Deep thoughts inspired by Andrew's woody session music choice

Kyle Rhoads photo, Jeph Verner crushing

What sticks out in my mind as the most beautiful thing I've ever done is Sherman Photo Roof.  That one move out to the ear, after matching through those starting crimp moves, dropping down into the secret undercling, and moving my feet out onto Nose Candy.  That move is so beautiful.  Everything has to be tight and perfect.  It's still in my head from last January as the rest of the day, the end beta, where I put my feet to start, how to send felt, has all faded.  That one move is what haunts my daydreams and is somehow etched into my eyelids, so so beautiful.

Kyle Rhoads photo

This is so much more important than my injury complaints

The funnest waterfall slide in Boone

One reason of the reasons I love climbing, like everyone else, is because nature. 

Cute salamander under the Long Wall at Gma

Sunset off the parkway

I love spending time in the woods, on real rock.  It's beautiful, peaceful, and what climbing is all about.  Un/fortunately so many people realize this and want to love and experience nature and climbing that it's hurting the ecosystem and endangering the very things we all love.  The possibility of climbing areas disappearing is horrifying and awful and scary to think about, but if we don't all work to protect them that's exactly what will happen.  

The least anyone can do is get educated about outdoor ethics and be respectful the next time you're out climbing - or hiking or whatever it is you do out there.  

Check out this Dpm Article, this video from the Access Fund, and commit to the pact here.

Picture from the Access Fund's website

* On a side note that relates: Andrew and I went to Rocktown last weekend and were blasted with music from one direction and loud didgeridoo from another, and it was sad.  Please, please: don't play loud music at the crag/ boulder field.  At the crag it's dangerous, and at the boulder field it's just disrespectful.

Appreciate the beauty and solitude of nature because:

Mountains are beautiful and we get to climb them

Sunsets are beautiful and they happen EVERY NIGHT

Rest days from summer training spent at swimming holes