Saturday, March 22, 2014

Importance of Brodowns

Bishop Brodown 2014


I don't mean that in gender exclusive way, even though most of the time that's how it turns out. Especially when you get a group of guys together from Boone. If every climber could spend some time every year bouldering in Bishop they'd probably be just a little bit harder, dustier, and generally better for it. 

It's not the easiest place to get to, but it's very gratifying to be able to meet up with 3 of your best bros from your hometown after scattering across the country. It's a great place to climb in the sun and live the simple life, even if you get blown out of your campsite at 3am. A lot of people spend part of the winter here, which makes great sense if you are actually trying to climb hard. We came down just in time for vacation weather, and only Ben managed to pull off some decent sends. Mostly the nights were cool and made for hot springs and the days were warm and a reprieve from spending a long winter. So here's to the bros for rallying together again this spring, and helping kick off the new climbing year!














































Saturday, March 8, 2014

When your whole life is a fucking schedule

Day:
Wake up. Study/Eat. Go to work. Go to gym. Eat. Sleep.
Week:
Sleep past 6:00, then don’t sleep past 6:00.  Study more, drink a few beers maybe.
Month:
Take a test. Study. Go to work.

Sometimes you can get the over privileged feeing that you're stuck in a rut. I'm not sure how you know the difference between being stuck and the incremental progress it may take to get to the end goal of something worthwhile. I'm pretty sure it's not possible to just up and quit your job every week when you get the urge to move on, especially if you're burdened by a bunch of student loans. Unless you're a software programmer I guess, because I'm pretty sure they can do whatever they want and pretty much get paid 100K to do it. 

The soggy winters in the Northwest get a little soggier when I'm stuck inside studying after grinding out the 9-5, but I'm thinking I can see a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel. But for now, three cheers for not being on the East coast this winter. It sounds like skiing season is finally picking up for the rest of the States, and it's almost climbing season again. When the going gets tough, there's always memories and dreams of Leavenworth in May, Little Si in June, and Squamish all summer to keep you going. 





Good thing I’ve got it all figured out...
and here's some pictures of things that keep me going, the places I've visited recently.



Winter coast ghosts. 'If you need to get yo hair did, just come on down to Moclips.'




My grandad lives here. So do a bunch of delicious bass.





My dad built and lived in this tepee for at least a year. Not sure on the exact dates, but he definitely bathed in the stream in down the hill.




Wooster, Ohio, pearl of the butthole of the Midwest.





And now that I've finally got that damn structures test out of the way:

My member's unsupported length is so long it needs some of your lateral support.

Your mom's so fat she needs a mat foundation to support her loads.