Name: Nick Anderson

Age: 24

Home: Colorado Springs

Sponsors: None

In it: 9 years

The local: Eleven Mile Canyon, Ute Pass

Memorable tricks: The Nickness (2nd ascent) and The Gusher (V11 - 2nd ascent)

Dream trip: The trip I don't have to come home from; I would like to boulder on six continents.

The five year goal: To get my Ph.D. in physics and go on my dream trip.

The Insider
Nick, as usual, set a fast pace along the muddy trail at Newlin Creek as casual hikers fell behind us with the typical comments about the pads on our backs.

He had just returned from spring break bouldering in Utah and was psyched to keep climbing - so our plan for the day was to look for, and establish, some new lines.

We talked about a number of things while we warmed up. Nick usually likes to talk about climbing, physics, math, and books. And when we're making stupid math jokes or talking about some detail within a novel, I often forget some of the impressive things I've seen him do while climbing. For instance, he almost flashed The Gusher, a V11, but fell from the easier mantle move at the top. I've even seen him confidently pursue a V9 barefooted.

Moving on with our agenda for the day, we found that snowmelt had caused a tributary of a creek to fill with debris, and the rerouted stream found its way directly underneath one of our problems. Since the problem was wet anyway, we decide to take a break from climbing to clear some channels, build small dams, and dislodge ice from the frigid waters. Eventually the flow was back to its original path and the landing zone was free to dry. Truthfully, the simplicity and enjoyment of the act probably appealed to Nick more than the results.

We continued to climb for hours, but as night fell we decided to try one last new line that has held our attention for years. As I watched Nick pull onto the first holds and begin to decipher the moves in the fading light, I was reminded that even though he's passionate in his intellectual pursuits, he's foremost a climber - a very strong climber. Climbing and math probably appeal to Nick for the same reason: the challenge of solving a difficult problem. After Nick graduates with his physics degree, I suspect he'll continue to solve increasingly difficult problems in his chosen research field, and in his life of climbing.
- Luke Bohanon