Odds and Ends

I've been wanting to post and link up to a couple of climber interviews lately, but I just haven't been able to find the time...but finally...here you go!



Brad Mcleod, of SCC and southeastern access fame, has a great training/work out website over at http://sealgrinderpt.com/...if you haven't checked it out yet, you should. He'll get you strong and keep you strong if you follow his work outs! I spotlighted his interview with John Gill back a few months ago, but he has also done some other awesome interviews lately too.



Here is a link to his interview with climber/poet Pat Ament and more recently, his interview with training guru Eric Horst.



If you haven't seen any of these interviews yet, click on over and eat em up...this is some good stuff!!! Thanks Brad for all the hard work you've been doing on all fronts and everyone is looking forward to what you've got for us next:)



Another great article that has got me pondering lately, especially since the arrival of Lily and my priorities have changed a little, was written by Matt Paden over on Cruxn a couple of weeks ago. The article is called Climbing: Compulsion, Habit, Escape, Pure Joy or All of the Above...click on over, check it out and ponder yourself about exactly what climbing is and isn't to you.





We had planned on taking Lily out to Oregon for the 4th of July break this year to visit her aunt and cousins, and so I could go check out Smith Rocks and some other Oregonian bouldering (when it wasn't soaking wet, like our usual winter trip) too, but fate has twisted us in a different direction and postponed the trip for a little while. Instead of hitting Oregon and Smith Rocks though, we just made our reservations to rent a cabin up near Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia. If you haven't heard about Grayson...should you really call yourself a boulderer;) Nah...Grayson is destined to become the southeast's best summer time bouldering destination and with good reason, plenty of rock, beautiful settings and wild ponies make for a unique and memorable trip. We went last year for the 4th and had a blast and look forward to showing Lily the ponies and taking her on her first bouldering road trip!

Here is a video of our trip last year...check it out if you haven't already:)


Last but not least...I'm also planning on posting up, real soon, a new topo to a small bouldering wall in the Jocassee Gorges that I haven't given beta out for before, Big Eastatoee. Hopefully that post will be up today or tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for some new (actually one of the oldest Gorges spots I've been bouldering at) beta for a summer morning session!