something new to try at the climbing gym

getting bored of your usual gym routine?

here's something to try. you get a seven second head start. be sure your rope is nice and tight.



via: american gladiator / nbc

how pedro could have quenched his thrill buds.

this tv spot is pretty great. i feel like i've met a few pedros.

chastening chase - or why cell phones and climbing shouldn't mix

first, let me start off by stating that i think this commercial is pretty great. i like the sense of authenticity - the exposure, the visible anchor, the hawk sound in the background(?). as a mainstream tv ad it does its job representing climbing as an adventurous outdoor activity.

however, when you look closer at the ad and start deconstructing the climbing that's taking place, you have to take some pause -- or at least giggle.

for starters, the belayer (female) is answering her phone on an exposed rock face. she's answering her phone instead of paying attention to the guy she should be belaying! crazy.

you could argue that the male climber is intentionally free soloing. this theory is supported by the fact that he isn't tied into anything. but with the kind of exposure that the wide shots suggest, is that such a smart idea? (you can watch and pause the video to confirm this. there's no rope connected to his belay loop.)

there's also something weird happening with the anchor. it seems to change during the different edit cuts.

to answer the climber's question. yes, this whole scene is scary. and funny. i'll give them funny too.

can anyone identify the climbers in this spot? the location appears to be the redgarden wall in eldorado canyon, co.

advertising agency: mcgarrybowen, new york, ny

green can be important like a mountain

this blog entry has nothing to do with climbing really.

i came across this sesame street clip and thought i'd share. in it kermit the frog sings "it's not easy being green." did you know green can be important, like a mountain? it's a good color for blog themes too.



it's snowing today in boulder. not much green to be seen.

via: andy bosselman

"if you're going to climb everest you might die"

everest 2: beyond the limit is currently airing on tuesday nights (10 pm et/pt) on the discovery channel.

i caught a glimpse of the show tonight and was pretty intrigued. during the episode the climbers encountered a dead climber's body near the camp site (#4) closest to the summit. creepy, yea.

there's a post fireside chat show called after the climb that gives great insight into a lot of the "whys."

the show runs until december 18. it's worth checking out if you've ever wondered what summiting everest (with an intense soundtrack) might be like.

who needs climbing tape?

if you have hansaplast extreme band-aids, your raw overworked fingers are as good as new. according to this slovenian ad anyway.



this spot features climber chad greedy and was apparently shot in one of colorado's most popular climbing destinations - eldorado canyon or "eldo" as it is often referred to.

thanks to brian solano for the story lead.