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Climbing, Adventure, Gear & Choss
Gear Reviews
Indian Creek Climbing Guide (Camalot Edition) Review
I had something else written for this, but like that angry email you sent in a fit of rage and then wished you could take back, I opted for this version instead. I did have a very strong response to this book, but I’m going to try to be much more objective about it, and [...]
Red River Gorge Guidebooks – 4th Edition
I have a confession to make. Unlike many folks around here, who seem to have second homes in Kentucky, I have only been to the Red River Gorge once. I was in college, and we had a four day fall break, so we loaded up two cars and made the trek from Ithaca down to [...]
2013 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market Highlights
Generally, the Winter Outdoor Retailer trade show is pretty slow as far as climbing is concerned. You do get to play with all the gear that we saw in the summer, and which will be coming out in the coming months, which is fun. That being said, there’s always a handful of new products, as [...]
Scarpa Boostic Review
su-per-la-tive 1. of, relating to, or constituting the degree of grammatical comparison that denotes an extreme or unsurpassed level or extent 2. a: surpassing all others: supreme b: of very high quality: excellent I’m going to try my best to not talk in grandiose superlatives as I describe the Scarpa Boostics. As you’ll see, this [...]
2012 Holiday Gift Guide for Climbers
Wait, it’s December 14th already!?! When did that happen? Weren’t we just climbing on sunny rock? If, like me, the holidays have snuck up on you this year, you’re probably wondering to get those special people in your life. Fear not, once again, just in time for all of us who don’t do our Christmas [...]
Edelrid Fraggle Kid’s Harness Review
Kid’s harnesses are often notorious for being a Sisyphean task of working through a maze of webbing, buckles and adjustments, untwisting leg loops and trying to figure out the front from the back, and the top from the bottom. Meanwhile, your kid is growing impatient and about to start free soloing above a garden of [...]
Five Ten Canvas Guide Tennie Review
Do they pass the test? With my legs spread and teeth gritted together, I tried to relax, but two questions kept running through my mind. How important is this, really? And, were these the right shoes to wear? Pabst Smear is the most footwork intensive climb at the Black Cliffs, an area known for requiring [...]
Helmets Are Cool…Almost!
I wear a helmet on almost every single pitch I climb. Sometimes I take it off if I’m just top roping, but yeah, I’m even one of the three people in Rifle wearing a helmet. Considering that one flying piece of choss could change your life forever, it’s a pretty small thing to wear one [...]
Meet the Edelrid Boa Duotec Rope
Moderator: “This is called speed dating because you two only have 5 minutes to get to know each other and see if you are match. The session starts and stops when the bell rings. Rock Climber, meet Edelrid Boa DuoTec. Boa, this is Rock Climber. The session starts now. You guys have fun.” *DING* Climber: [...]
Summer Outdoor Retailer 2012
The gatherings of our tribe are always a time of celebration, whether it be a party in central Wyoming, or a trade show in the scorching hot basin that is Salt Lake City. And even if the “main” reason we are there is to dork out on gear, we all know the real reason is [...]
Gregory Savant 58 Review
I like big packs, and I cannot lie. Small ones just don’t do it for me. Some folks are into them, I’ve heard, but for me, the bigger the better. I don’t like to have to think too hard when packing, about how to fit it all together in the space available. I just want [...]
Self-Rescue (2nd Edition) Book Review
If you climb long enough, you’ll probably be faced with a self-rescue scenario involving yourself or someone else you encounter. Maybe it’s a bad fall, ripping some gear or hitting a ledge. Or, perhaps you’re fortunate enough to avoid witnessing an accident, but you’re faced with a challenging scenario when you decide to impress the [...]
Splitter Stuff – Summer 2012
Realizing that sometimes there’s just too much new stuff out there to keep track of, we wanted to start a feature on this site that could highlight some of the best new products of the season. Welcome to Splitter Stuff! Camp Photon Wire Rack Pack I love light gear, but I don’t really want it [...]
Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody Review
The wind had picked up considerably over the course of the day, turning what we thought was going to be a scorcher into a fairly chilly afternoon. I had glanced at my new Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody in my pack at the base, but figured a lightweight windshirt would be all I’d need on our [...]
Five Ten Blackwing Review
There’s a tangible excitement that comes with the arrival of a new season. For climbers, spring often means being able to access crags that you couldn’t get to during the winter. We have a nice local spot around here that features gently overhanging limestone routes in a stunning setting, but you can only get there [...]
New Western Slope Guidebooks in the Works
I wanted to get the word out that there are new guidebooks currently in the works for the Western Slope. Yes, that’s books, plural, because it’s going to be a two part volume. Rifle will have it’s own book (volume 1), and then the rest of the crags in the area will have their own. [...]
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9/29/12
A Festive Fall Weekend
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7/11/2012
The 2012 International Climbers’ Festival
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