Well I finally decided to go for it and get a website. In my mind it is a good way to upload trip updates, videos, photos, and upcoming events for everyone to know what is going down (since I do the same thing) so here it is. I have just bought a Rebel T1I camera and my girlfriend Courtney has been taking alot of sick photos with it so the gallery should always be full. Currently we have been on a 5 month roadtrip going all across Europe starting the journey in Gap, France and arriving to our final destination here in Innsbruck, Austria. We arrived July 28th in Geneve, Switzerland awaiting a train to take us to Gap where we would soon meet up with Dave Graham, Jon Cardwell, Isaac Caldeiro, and Seth Giles. Missing the last train out, we both slept in the airport, got up at 6 a.m., took the 7 hour train to Gap, and met up with our friends. First stop on the trip, Ceuse! I have always wanted to go here since I first started climbing. The white limestone with grey streaks running down the sides of the walls, crowning the top of this huge mountain in which you can see everything, makes for a surreal setting. The climbing is very technical with small pockets and crimps. My goal was to get warmed up to the area then attempt classics like Bah Bah Black Sheep, Dire Limites, La Chronique de la Haine, and Realization. One thing I soon realized was climbing in Ceuse in August is a mistake. The average temperature was from 25 to 30 degrees celsius which is basically hot as balls in fahrenheit. Everyone is still on vacation so you have to wait in line for 30 minutes just to make an attempt, which sucks since you wait until 3 just to walk up the 1 hour epic trudge uphill due to the heat, wait an hour, then start warming up. The average amount of pitches we got in per day was around 3 or 4. With all these setbacks, I was still able to manage ascents of Bah Bah Black Sheep, Dire Limites, La Chronique de la Haine, and Violente Illusion. I tried Realization multiple times and was able to one hang to the crux but the grease was just too much and it felt impossible. Due to the poor conditions, we decided to make a move to Southern France to climb at an area near Nice called the Gorges du Loup.

This place holds classics such as Kinematix, Trip Tic Tonic, Abyss, and Punt X. I was really motivated on this style because it was not so much friction dependent as Ceuse, more tufas and powerful climbing. There were many sectors throughout the Gorge but the one I zeroed in on was Deverse which is paradise if you are looking for long resistant hard routes. We started off well at this area, Courtney sent her first 6c (Willie Wonka) then moved on to do a classic 7a (Hopi Birthday), then finished off sending Satan Petit Coeur 7b all within a couple of weeks. She has only been climbing now for a year and learned so much so quickly that it was impressive to see her put down these routes. I think I was more motivated about her doing the Satan Petit Coeur than she was. It is always nice to see people who can rise above the fear and other factors climbing brings, do their thing, and take shit down. I took this motivation and ended up doing routes such as Kinematix, Trip tic Tonic, and 7 p.m. JP Chaud. I had a heartbreaker with Punt X falling pulling over the lip to the jug crimper but just had no more friction or energy to stay on the wall. I even came back to try in better conditions but if you get into a rhythm where only one route matters and you put all of this uneccessary pressure on yourself to send… it wont get done. Basically, I obsessed over it for 2 weeks and my attempts after were just getting worse and worse so I dropped the ball and made the move to Rodellar, Spain.

Rodellar is probably one of the best areas I have climbed at (in my opinion better than Ceuse). There is so much variety of climbing and the scenery is priceless. You have multiple sectors all throughout the gorge with Gran Bovida and The Ventanas being the most popular. The Ventanas is popular for having a double arch feature with two main caves on either side. The left cave is more open and the right is steeper. One of my main goals was to try Los Inconformistas which starts the same as Barachos but exits right. It is the ultimate power endurence testpiece with a 7c+ boulder to start leading into a 7c+ route section, followed by a 7C+/8A outro. I tried for 2 days with just 2 tries each day, then caught a virus from the American crew which set me back for another 3 days of no climbing. During this time too the weather started getting colder and motivation was leaving. Innsbruck was also on my mind and it seemed appealing to have a nice city with amazing climbing all around to go to. I felt as if I needed a break to re think some things and gain back my motivation. I had one day left (still sick as shit) so I decided to give it the A muerte attempt. I finished it off first try and was satisfied to make the move. The next day we packed up the car and drove 15 hours to Innsbruck where I am currently stationed.

For the remaining two months, Courtney and I will be living here doing our thing. It is cold but prime for bouldering which I am motivated on. We have both been climbing in the gym alot and I have made a couple trips to Zillertal and tried some amazing routes. Hopefully, this weather wont put an end to doing them! If so then Swiss is just a few hours away with many things to try. Innsbruck is like a 2nd home to me, so many friends and fun times. It can be the vortex though of good and bad things. Everyone here is always psyched so every night I find myself going out and spending alot of money on drinks and it is starting to catch up with me. Now I am motivated to switch the focus on getting shit accomplished then settle the night off with a good time . Should hopefully have a lot more to update so sit back and enjoy my site!