Ann

My new roommate, Ann, is the dopest! Listen. She cleans, cooks, climbs, and cares for my dog when I'm out shooting. That is all four "c's!" She is the best. She is not for sale.

1.21.08

I am finishing my work here in San Francisco with the Yoga Journal Magazine. The conference went off without a hitch, and was very successful. You would cringe at the hours i worked this week. Still, I love what I do. However, this has been a rough time for many reasons, mostly personal. But, through misfortune, I have been introduced to Chakra Healing and am starting to feel as good as new again. The word comes from the Sanskrit "cakra" meaning "wheel, circle", and sometimes also referring to the "wheel of life". The chakras are thought to vitalise the physical body and to be associated with interactions of both a physical and mental nature. They are considered loci of life energy, or prana, which is thought to flow among them along pathways.

Energy is really an amazing thing. It is the sadness and anger as well as the happiness and joy. Once aligned to those feelings, you may become receptive to "light." (Or lack of it, as it may seem) The body, in this fashion, acts much like a real electrical circuit. The trick being not to ignore unfavorable thoughts/feelings, but to align them to balance. That is my dazed interpretation.


Off to Salt Lake...

"Germ Free Adolensence."

The one and only sexy lumberjack and UC editor, Justin Roth, sends the Vermin Classic in Eldo.

"Two Minutes Underwater."

Max Zolotukhin holding his breath on the 4th ascent.

1.07.08

Well, my Hueco trip came to an abrupt close today after a serious ankle sprain left me completely immobile. Lame. I'm glad to have had good friends there to help me. Anyway, overall the trip was amazing. Yesterday Kevin Jorgeson established what may be the most serious highball at Hueco Tanks, "The Duel." V10/E10. The crux move, a hard low-percentage stab to a shallow pocket, comes at a daunting and very overhung 30 feet. A fall from almost any move on the problem would likely end very badly, and the 17 crash pads were hardly comfort. I feel lucky to document such a bold and beautiful line, despite being overwhelmingly concerened for a good friend.

Below: Kevin on another first ascent hidden in West Mountain. The roof, named "Sticks or Stones." climbs 20 moves on the belly of a giant suspended boulder over bad landings before topping out. At the reasonable grade of V8, it is a likely the best problem for the grade in the entire park.

1.3.08

Hueco is going very well. As always, the weather is a nice change from that of Colorado. Chuck and I have teamed up to get some nice video and photos thus far, including Paul's send of Terremer, which was an quite an occasion to capture. I'm psyched on the shots thus far, and i hope everyone had a good new years.