An Update

Though it has been a while since I last posted (5 months by my count!), that doesn't mean that I haven't been busy. This winter was not a great one for climbing- at least for me personally. I wasn't able to get outside climbing as much as I would've liked, as I battled sickness and an insane work schedule.

The good news is that the season is over, so now I'll have some free time! The bad news is that in keeping with the theme of this season, I am currently unable to climb while I let some stitches in my elbow heal. The wound was sustained while working on my nemesis project at The Cove. While not a major injury by any stretch, it's right on the joint, so I have to let the wound heal fully before I can start exerting pressure on it through climbing. Boring!

But, Erika and I are heading out on a two week trip tomorrow. We're going to be doing some sightseeing and hiking in southern Utah for 3 days and then working our way towards Bishop. We'll probably spend around a week there and then get a few days in at Joe's Valley before heading home. I have to catch a flight to New Hampshire on May 1 so our time is limited.

I've been climbing at Society Turn and The Cove primarily over the last few weeks, since Ilium was so slow to dry out. I've actually enjoyed the change of pace quite a bit and it was great to tick off most of my remaining projects. Erika and I also did a bunch of cleaning and trail maintenance at The Cove. It's looking quite good and hopefully climbing there will be an even more enjoyable experience for people now. If you haven't ever been out there, it's definitely worth a trip (perhaps several!).

I'm also working on a video that highlights Society Turn and The Cove, and another one for Ilium. Hope to get those posted at some point soon! Stay tuned.

Four From Big Bend!

  Four From Big Bend from Christian Prellwitz on Vimeo.

This video was made during three separate days of climbing (winter 2013) at Big Bend outside of Moab, Utah. I tried to highlight some of the lesser seen/known problems there. I think we've all seen 'Circus Trick' enough times. :) 

Problems climbed include: 'Black Box Arete Left Sit Start' (v7/8?), 'Slappin The Block Sit' (v8?), 'Silly Wabbit' (v3) and 'Left Hand Of Darkness' (v7/8). A few of the climbs (mostly the first two problems shown) are given harder grades in the guidebook. I felt we climbed them in the most natural and uncontrived way possible, but perhaps those grades are meant for a slightly contrived version that doesn't use some of the holds that I did.

Any thoughts/feedback is always welcome and appreciated!

Another Telluride Bouldering Beta Video- The Mine Boulders

Winter is back. And that means back to the snow for me. I'm currently at Copper Mountain, coaching at some race camps, as per usual. It's been a mild fall/winter so far and part of me hopes that will continue so that the climbing will be dry and warm!

Anyhow, I took advantage of being back in Telluride for a few weeks and spent a lot of time climbing at Ilium and The Mine. Here's a video I made of some of the best problems at The Mine. Another video of problems from Ilium will be coming soon. Enjoy!

Telluride Bouldering Beta Part 2- The Mine Boulders from Christian Prellwitz on Vimeo.

Three Days In Blair Woods

Three Days In Blair Woods from Christian Prellwitz on Vimeo.

My last three days in New Hampshire before heading back home to Telluride. I spent it enjoying the crisp conditions (in between bouts of rain) at Pawtuckaway, specifically Blair Woods. Problems shown: 'Fuck The Method' (v6/7), Damn The Man (v7/8), Jeremy's Sick Crimps (v9??), Ball Doctor (v5 ), Pimp Juice (v5) and Pinkerton (v4). Enjoy!

rain, rain, go away...

Well, that's depressing...

some progress...

Well, I was able to resume climbing a week ago. It has been a little frustrating because I am not strong enough yet post surgery to be able to climb all of the things that I want. Instead, it's been a process of building the muscle back up through yoga, some training in the gym and some days outside.

Looking for some mellower, high volume days, Erika and I got on a rope at Rumney the other day. Erika crushed it on Lonesome Dove, which is an amazingly good slabby arete climb. And I managed to redpoint some 5.12's, so I guess I'm not a complete climbing mess right now. I'm looking forward to getting back on a rope again, and if I'm feeling up to it strength wise, giving Bottom Feeder some goes. It's a 5.13 that's made for boulderers like me. Basically, a v7 on a rope.

Getting on a rope has been fun. I still suck at clipping and have zero endurance. But, I'm a lot stronger than the last time I was on one (even in my current state) and that's always an enjoyable revelation.

days are years...

I'm currently recovering from semi-emergency surgery to have my gall bladder removed due to an infection. I've got lots of holes in me and my body is pretty banged up. So, no climbing or adventures for me anytime soon. Hopefully in another 2 to 3 weeks or so I'll be out exploring again. Until then, it'll be a slow road...

Hope things are better for all of you! 

The good temps are coming!

The Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda from Christian Prellwitz on Vimeo.


Erika and I just got back from an 11 day trip to the Virgin Islands. We spent a few days on St. Thomas and St. John, and the rest of our time on the Virgin Gorda- exploring, making a day trip to Anegada and climbing in the evenings when the temperatures got somewhat reasonable (and by reasonable I mean high 80's).

The Virgin Gorda is undeniably a beautiful island with some of the best beaches I've ever seen and a fascinating landscape filled with enormous piles of granite boulders, rainforest, towering bluffs and spectacular flora. Not to mention the superb diving/snorkeling to be found on the many reefs of the Virgin Islands.

As for the climbing, here's my serious take. Some of it is really good. Definitely some of the most interesting features I've seen on granite- crazy pockets and huecos galore. But, a lot of it is really blank and/or uninteresting slabby less than vertical climbing on somewhat friable crimps and edges. I love slab climbing more than most people but it's hard to embrace in a place where it's constantly in the high 80's (shoe rubber melting off holds, fingers dripping with moisture). I'm probably a little more sensitive to heat than most people since I spend most of my year at higher elevations in cooler temperatures and I basically wilt in any sort of heat. That being said, I would generally only climb each day from about 4:30 to 7:30, preferably in the shade. All the problems that I did climb (many of which are featured in this video) were excellent and highly recommended.

If you're planning a trip to the Virgin Gorda, by all means bring a crashpad and shoes, but be sure to have a lot of other things on your agenda than just climbing- sailing, exploring other islands, snorkeling/diving, eating local cuisine. Climbing is like the perfect cap to the day, when everybody else is off at Happy Hour, you'll have the beach mostly to yourself, the sun low in the sky and a sea of granite to choose from.

Pawtuckaway from Christian Prellwitz on Vimeo.


Footage of some solo sessions after work throughout the month of June. Problems include: 'Burt Gives Blowjobs' (v6), a flash of 'Maxim' (v7), 'Atlas' (v6 ), 'Provia' (v6) and 'Bulletproof' (v6 and extra fun when it's 85 degrees).

'Up Into The Green Silence' (v4-ish)- Rumney, NH

a forgotten line that I recently re-cleaned and climbed- quite good!