A cool film by Tahoe photographer/videographer Corey Rich

Click here to view the embedded video.

-M

This just in from VNasty:

“Awwww-yeah…snapped this photo of my socks in action last weekend. Todd K. and I topped out at Lover’s Leap after climbing Traveler’s Buttress, and I was stoked to pop out of my climbing shoes and into the cozy comfort of the TBSers.”

-M

I almost remember climbing in Southern Utah. Hell, I almost remember climbing at all.

Check out this video of Steph Davis jambing this weirdass roof crack in Moab:

I need to climb more.

-M

Well, the rock was harder than the climbing, but it was great to get out!

I popped up to Donner with My sisters Sunday. Did Insidious Crack and Jellyroll Arch. Refreshing. I haven’t done much climbing in recent years for one reason or another, but I still love it. Climbing adds a layer to physical activity that it’s hard to duplicate on a bike, skis or trail. The fear, the need to focus, the shiny metal gear…

Hope to do a gorge trip soon.

-M

I believe I read that he has no recollection of telling a reporter that he climbed Everest, “because it’s there,” but there it was, and there it still is. Never-the-less Sir. Ed is gone:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Sir Edmund Hillary, the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century’s greatest adventurers, has died, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Friday. He was 88.

The gangling New Zealander devoted much of his life to aiding the mountain people of Nepal and took his fame in stride, preferring to be called “Ed” and considering himself just an ordinary beekeeper.
“Sir Ed described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities. In reality, he was a colossus. He was an heroic figure who not only ’knocked off’ Everest but lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity,” Clark said in a statement.

“The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived,” she said.

Hillary’s life was marked by grand achievements, high adventure, discovery, excitement — and by his personal humility. Humble to the point that he only admitted being the first man atop Everest long after the death of climbing companion Norgay.

news.bbc.co.uk

-M

First, prepare your gnarly scrawney asses for cyclocross. Even JR has committed to racing, and fixed no less! First off this month is Thursday, and presumably every following Thursday for the Outlaw series in Truckee and environs. Second is the Sagebrush series race on the 20th @ Hidden Valley. Our beloved Grisly Bike Geek is the triggerman for the series and says that if we get three fixtards racing he’ll get us the best prizes. As it should be. I say bring it. I’ve got nothing to loose!

Second, got this note from my buddy Jason re: the Keyesville Classic which Gris JR and Myself went to last year…

Team Bacon Strip,

I am Jason Smith and the new Keyesville Classic Race director. I was last
years assistant director and have the race from this year forward for
awhile.

We are becoming a part of the national calendar this year. For those that
race for point standings this will help.

We will have:
Downhill
Short Track
Cross-country

A non-uscf sanctioned stage race where all riders participating will have to
race the same class with the same bike. We are adding the one bike thing
this year. We really wanted to do it last year but since we had no real
time to execute it was pushed of to this year.

I saw on the blog you have that you fellows were disappointed with not
having the 8 hour race. Sorry. If we could logistically figure out how to
do everything in one two day period of time we would. We would love to add
it to the events if it were feasible.

I would like to invite your team to the race and enjoy another event with us
this coming year. It is only 162 days away. Come hang out, drink beer from
the brewery, eat spaghetti, and camp out…oh yeah, and race.

Thank you for all you support in the past.

Third, and blasts from the past seem to come in twos these days (My dad and I took Jason(from above) climbing for the first time a few years ago. I think I was 14…): My buddy Dustin from High School called the other day to talk about a new website he’s building to be a guide/wiki for adventurism in Kern County. The last guide book was published about 13 years ago. Before that, we had a laminated photocopy of the Stonemasher’s Guide to Kern River Climbing… Good work Dustin!

-M