Irish climber has climbed 9a!

That got your attention eh? :)

Was reading DeadPointMag's printed magazine (link to their website - I couldn't find it here) at the Works this afternoon and noticed this interview......

And not only that, but he's flashed 8b+ too. Jeebus, that's inspiring!

I confirmed that this week I don't handle major snow for climbing in - I attempted to climb in this snow at Cratcliff on Friday. Great day out in the snow but not from the point of view of climbing. Socialising, walking, snowboarding - snow is great for all these, but I don't function in these temps :) I love the snow, but not for climbing!

Ended up indoors for the weekend, lots of problems/mileage on the Saturday, attacked a few problems on the comp wall Sunday. Starting to see improvements on problems, and it's transferable improvements. Roll on the drier temps......

Places to climb

View All locations visited in a larger map

Following on from the previous post, here's a rough compilation of everywhere I've climbed worldwide as much as I can remember - there's a few other smaller, more esoteric spots that I can't remember names of. I honestly cannot recommend enough going to see different places to climb and travel. Not only is the rock different and amazing in every location, but the more exotic destinations are a true life experience! If you ever want to appreciate how easy we have it here in Europe, make sure to get to Asia and spend some time off the beaten track..........


The point of this list is that if anyone wants info, contact me and I'll help you out with any info I can get.....

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Country List
Ireland, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, Norway, USA, Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand, India, Nepal.

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Breakdown by Country
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Ireland - Dalkey quarry (trad), Glendalough (trad, bouldering), Glenmacnass (bouldering), Luggala (trad), Doolin Boulders (bouldering), Ailladie (trad), Fair Head (trad), Muckross (trad), Gola Island (trad), other miscellaneous locations.

UK - Dinbren (sport), Llanberis (trad, bouldering), Llandudno - Parseilla's and LPT (sport, bouldering), Portland (sport), Pembroke (trad), Peak District - general description! (trad, sport, bouldering), Fort William (mountaineering)

France - Fontainebleau (bouldering), Ceuse (sport), Grenoble (sport), Verdon (sport), Chamonix (sport, mountaineering), Annot (bouldering), Gorge du Tarn (sport), Orpierre (sport), L'Argentiere la Besse (ice climbing, sport), Aillfroide (bouldering)

Italy - Finale (sport), Sardinia (sport)

Switzerland - Cresciano (bouldering), Chironico (bouldering), Lenn (sport)

Spain - Siurana (sport), Monstant (sport), Margalef (sport), Montserrat (sport), Riglos (sport), Rodellar (sport), El Chorro (sport), Costa Blanca - general description (sport), Alquezar (sport)

Germany - Frankenjura (sport)

Turkey - Antalya (sport)

Norway - Rjukan (ice climbing)

USA - Rifle (sport), crags around Carbondale (sport), Mill Creek (sport), Indian Creek (trad), Salt Lake City (indoor only due to winter conditions), Rocky Mountain National Park (trad), Red Rocks (sport)

Australia - Blue Mountains (sport), Arapiles (trad, sport), Grampians (sport), Nowra (sport)

New Zealand - Queenstown (sport, bouldering), Fjordlands (sport, trad), Castlehill (bouldering), Paynes Forde (sport), crags on west coast that forgotten name of.

China - Yangshuo (sport)

Thailand - Ton Sai (sport), Chiang Mai (sport)

India - Hampi (bouldering), Badami (sport)

Nepal - trekking

Thanks

Updated: title to more apt name

Taken in September 2000? on the Argentiere glacier on a film camera (?!?!) of friends. Currently residing on Wikipedia page for Argentiere

Jeebus, I've been climbing just over 12 years and only 30 - that means I've been 40% of my lifetime!

And this sport/hobby/lifestyle (It is a sport, but means a lot more to many people, the previous list is in no particular order of description) has given me so much:

• amazing people that I'll be friends for life with, many of whom are from countries worldwide (I've just been emailing people living in several countries worldwide)
• a brilliant excuse to travel and see the world. When I travel for climbing (especially outside of Europe), it's as much to see the world and it's cultures and different perspectives on life, as it is for the climbing.
• something to do and be consistently there week-in, week out.
• something that I can enjoy just as much when I'm out having a laugh, as much as when I'm busting my muscles to the point of failure.

The best part? It's not dimming. I'm still as keen to keep climbing, push myself at times, travel and see new locations, and keep meeting amazing new people. Long may it last!

what does climbing bring to you?

Purpose

Following on from the post yesterday, I've been putting the head down to thought on this, trying to explain what it is that was bugging me. And while at the Works this evening, campusing and laps, I realised what it is - purpose! I've been idling along with work recently, working hard, but sport just hasn't had a focus.

But today, I turned up with a plan, all focused on what I'm thinking about for next Spring/Autumn/Winter. And I gave it everything (partly because of a certain email I got last night - you know who you are for that psyche!), I mean everything. to the point that pressing the knife last night to cut the food on my plate was difficult. I hurt. And I remembered. Remembered that this is what I love. Not as much as the lifestyle of climbing (i.e. living out of a car, road-tripping, etc.) but I do love working myself to my limit. So now I have purpose, I remember what will drive me through the winter. Yes, I'll enjoy December for all the fun, socialising, family gatherings, meeting friends, but I am really warming up. And it feels good! What is your motivation for next year - are you following through on it?!

I am stuck in but linked to (I am OUT).

From Joe Kinder's blog (if you want to see how a professional climber can do his utmost to promote a sport in a positive and enthusiastic way, you'd be hard pressed to find one more honest and genuine than this one) and his related post - I am OUT.

Anyway, since I'm here knocking off tasks that are easy to do when you've time but take an eternity when working, due to being off work due to snow (feels like I'm actually living in the movie, The Day after Tomorrow :), I was catching up on a bunch of articles on climbing, IT and education (probably in that order of priority too.......) - I was blown away by this picture of someone's home bouldering wall. Yes, there's loads of these around now (many Co-Op style), but was wondering how I can get to the point that I have the room for something like this myself........hmmmmmm :)

It's also interesting reading Joe's blog, talking about the fact that he's going crazy in Utah right now, basically that it's snowboarding weather and everything is frozen. I can relate - I honestly struggle for any motivation at this time of year in these conditions. It's weird though, if I was in the Alps (or even Utah for that matter) at this time of year, anyone who knows me would be know that I'd be the first person on the slopes in the morning and the last person off too with a snowboard - what is it about here that I don't get into it? Working through all the daylight hours is definitely a factor (drive to work in darkness, leave in darkness), but what else? Anyone else suffer from similar ideas?

I think I suffer from a mindset issue - I have to work here while in the UK so it takes up much of my thoughts, but when abroad in other countries (even if working), I don't see work as the number one thing to consume my day, it's just something else to do. Does that make sense or have I lost it? :) Basically, I'm trying to work out how I can change my mindset........