rendering the season on the south side over for sure. Although, there are those few brave souls that head over there with shovels and brooms. Count me out of that crowd! I'll just keep training in the gym until the upper areas on the north side melt and dry off.