All Fires- AEC Bouldering

The sun sets over the La Sal Mountains

Christian Prellwitz- 'Smile Left' (v3/3+)

It's been a very cold and snowy December so far, which has made climbing outside quite difficult. I've had several planned road trips get shut down by big snowstorms. With the busy Christmas period just around the corner, I was desperate to get on some real rock. Luckily, the weather was quite beautiful yesterday and I was able to make it out to the Atomic Energy Boulders with a couple of friends.

'Dare To Compare' (v2/3)

Simon Hutton- 'Breaking The Waves' (v0+/1, from the stand)

Hannah Gordon- 'Sunshine Arete' (v0)

'Broken Feet' (v1/1+)

'Red Baron' (v0)

'All fires have to burn alive to live...'

The Good & The Bad

Christian pulling into the crux of the 'Green Wall Center' (hard v6).

Hannah, Simon and I finished our trip with several outstanding days in the Buttermilks and a rest day spent exploring Mono Lake and the Obsidian Dome. The climbing went well with everyone making progress on their projects. Unfortunately our last day took a bad turn when I fell onto a sharp branch that penetrated several inches into my leg. A trip to the emergency room and four stitches rectified the problem, but that was the last bit of climbing I would do. Not the best way to leave Bishop, but sometimes you have to take the bad with the good.

Hannah trying to trust her feet on the 'Rubber Tester' (v0).

Simon approaching the top of an unnamed v0 on Ranger Rock.

The spectacular tufa of Mono Lake

Obsidian Dome

Mono Lake

Mono Lake

Bristlecone Pine Forest

more photos from the bristlecone pine forest...

Fall Trip To Bishop

Christian finishing up the wonderful 'Rio's Secret Arete' (v3)

Needing to satiate my climbing fix before a long winter of skiing, I headed to Bishop for ten days of bouldering. My Australian friends, Hannah and Simon, flew into California a few days into my trip and joined me in Bishop. This was their first real taste of climbing and they were both able to get up some good lines. Hopefully, this is just the start of their climbing careers!

Simon Hutton grappling with 'The Groove' (v0-)

Figuring out the beta on the new and improved 'Sucker Punch' (now v5/5+)

'Carrot Top' (v3)

Bishop

I'm back in Bishop again. The climbing has been going really well! More pictures and info soon...

Back At The Gunks

Kyla cruising along the 'Sidewalk' (v0), Peter's Kill.

Christian sticking the final sloper on the 'Black Boulder Problem' (v5).

This weekend my friend Kyla and I were able to get together in the Gunks for a couple days of bouldering. After heavy rain on Saturday, the weather was phenomenal Sunday and Monday. It's always good to get back to the areas where I first started climbing, to measure my climbing progress and to enjoy the sunshine in familiar places.

Finishing the 'Boxcar Traverse' (v4)

'The Clune Crank' (v1)

'Loner Boner' (v3), Peter's Kill

'Blasted Rock' (v0)

'VD' (v3), Peter's Kill

Gunks scenery

'Boulder of the Gods' (v0)

Witch Hazel in bloom

The End

Quick Trip To Pawtuckaway

Fall Colors

Boulder Natural

I was able to make a quick trip up to Pawtuckaway during my brief time here in the Northeast. I was alone so I have no pictures of me climbing but I was able to get some pictures of the beautiful scenery. It's hard to beat Fall in New England.

Round Pond

A view across Round Pond

Goodbye Australia

A Melbourne sunset as viewed from St. Kilda Pier

New Zealand- Castle Hill Bouldering

It looks simple. It isn't. 'Think Tank' (v4), Quantum Field

Castle Hill is one of the main reasons that I came to New Zealand. I had seen so many amazing pictures of the bouldering from this area that I had to see for myself whether it was real or imagined. It didn't disappoint. This is truly one of the most picturesque climbing areas I have ever been to, and the bouldering is fantastic. It's also very different. The best description I've heard is- "Friction climbing without the friction." The rock here is a glassy limestone that becomes more polished the more it's climbed. The problems are very technical and tenuous, involving a large amount of intricate body tension to pull off moves. I fell in love with the style of climbing and the landscape. I hope to return again one day to this magical place.

Pulling through the opening moves of the incredibly technical
'Super-Toucher' (v5), Spittle Hill

The sun sets over Castle Hill

Praying the feet don't blow- 'Supernatural' (v5), Spittle Hill

Enjoying the evening's glow

Having gained the slab, getting ready to launch sideways for the large pocket
on the 'Lung Dyno' (v4), Quantum Field

The big throw for the top- 'Lung Dyno' (v4), Quantum Field

An unnamed v1 at Quantum Field

An overview of Castle Hill- Spittle Hill (left) & Quantum Field (right)

New Zealand- Aoraki National Park

Mt. Cook

On the way back to Castle Hill from Fiordland, Malin and I spent some time exploring Aoraki National Park. This is home to Mt. Cook (Aoraki), the highest mountain in New Zealand. Snow capped mountains and turquoise blue lakes dominated the scenery. Yet another amazingly beautiful place.

Lake Pukaki

The Church of the Good Shepherd overlooks Lake Tekapo

The Tasman Glacier and it's accompanying lake