Another One Bites The Dust

As predicted, I was able to get out and climb for a few hours today. BTO was rockin', "Don't bring me down," on the radio as I headed out. I met up with my friend, Brian, for some bouldering at Rimrock. The gnats were out, but the temps were great and the rocks were dry. We threw down on a project that Brian had scoped out last fall. It was great to be outside -- on real rock -- and we had a good session. On the way home Queen was jammin', "Another one bites the dust." Very appropriate as the project saw it's first ascent. Name: Murphy. Grade: V7.

The art of climbing in the rain

The foreseeable future is partially cloudy with a 30% chance of rain. Welcome to climbing in the ANF. Still, this is not enough to stop the experienced climber. I've been able to get out a couple of times this spring. The climbing has been great, and I've got my eye on tomorrow afternoon... Oh yeah, I'll be hittin' the woods.

Still, the wet weather has kept me indoors more than I'd like. That's why you need a good indoor haunt. And... I just snagged some new, rad climbing holds from AO. My brother, Nate, and I just put them up in my garage last night. We set a new route that is all the madness!

Climbing Rocks!

Spring Climbing on Hilltop

It appears that Mother Nature is going to insist on a wet spring. Avid climbers will have to be alert and quick to action if they want to have any chance of catching rocks dry enough to climb. Yesterday, my brother, Nate, and I did just that as we braved the steep hike to Hilltop for a brief bouldering session. Some of the rocks were still soaked, and patches of snow lurked in the shadowy places amid the boulders. Temperatures were balmy 45 degrees… and we loved every minute of it!

Allegheny Outfitters Outdoors store and Wilderness Trip Planning Center opens!

This spring, a longtime dream of ours became a reality when we opened the Allegheny Outfitters Company Store and Wilderness Trip Planning Center in downtown Warren. 

The store will carries gear for backpacking, adventure racing, camping, canoeing, kayaking, climbing and more, from brands like Old Town, Necky, Wenonah, Deuter, GoLite, MSR, CamelBak, North Face, Nathan, KAVU, Seal Line, Therm-A-Rest, Outdoor Research, Keen and Vibram, among others.

The Wilderness Trip Planning Center, located in the store, is a free resource for anyone who is looking to take an adventure down the Allegheny River or in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). It includes a large table, and walls covered in maps of the ANF and Allegheny River. In addition, three-dimensional topographical maps of popular trails and recreation areas in the ANF are available so users can see the elevation changes they will face on their trip, water sources they can expect to run across and other details pertinent to wilderness trip planning.

The store is a big step for our family and staff and we want it to be a force for good in our region. We hope you’ll come check it out and get involved!

See you on the river and down the trail...

2011 Climbing Season is Upon Us

The 2011 climbing season has emerged in the wake of spring snow, and I'm psyched! Now that my elbow is on the mend (knock on wood) I've hit the plastic, and Brian and I have been able to exploit couple of windows in the wintry weather to go bouldering at Rimrock. The gate is still closed but the new trail is much quicker than walking the road.

I'm also looking forward to meeting with other outdoor nutz to discuss the local climbing scene on April 18th and 23rd at Allegheny Outfitters.