Showing posts with label togir light harness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label togir light harness. Show all posts

Friday, September 11, 2015

The Gunks Project


Photos by Christian Fraccia from last years efforts.  The french connection roof is like sculpted marble.
While I can appreciate hucking laps on classics at the local crag or visiting new areas for the first time and seeing how my onsighting skills have fared since my last trip to a brand new crag, its really the route that becomes a project that temporarily scratches my eternal itch.   Every year I have to look a little bit farther from my home base in Burlington, Vermont.  But every year I continue my stubborn, hard headed quest to find new rock climbing projects that kick my ass, humble me and force me to get fitter in mind and body to eventually succeed.  

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Three's company in the mountains?


Approaching the North Buttress of Begguya (Mt. Hunter)
 ©Doug Shepherd
Climbing with three has it's appeals.  Splitting the work with an extra person, more warmth while cuddling, and general camaraderie. That said, I've been known to repeatedly say "I hate climbing in the mountains with three" and turn down climbing trips, especially on technical alpine routes.  My reasoning for this comes from many failed climbs with three people, due to general slowness, stuck ropes, difficult communication, and even a lack of stoke!

However, I've recently had a break-through, efficiently climbing large routes with a team of three.  Part of this is finding the right partners and part of it is due to finally figuring out the right gear and tactics for efficient movement with three people.  Keep reading for my take on making it work in the mountains with three.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Mammut Big Wall Kit - Wyoming Rock Tour


The start of a two week climbing trip began with a first ascent in the Bear Tooth Mountains of Montana/Wyoming.  I had put a week of effort into this route starting in May before my brother Sam and I made the free ascent on the 19th of August.  We called this 8 pitch line the Velvet Hammer 5.12.


Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Emperor Face

"Everything is training and nothing is training" - Josh Wharton

The Emperor Face, Mt Robson
©Doug Shepherd
Many peaks hold a mystical quality to me, steeped in climbing history, in stories of joy and sorrow.  My friends and I have been extremely lucky to add our own stories to a few peaks around the world from Alaska to Patagonia, becoming part of the rich tapestry of climbing lore.  Success or failure, while important to our egos, did not define our experiences in tracing out both the known and unknown.  It is this idea that draws me to alpine climbing, knowing that our own particular experiences are both a unique exploration into our abilities as climbers and part of a larger narrative of both those that have come before and those that are yet to come.