Swapping Hemispheres...

Been a sweet few weeks in Colorado... Hard to leave as the Fall is in full swing in the Front Range and Rockies, many great adventures still to be had before the snow flies - but stoked to have gotten to spend some quality time with some amazingly inspiring people before having to swap hemispheres...

Emily Jean and Molly Mitchell en route to the Emeralds in RMNP

Matt Lloyd tying in for another burn on his ridiculous project, Molly Mitchell belayer

Emily Jean finds a moment of repose

Diane Wagner V.M.D. with Carol and Shambhu

 

 

Matt Owen solo storming the Bastille in Eldorado Canyon State Park...

Molly Mitchell never missing a moment to laugh

Clear Creek Sport Climbing

I read a Matt Samet article some years back about his relocation to Bouderrr... It was a wonderfully clever piece about how intimidated he was moving to the Mecca of hard climbing here in Colorado's Front Range (Samet of course didn't waste any time and quickly joined the healthy list of immortals of Front Range radness) ...

Since landing here over a year ago I am just now beginning to see the veracity of his tale of mutants and boldness that seemed all but fictional to an outsider... The climbing CV's of so many men and women here in the promised land are beyond inspiring and downright frightening in some cases... Bold free solos of hard lines, R and X trad sends, 5.13 sport "projects" that go down in about 15 minutes of "work"... The Front Range is truly a rad place to be...

These pictures are from a two hour sojourn into Clear Creek yesterday...

Molly Mitchell, 21 years old, sending a 13a in Clear Creek her second go for the first female ascent and likely the 3rd ascent overall..

Matt Lloyd on his project in Clear Creek -full-extension swing beneath the roof to latch a hold at the lip while feet cut - Matt's ape index (wingspan) is 6 feet 10 inches long... Matt has co-authored the new CC guide book that is due out this next week...

Running

Through summer's golden fade, finding again the slipped rhythm. Fall with falling feet over arcing trails, following my chosen curves through perfect imperfect stone...

Molly Mitchell on a rainy Flatiron run...

Emerald Boulders, Rocky Mountain National Park

A crisp fall day in Rocky Mountain National Park...

Molly Mitchell sending The Kind with a couple dozen spotters and onlookers - still blown away by how popular bouldering has become... well, maybe not that blown away - pretty stellar location and problems...

According to the ranger, who answered the question for us about the pads to another recreation user, we are all unlicensed massage therapists heading deep into the park with our massage tables to secretly meet our clients...

Social bouldering - Emily Jean sending while chatting with Jessica