Above The Alpine

Bend Weekend A while back (Before the start of this blog) I spent a weekend in Bend, Oregon. Needless to say it’s a place I’ll never forget. Upon hours of searching for a splitboard my size (that wasn’t 2000 dollars) I happened to come across one on the Bend Craigslist. Excited, I told my friend to pack his bag- along with his ski gear, his pup and a harness. We left after I got off work, and made the six hour drive from my hometown. We got in so late we ended up sleeping in the car that night in a random campground outside of Smith Rock State Park. The next day was incredible. For a Saturday in September, there was hardly anyone out climbing in the park, even though it was a perfect 65 degrees and blue skies. My friend had never climbed before (or belayed) so I was pretty limited as to what I could do. Thankfully, the park offers tons of nice strangers who are happy to belay a young climber. Summit of Mt. Cone I spent most of the day setting up ...

I take a deep breath as the wind whips my hair across my face and I ball my fist up until it kisses both sides of the four-inch granite crack. Hand, foot. Hand, foot. I place gear every ten feet- my mind working at a hundred miles an hour. I’m attached to my belayer hundreds of feet off the ground by a blue rope, and I know that if I fall, it’ll be a big one. Another foot . I look down. It’s a long way. I place my rubber-soled shoe down ever so gently, and feel the texture of the rock making it solid. I’m at the crux move. A big right hand gaston from a not-so-kind sloper to a solid crimp, four feet up. I coil like a snake, feeling the power in my hamstrings. I make the move, and my calloused skin grips the flake. I place my gear, clip the draw, and continue on.                                                   ___________ Hi! My name is ...

Everyone loves a good crag dog. What's better than coming off a boulder for the hundredth time, feeling down, and being greeted by an excited bundle of kisses? Here's how I manage to climb with my dog, Koa. Please keep in my that this is what works for me and my dog- it may not work for you. "Wut r u doing hooman." -Koa at Mt. Baker, WA        This is my pup, Koa. She's a year old pointer-retriever mix who loves to be outside (when mom goes with) and has been an adventure dog since she was two months old. Growing up around climbers, on trails, and in boats, she's learned appropriate behavior and has been trained to behave properly. Koa making herself comfortable on the corner of a rope tarp in Leavenworth, WA.        When we get to the crag, the first thing I do is find a good spot for her to lay down. when she's comfortable, she's less likely to wander around looking for a better spot. Make sure your dog has plenty of water- being ...