Ann and I did our (and my) most adventurous route yet this weekend: The route is highlighted with a dot between each pitch. The trees are so big that you don’t get a correct sense of scale – the end of the first pitch is about 180 feet up! Because of the 10 mile approach…

‘I’m moving and not moving at all. I’m like the moon underneath the waves that ever go on rolling and rocking. It is not, “I am doing this,” but rahter, an inner realization that “this is happening through me,” or “it is doing this for me.” The consciousness of self is the greatest hindrance to…

Of course Ann & I didn’t go to Tahquitz as we planned (it was snowing there I’m sure), but Ann was eager Sunday morning to climb something. So we headed to Big Rock again in drizzling rain, hoping for the best. It turned out to be perfect there, cool with brief spots of warm bright…

The day I started bouldering, a little over a year ago now, I squared off against this problem. It’s a slightly overhanging crack that is wide and flaring near the bottom, then narrows at shoulder height so there are only a few key spots my fingers will fit in. That first day I couldn’t get…