prAna: Sustainable Clothing

Join us to kick off the JTree climbing season October 21-23 with a host of sponsors, including for the first time ever the Joshua Tree National Park. It’s their 75th anniversary, and they are bringing high energy and entertainment to add to the mix of education, advocacy, swag giveaway, stewardship, comraderie and plain old FUN. Special guest athletes will be present to celebrate, participate and inspire. This is the first and best time to support FOJT and Joshua Tree Search & Rescue as the Park enters the General Management Plan review… which will shape climbing policy nationwide.

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Climb Smart 2011

October 21-23

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree Lake Campground, and the main Park climbing areas

2601 Sunfair Road

Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Dear Friends,

We have a lot of great activities planned, and your support will help the volunteer efforts of the Joshua Tree Search and Rescue Team, The Friends of Joshua Tree, Climbers Coffee, the Access Fund and of course the Park we all cherish as one of the premiere climbing areas in America.

The following information will help you prepare for the weekend. More information will be available at check-in (JT Lake Campground).

 WHAT TO BRING Read the rest of this entry »

Planning our trip to Belize, we thought “Let’s go big or go home.” And we did. . .go BIG that is. When we heard about this anomaly in the middle of the Belize jungle called the Black Hole Drop, we figured we needed to check it out. The Black Hole itself is a collapsed cave system with massive caverns on either end near the same-name national park. You hike up to the hole and then repel 300 feet down through the canopy to the cave floor below.

My husband, Matt, has done quite a bit of jumping out of planes and repelling down cliffs so the thought of doing it in the Belize jungle sounded exciting to him. To me, it was a bit terrifying – in a good way. One thing that has me addicted to traveling is the thrill of constantly being outside your comfort zone and challenging yourself. Over the past few years, I’ve been challenged to grow and learn so much about myself in such a short time while traveling. Side note: If you want to know a relationship (be it romantic or platonic) is long-term, try traveling with that person. It is typically a great test of your ability to adapt and work together outside your comfort zones. All that to be said, we enjoy traveling and conquering my fears, so the Black Hole Drop naturally seemed just the thing to do!

We began the day expecting a rigorous hike to the top of the hole. Coming from the mountainous region of the Northwestern United States, we were prepared for the hike, but maybe not the heat and humidity. It was about an hour hike in and only a couple miles, but we were all drenched in sweat after the first ten minutes – our guides included. Hiking in Belize in May is a great way to purify your body, sweating out any toxins you may have stored up over the winter months. We were thankful for our backpack, which housed our climbing harness, helmet, and three glorious liters of water.

Along the way, our guide pointed out the flora and fauna surrounding us and kept us at a slow and steady pace with frequent breaks to rehydrate. There were two other guides for just the four of us travelers, so needless to say, we were well taken care of the entire time. I practiced a bit of my Spanish on the guide they referred to as “Viejo” out of respect. I commented on how my husband with his scarf around his forehead to sop up the sweat “Me parece como Rambo, no?” I think he gets a kick out of the crazy gringos he guides every week. Matt had that crazy look in his eye too that reflected the excitement and anticipation we were both feeling about the drop.

At the top, we peered over the edge into the hole and contemplated our other options for getting down while our guide and his crew double, triple, and quadruple checked the climbing ropes and safeties. Nope, no other options! Our main guide then gave us a run down of how everything worked and made sure we knew that at any moment during the decent we could yell “Stop!” in order to capture photos or video, or simply take in the moment.

Then it was time! I found myself volunteered to go first but in the end I was glad to not give myself a chance to get nervous. I started at the top and our guide coached me upright before we reached the edge of how to let the line feed through. Right foot, Left foot, Line. Step, Step, Line. We stepped to the edge and I began repelling down along the first ten feet of rock face. Step, Step, Line. Easy! Once you get over the immense adrenaline rush to your head! I came to the end of the rock face and stepped off into nothing. I was now suspended in midair and able to look down at the forest canopy below. What an amazing view! I looked across to the cave on the other side and yelled “Stop!” Time for a little photo op. I tried to capture it all but realized in the moment that the pictures would not do it justice. So I sat back and enjoyed the ride to the bottom as our guide above whooped and hooted to make his voice echo through the cave.

The last fifty feet you descend in to the forest canopy and the cool air hits you in a refreshing wave. You’re sad to see the moment come to an end but glad to be back in the coolness of the forest.

Our other guide, Junior, met me at the bottom and unhooked the harness. Once all the others had descended we ate lunch on a white linen cloth they spread over one of the giant rocks near the cave. Then the exploration began of the Actun Loch Tunich. Our guide took us to the mouth of the cave and down in below. We saw the plateaus were he explained the Maya had sacrificed to the rain god “Cha”. They believed the caves were portals to another world and the farther in you could take your sacrifice, the more pleasing it was to the god. It was all so fascinating and otherworldly that we just stood and soaked it in for a moment. We wandered around a bit, taking pictures and asking Junior more questions, and then began the ascent to the top of the hole. We boldered our way up and then in the last 30 feet we all scrambled up a rickety ladder to the top.

On the bus ride home, I looked through my photos and videos, feeling the rush of the Black Hole Drop again. What a unique experience it was and it really rounded out our time in Belize. Wildlife, Ruins, Culture, Excitement, Adventure! Check!

Now. . . What will be our next Adventure?

~Lynessa Nelson, Adventure Life

Adventure Life provides authentic adventure travel to our world’s legendary locations. Combining award-winning operating standards with exceptional itineraries, our trips are carefully designed to experience the best of the region, while allowing flexibility for the unexpected and unpredictable that make each trip unique. For more info visit adventure-life.com and facebook.com/adventurelife.

Climbing has played a pivotal role in my life over the past four years. After I lost my leg above the knee almost six years ago I decided to leave my previous passion, soccer, as a part of my past. By chance I discovered climbing and found a new passion that grew deeper by the day and has helped me push my limits and do things I thought were never possible. It has always been my belief that climbing is an accessible sport for people with disabilities, so it has been my goal over the past two years to introduce as many people with disabilities to climbing as possible. I have been very successful in this, introducing hundreds of people with disabilities to climbing through various indoor clinics around the country.

Indoor climbing is cool, but the only thing cooler than indoor climbing is outdoor climbing. I wanted this clinic to be in a scenic place where participants could enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and spend a day pushing their limits and making new connections at the same time.

On April 9th, 2011 we gathered in the southern California desert in Joshua Tree National Park to host the first annual Adaptive Climbing Clinic. We were able to introduce thirteen people with disabilities to their first outdoor climbing experience. Eleven of those persons had amputations of various types, one participant with Trevor’s Disease, and another that was a stroke victim, ages ranging from ages eleven to fifty-six.

Matt Walker and Inner Passage Guiding Service helped us get the event set up and the climbing to a start that morning. We had three different climbs available on pristine pieces of granite slab that were about 50 feet tall. My friend Jeff Erenstone, was able to help get everybody fit with adaptive climbing feet and equipment. The day went off exactly how I had imagined. All of the participants made it to the top of the walls and had a great time making new connections and sharing their stories with one another. The weather was wild throughout the day, ranging from warm, back to cold, with even a small ten minute bout of snow! As I had been told the desert can flip its weather switch at any time.

There were several of our participants who had some really inspiring stories!

Murray used to be an avid climber at Joshua Tree National park on a regular basis before suffering a stroke about five years ago. After seeing the flier for our clinic he decided to come out and try it again, despite not being able to use the left side of his body because of his injury. Although things were clearly more difficult for him this time around, it was awesome to see how he was able to use his previous climbing skills to position his body in different ways to make it to the top of the wall, he gave it his all and found his way at the top!

Will, was born with Trevor’s Disease, a deficiency in his growth plates in his left knee and ankle (The same congenital deformity that led to my amputation). He is fourteen years old and although having one leg that is almost a foot shorter than another does not even consider it to be a disability, he is just too busy living his life! He was really excited to get climbing and crushed all three of the climbs that he was faced with. He said after the clinic that he looks forward to joining a local indoor climbing gym!

I also managed to get some climbing in myself, taking down one of my dream boulders, White Rastafarian V3 R, on my flash attempt. I managed to keep it cool at the top twenty feet off deck and make the send.

The event went exactly how I imagined and I can’t wait until next year already! Thanks to prAna for helping make our event a great success and letting our participants walk away with some great schwag! Keep a lookout for a write up in Urban Climber Magazine by Damon Corso and video to be released by Louder Than 11.

Thanks to our sponsors Athletes with Disabilities Network, Inner Passage Guiding Service, Evolv, Black Diamond, Sterling Rope, prAna, Sanuk, Mountain Khakis, and TRS Prosthetics. I would also like to send a special thanks to Tracii Haynes, Bill Haynes, Buck Branson, Damon Corso, Ben Hirschfeld, Jordan Shipman, Jon Glassberg, Jeff Erenstone, Mason Daly, and Pete Davis for coming and helping out at the event.

Life is 10% events, 90% your reaction. Live it to the fullest!

~Ronnie Dickson

You can learn more about Ronnie and Adaptive Climbing at takealegoff.blogspot.com

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With an ongoing love affair for Latin America travel, I admit, I sometimes forget about the incredible locations close to home. Which is a little ironic, because the Southwest is unforgettable. It has some of the most stunning landscape in the United States; it is a favorite destination for this Montanan to do a little backyard adventure. My last trip was a whirlwind of Zion and Arches National Park, squeezed into a short week in early April. And this time, I took my five-year-old.

Samuel, has little fear and lots of joy, which makes him an excellent adventure companion. It also helped that we were going to the place – as I explained – is where the Coyote & Roadrunner battle it out, AND is littered with fossils. Samuel, like many five-year-olds, is an expert in all things dinosaur, and likes to prove as much by volunteering dinosaur facts at the dinner table, dentist office, to strangers at the grocery store, and while sitting on Santa’s knee. In Samuel’s defense, Santa did start things by asking, “And what’s your favorite dinosaur, young man?”

Hiking was on the agenda (the relaxed, yet beautiful hike to Zion’s Emerald’s Pools is a great option for families – the subtle elevation is easy on little-legs), but I decided to start our trip with a day of canyoneering on the outskirts of the park in Snake Alley. West of the main canyon, this is a gorgeous area right outside the Kolob Plateau section of the park. It’s a great place for beginners. I hired a guide, a nice guy named Dave, who obviously had experience working with kids – he had a bag of tricks that consisted of everything from a corny quarter-behind-the-ear gig, to a huge fluffy Golden Retriever that serves as both chick, and child, magnet. Samuel and I were not immune to Dave’s charms.

Snake Alley is, give or take, a twenty-minute jeep ride from the middle of the town, Springdale. A half-hour hike took the three of us into the canyon. In route, Dave and I took turns reminding Samuel of proper trail adequate: Stay on the path… Stay on the path… The sun was out; a little bit of snow still found refuge from its warmth in the shadows. We made good conversation – Dave, did you know birds are dinosaurs? – hurdled a few large boulders, did a little chimneying and squeezed our way into the canyon.

“Samuel, you know how many times I had been canyoneering by your age?” Dave said. “Zero times.”

Samuel put his hands in his pockets and rolled heel to toe. He smiled at Dave.

“Mom, you’re first.”

We fixed ourselves into harnesses, ropes, carabiners, anchored in our safety tethers and watched Dave did a quick demo that I quickly forgot. But I made my way down regardless, and promptly landed into a puddle at the bottom of the canyon.

“Off rope!”

I leaned up again the wall of canyon while I waited for Samuel to follow. There was something very unnerving about standing at the bottom, looking up into the small slit of sky. A small turn in the canyon made it impossible for me to see Samuel from below. I suddenly found myself having to reassure that the gear was steadfast. I had to assure myself that this is a blast, he’ll love it. This anxiety was unexpected. What was going on here? As a kid, I used to spend my summers doing back flips off the walls of Yellowstone’s Firestone Canyon. I slept countless nights in tree house made out of rickety wood in a rickety tree that would bend in a stiff breeze. I was the founding member of a junior Polar Bear Club; the colder the temp. the higher the honor. I have fond memories of scraps and bruises, bee stings and poison oak. I cannot wait for my kids to embrace this bit of danger from life. But at that moment, standing against the cool canyon wall, waiting for my 5-year-old to make his way down the sheer rock, I anticipated his adventure, but I just wasn’t so sure I wanted to watch. It became obvious that both Samuel and I both had to conquer his first rappel.

I could hear Dave providing clear instructions. Keep leaning back. Feet higher. Lean back. And of course, my anxieties were unwarranted. Samuel did his part. He tiptoed his way down the canyon. There was definitely some dangling involved, but Dave did an excellent job controlling the descend without taking it over. Samuel slid his way down, slightly quieter than usual. Was it pretty? No. Was I proud? Yes. I played my combined roll as cheerleader and photographer from below. He was smiling. So was I.

“Samuel, that was amazing!” I said. I grabbed him about four feet from the ground to avoid the puddle, and hugged him in close, holding for an extra moment or two before setting him on the ground.

Samuel nodded his head and smiled. “Mom, I’m Spiderman,” he said.

I laughed, agreed and slipped his rope from the carabiner.

“Off rope!” Samuel said.

What a kid…

~Beth Reese, Adventure Life

Adventure Life provides authentic adventure travel to our world’s legendary locations. Combining award-winning operating standards with exceptional itineraries, our trips are carefully designed to experience the best of the region, while allowing flexibility for the unexpected and unpredictable that make each trip unique. For more info visit adventure-life.com and facebook.com/adventurelife.

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Cross Posted from ConservationNEXT – NEXTer Blog by John Sterling

A pack of 10 wolves was caught on film traveling in Northeastern Oregon. Once extinct in the region, wolves were re-introduced to Central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park in 1994. A few stragglers have ventured into Oregon since then, but this is the first time a full pack has been confirmed. It’s exciting to see wolves back in the Beaver State!

Our friends at the Conservation Alliance had some great news to share from north of the border… O Canada!

Cross Posted From The Conservation Alliance

Conservation Alliance grantee Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) announced final success yesterday in its campaign to expand the boundaries of Nahanni National Park Reserve in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced that the park’s boundaries would be expanded by 7 million acres, the size of Vancouver Island. The Conservation Alliance twice funded the Nahanni campaign, and are pleased to celebrate this success with CPAWS.

Click here for the full story from CPAWS