ENTOURAGE - #13 > OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2006

Saviors of the Universe

The Access Fund
Conceived on a barstool in the late 1980s over whiskey, cocktail napkins, and pleather imprints on the back of thighs. Born on both coasts and somewhere in-between under the sign of the monkey and the influence of earth element. AF sees the glass as filled- sometimes half full, sometimes half empty, but always filled. AF has been plagued since childhood by unrealized dreams but it's not our fault. AF wants to take over the world, but can't come up with a theme song. AF never wanted to be was a "rapeller". AF is a perfectionist with a messy car, somtimes forgets to spell check, dumpster-dives but splurges on good coffee. Too much coffee. Not enough coffee. AF's favorite joke involves the word poop. AF laughs, a lot. The kind of laugh that starts below the belly and sometimes makes you squirt chicken noodle soup out your nose. AF reads Urban Climber like a religion. Visit www.accessfund.org

Bennett Barthelemy
"...I didn't realize before that what I did or do affects other people, and now I do."

For Bennett this realization evolved into a photographic/writing career (really just a hand to mouth existence), working with the Access Fund, land managers and local native tribes in Northern California.  His goal has been to effect informed dialogue in natural areas where climbing happens. "Saah naghai bikeh hozho" is a phrase used in some of their ceremonies and translates as "continuing re-occurring long life in an environment of beauty and harmony."

Bennett describes himself as a 'Cat Herder-Climber'. "That's one way I would describe myself.  It's amazing how things move at the speed of slow; on a land-manager bureaucratic level, with native communities and even the local climbing community.  Or maybe I am a vertical diplomat just wanting to continue to see people string themselves up from cliffs."

Zach Orenczak and Rachael Lynn
These two outlaws run Extreme Angles Publishing from the remote outpost of Laramie, Wyoming.  Although there are fewer gunslingers to deal with these days, the west remains decidedly wild.   They flavor their books with unsuspecting craziness and a stance that often flies in the face of traditionalist understandings.  Their latest book, Devils Tower Climbing, combines their outrageous boldness with concise and specific information on the Tower's free climbs.  As if great topos and photographs of the cliffs weren't enough, they did it in full-color, including loads of historical photos, full coverage of the untold history of the area, tear-out route cards and so much more.  Their other books include climbing and bouldering guides to the wild rocks of Vedauwoo, Wyoming and Shawangunk Rock Climbing.  Look for them to keep kicking ass.  You can visit Extreme Angles Publishing online at www.ExtremeAngles.com.

Michael Reardon
Five years ago, rumors surfaced around the campfires about Michael Reardon soloing several 5.12s and a 5.13b at his home crag of Malibu Creek. Well, it's true. With enough energy to make the Energizer Bunny cringe, Michael regularly solos up to 10,000 feet per day at Joshua Tree, Tahquitz, and the Needles, including the testpieces of each area such as "Equinox" (5.12c), "The Pirate" (5.12d), and his mind-numbing onsight solo of the "Romantic Warrior" (V 5.12b). Recently Michael took to the high Sierras and completed the "Palisade Traverse" (VI 5.9) as a day hike (adding 16 miles to the climb) in 23 hours! For the traverse,

Michael brought along a blow up doll for pictures and left panties and naked playing cards along the way as a reminder that "it's all about having fun first, everything else in life, second." So what's next for this Outlaw? "I've been training for harder multi-pitch first ascent solos, because that's where the real challenges of the mind appear." Visit him at www.freesoloist.com

Phillip Benningfield
Phillip Benningfield is an author of two Colorado statewide bouldering guides, a mountain biking guide, as well as the author of a novel on teenage suicide. A new two-volume Colorado bouldering guide will be published in late 2006 with Sharp End Publishing. His writing has been published in Sports A Field, Aspen, Climbing, 5280, and Rock and Ice. He is currently working on catching and tying down an agent for a coffee culture book entitled The Dark Roast (Caffeinated Tales).

Damon Corso
We don't have much to say about "Damo" except that he's the man. He's a staple in UC's diet, a veteran to our Entourage and an awesome photographer. This time our man on the street approached us with the idea of capturing a stealth mission with Mike Reardon and friends invading the architecture of LA.  All we could see in our heads was the Beastie Boys video for "Sabotage", and it was enough to greenlight the crap out of it.