Below The Sky

Christian Prellwitz 'Desperate' (v4)

We managed to find some dry rock yesterday out at the Atomic Energy Boulders. The drive in was quite muddy and the approach involved wallowing through shin deep snow but the climbing was still fun.

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...'

Eternal Sunshine- Bouldering At The AEC

It's really a blessed life. Wake up to bluebird skies. Pick up a breakfast sandwich and coffee at the local bakery. Make the meandering drive through canyons and over mesas, past bald eagles and pinyon jays, out of the mountains and into the open expanse of the desert. Park amid a sea of sandstone blocks and swim around through the junipers and pinions looking for that perfect line of crimpers and pockets.

It's the process and all the moments in between that make the experience, that elevates clumsied movement to imperfect poetry. Sunshine gives life to belief, and belief informs action, lifting us up to heights we'd only imagined.

The pictures:
(above) 1-Christian Prellwitz sticking the edge on the initial crux of 'Black Streak' (v3+). 2-Lone Cone and Petroglyph Crag linger in the background as Lexi Tuddenham journeys out onto 'Ship's Prow' (v1+).
(below) 1-Lexi Tuddenham sticking the pinch on 'Roadside Attraction' (v2). 2-Lexi again, this time on 'Easy Up' (v0+). 3-'Lake Lover' (v0). 4-A different take on a familiar problem: Christian styles the finishing pulls of 'Ship's Prow' (v1+).

Back To AEC

Another beautiful day of weather. Another trip to the outstanding boulders of the Atomic Energy Crag (AEC), perched high above Paradox Valley, just outside of Naturita in Southwest Colorado.

A sampling: (above) Lexi Tuddenham sticking the tenuous move for the top on 'Juniper Center' (v0+). A bad landing adds to the spice on this outstanding highball. 2-Christian Prellwitz pulling through the middle of 'Action Jackson' (v2).

(below) 1-Christian Prellwitz trying to catch the 'A Train' (v4). 2-Christian on 'Action Jackson' (v2). 3-Lexi Tuddenham bracing for the storm on 'Nor'easter' (v0). 4-Lexi approaching the thin top out of 'Bug Juice' (v1).