The Goal of climbing up rock!

Wikipedia says it succinctly and thereby here, best, rather bluntly.

"Rock climbing is an activity in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling."

And that is it!

(actually, though, it usually is best not pre-determined, at all. This is why you climb.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_climbing


What we need now more than ever in rock climbing culture, is true diversity, much like the rock offers. Climbing is explosively popular!

I see it everyday, a pull to a standard.
But, there is not one way, one hold, one sequence. Yet the scene is set.

It changes, though stays the same much too. There is room for new style, more growth, more solutions, easier movement, more creativity, less creativity, homage to pioneers, salutes to new heroes, but above all... There are many ways, many styles. And, you climb.

So don't get stuck, frustrated, or pissed off. Or you lose. You miss out.

Be it on plastic, rock, wood, brick, whatever! So much fun! The movement, style, interpretation, and the scene will always be secondary to this amazing pursuit you are on. And, you did it as a kid, before you could even read these lines!

Oh, one last line. Please remember, better conservation, yet still inspiration, in the outdoors.

Happy climbing!
I sure am.
-Greg

My facebook page.

Old Mountains

Oh! And check out my new store!

Old Mountains!

www.oldmountainsx.com

Old Mountains, Missouri, USA!

The First Bouldering "crash pad" Ever Made

The first bouldering "crash pad" ever made, before it even knew what it was. It was thin as a "Kleenex," one has commented of this photo in recent years. It did fly off my van from Texas to Mexico unexpectedly, light and thin and maybe not enough, though innovative and completely a problem-solver for then. It was only 1995, just 17 whole years ago. 

Since, bouldering has EXPLODED! Yes! And, well… Before this, we used duct tape, carpet, and filled it with whatever we could--newspaper, junk, anything we thought would cushion our falls. Of course, we weren't achieving major highballs, limiting our vision by our gear I suppose, unless we were climbing beyond what we might now find reasonable for such gear use. So the question is, were we doing it right then, or right now?

I am happy where bouldering is, merely because I love bouldering, and, falling on anything that saves my ass, and isn't such a pain to make or keep from falling apart or requiring a lengthy (and costly) visit to the dump.

S7 memories...

"Cramped, damped, and dingy affairs, but the benefits enormous," as Ben Moon had said (on wood holds in cellars). Proud to have stayed and trained in the S7 district, as, "The American," I was called. I wore army boots then, go figure. Fellows didn't want me to go to the nearby army shop, but gladly accepted me into their dole homes and gym and pubs. I was 19.

S7	SHEFFIELD	Abbeydale, Nether Edge, Millhouses, Carter Knowle	Sheffield

Great link

And if you haven't read Jerry's Revelations, read it now.
Superb book.

John Gill's website

John Gill's Website

A Climbing Memoir   1953 - 2011

The Green Corner

It's now fall and perfect, so back I go.

Reminds me of Camp 4 perfect granite (photo taken last summer)

Yet another stout unclimbed line in my Missouri.

From last year, climbed several great lines:

Last summer, a classic!

See video above  (or here)

Great move to square block edge, dicey feet, classic

A nice little garden

"The Spider"

Build a Wall

How to Build a good, solid, simple wall. One you can always have, can move if need to, and can always rely on for great sessions and training.

This one is portable, panels held together with bolts and nuts, 8' x 10', with an extension 8' by 2' for higher ceiling basements/cellars. Perfect training wall, easy to build, half-day project.

Updated History Page, (and other pages)

I've recently updated the Missouri Rock Climbing History page I have created, as well as my own Bio page, and I have added a resourceful Links page.

-Greg

When you're young, and inspired, will it be routes, or bouldering?

Starting holds, Peter!

http://echelmeierclimb.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-i-know-is-new-post-about-climbing.html

Classic Guidebook Rediscovered!

Just rediscovered in the basement among old gear, books, and maps the long lost St. Louis Rock Climbing Areas guidebook by Jim Thurmond, written in 1994. It has been a joy rock hunting with Jim over the years, and he truly is both the legend and the enigma of Missouri climbing history, completely dedicated and driven and a good old friend of mine. Good climbing times Jim! Here's to you!

Here are the first few pages from his book (click link below):
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5Zu7fnsliENN2YxZTg1ODUtNDI3My00MDdmLThmNDctOTdlNWY0YzliM2Y3

Jim at Silver Mines just last year

Remote Shawnee National Forest bouldering

Just a photo.

New blog discovered

Good words, especially how the author connects with nature and the rock and moments he and others have and share climbing. Hope to read and see more!

southernilbouldering.blogspot.com
The ILLustrated Man

Working on access issues.

Great Medicine Waters

Wow Kevin!

So great we walked up that hillside and discovered that! I forgot to ask you how it was? How others liked it.

Hen-of-the-Woods

Here's something I just wrote: 

"Well no wonder it was called Great Medicine Waters.

In the late summer upon first visiting, I saw such beauty, wonder, and felt such connection, inspiration. Then in spring I came back and could sit for hours. And now just the other day this early fall with all the rain a friend and I almost stepped on The Hen-of-the-Woods, growing big and healthy and under a tree, a mushroom "prized in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbology as a medicinal mushroom, an aid to balance out altered body systems to a normal level."

I read up on it it and makes sense we went the other day. That place is truly healing and special to me.

"Kitchemuske-nee-be" for The Great Medicine Waters

Image source file links provided.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grifola_frondosa

DNR: http://dnr.state.il.us/publications/pdf/00000591.pdf

Just some good pics, Joe!

They are yours too.

I have found much, share what I share, and wish through bouldering we can make some amazing moments happen. Our old mountains have made us some great gifts.

20 years climbing!

Yes.

First day back!

Climbed just the other day for the first time in over 3 months since having bilateral surgery on my toes. Still hurts, extension and flexion on the first metatarsals, but it's ok. What the heck! Steep walls hard problems and cushy pads may be my retirement afterall, until I begin mountain climbing.