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EXCLUSIVE - POST CARDS
A collection of climbing stories from climbers around the world.
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 Hot Rock Expedition 4: Uganda Gallery
Photos by Ivana Crone and Roger Buser - The Hot Rock Climbing Expedition continues in Uganda. Follow the Hot Rock crew as they explore up to Class 5 rapids down the Nile, the friendly culture, and granite domes. The climbing in Uganda varies, from multi-pitch to bolted sport to phenomenal bouldering, with everything from slabs to finger cracks to steep traverses.  Hot Rock Climbing Expedition 4: Uganda
Uganda is that lazy-paced, sunny, reggae-filled African country, with that old Bob Marley/Caribbean vibe. The people are super-friendly, laidback, and always smiling and helpful. This is the most relaxed place we have visited so far. Our first stop was at Jinja, an adventure seekers' paradise, with its world’s tallest bangi-jump and some of the planet’s gnarliest kayaking, and even rafting on class 5 rapids.  Hot Rock Climbing Expedition 3: Kenya
Entering Kenya feels like entering a typical African postcard. Zebras and giraffes grazed on sweeping grassy plains shadowed by aged sycamore trees, with herds of wild elephants majestically crossing over the horizon. The lakeshores are full of birds often bigger than the mammals. It is like visiting a slightly evolved Jurassic Park.  Brilliance from the Dark Continent
Walking to school in the frigid December Minnesota air, bundled from head to toe in various layers of insulation, I was mulling over an email conversation I had the previous night with my new friend Dave. Dave lives in Mali, West Africa. I was wishing that I could transport myself three weeks forward in time when I would be there for a visit. One night, among other things, we were talking rock.  Hot Rock Climbing Expedition 2: Ethiopia
Ethiopia: The wildest, craziest mix of beauty on the planet. The deep canyons, eagles, and waterfalls, Mohawk kids cracking their whips after a herd of galloping horses. Graceful robed women with crosses and ornaments tattooed to their foreheads. That all has greeted us, as we crossed The high Simien Mountains. Our next climbing destination was Aksum in Northern Ethiopia.  Climbing the Nose With the Man of Speed
I originally met Hans Florine at the Outdoor Retailer trade shows. In October 2009, he came to our climbing gym here in Colorado Springs to do a speed climbing presentation. I talked to him for a bit, bringing up my failed attempt at climbing the Nose two years ago. After his presentation was over, I went to say goodbye to him, and he mentioned climbing the Nose with me "if I was ever down that way." Of course I would make it a point to get down that way!  On Kilimanjaro I felt like I ascended into heaven
It is not often that one meets a very experienced veteran trip leader specializing in safaris to wild parks and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro who says, when he successfully climbed Kilimanjaro to the summit for the first time in 1988, "I was very happy when I reached the roof of Africa. I felt like I have been ascended into heaven, body and soul."  Mountain Weather
Updated 2/18/10 by Michael Fagin - Weekly updates on mountain weather for a different location each week and updated every Thursday. We will cover the following: Alps, Cascades, Sierra, Aconcagua, and more will be added. Lead forecaster Michael Fagin has been providing mountain weather forecasts since the 1970's.  Climbing in Belapur, Near Mumbai, India
Before I moved to Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) I started researching the climbing community. I found a climbing wall that is set just off of a school grounds in an area called Goregaon. The community at the wall is very active and dedicated, immediately accepting me and inviting me to join them regularly on their real rock adventures. Towards the end of 2009 I spent several weekends in an area called Belapur in New Bombay, inland a ways from Mumbai.  The Longest Climb - Part 3
Well rested, well fed, well family feuded and well excited, it is time to hit 2010 running. After far too much indulgence, and not nearly enough contact, let alone climbing, we have both let it slip somewhat over the festive period, and it is with a sense of courageous trepidation that we sit here, staring at the last 6 months until the day when Jonny and I will race against each other to set a new world record; to climb 8,848 meters on an indoor wall.  Pianos Rachados 2009 - A New Crack Climbing Event in Portugal
Portugal climbing is best known for its excellent limestone cliffs next to the ocean, providing hard, overhanging sport routes, but not its trad climbing... But now, near to Lisbon, south of the surfing mecca, Ericeira, an outstandingly gorgeous cliff of black basalt with perfect splitter cracks was recently discovered. The place might remind you of UK's Peak District with exuberant evergreen shrubs and gray to black rock.  A Climber in Iraq
His fingers curl over the crimpy hold as his left hand reaches for a sweat slick sloper. He ascends the wall, ignoring the hum of the air-conditioner, the aggressive flies, the fluorescent lights, the heat and drafts of dust. At the top he hangs for a moment on the two-by-four plank and then drops to the worn padding of blue mats and grey-yellow mattresses. Outside the roar of a Blackhawk’s rotor blades and engines ruffles the tent’s ceiling over the climber’s head, but after nine months in country he hardly notices these sounds anymore.  MATTERHORN MADNESS UNMASKED
Story and photos by John Wutzer - It all began back in 2006 when a couple climbing friends and I decided to attempt to climb the Matterhorn. We reserved a guide but a trail climb to test our Alpine skills was first in order. We were led on a 6 hour exhausting half traverse of the Breithorn that challenged us beyond our imagination. We completed the journey but lacking top fitness and more, it left us physically drained, mentally down and beaten by the mountain. It was determined that we were under-skilled in a variety of mountaineering and climbing aspects thereby deemed unsuited for the Matterhorn.  GETTING DOWN THE CRUX
Story and Red Rocks wood mural by Sherri Lewis - I avoid alpine starts as if they were a cactus on a climbers’ trail. I never grasped the point of losing sleep to bag a plum route when the low-hanging fruit seemed plenty tasty. But lately this cragger was hungry for altitude, so I made plans to fly from Seattle to Las Vegas before Thanksgiving with the goal of climbing Black Orpheus, an 11-pitch 5.10a deep within Oak Creek Canyon in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada.  The Longest Climb - Part 2
So… its all actually really, properly, happening. For real. The wheels are turning, the wagons rolling and any other getting started type metaphors you can think off. I’m sure anyone reading this by now will be aware of the challenge Tom and I are taking on – unless by some random, freak occurrence of coincidence you have just landed on this blog by chance, in all the billions of pages on the internet. |
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