Cragmama "Not all who wander are lost…" JRR Tolkien

Yearly Archives: 2011

Sentimental Snapshot: Looking Back and Looking Forward

Sentimental Snapshot: Looking Back and Looking Forward

As I was digging around on my computer the other day trying to find miscellaneous pics for future cragbaby posts, I realized that I literally have thousands upon thousands of photos and video clips from various trips we’ve been on over the years.  I’ve decided to add an experimental category of posts to my blog – Sentimental Snapshots.  Once or twice a week (but don’t hold me to it…), I’ll post either a photo or a video from “back in the day”.  Some might represent a special memory, an important milestone, or maybe just a beautiful outdoor setting –  but all will tell a story…Read the rest of this entry →

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Pilot-Palooza aka Cragbaby: Scene 2

Pilot-Palooza aka Cragbaby: Scene 2

Sunny, highs in the 50’s in February…thats enough to draw a crowd at just about any crag.  We’ve been doing a lot of bouldering recently, but this weekend we decided to rope up at Pilot Mountain.  Incredibly enough, it was the first we’d done any roped climbing since October when we spent several days at the Obed in Tennessee.  Today turned out to be a darn near perfect day – despite how much I enjoy bouldering, I’d forgotten that nothing beats tying into the sharp end of a rope!  We met up with Jan and his wife Crystal in the parking lot. …Read the rest of this entry →

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Creating a Cragbaby: In the Gym

Creating a Cragbaby: In the Gym

In a perfect climber’s fantasy, every day would be sunny with winter highs in the 50’s and summer highs in the 70’s.  Long, pristine multi-pitch, aesthetic sport lines, and world-class bouldering all within a 30 minutes drive.  It would only rain on days that you had previous (indoor) committments and couldn’t climb, and the sun would never set before 9.  Oh yeah, and you’d never have to wait in line for your favorite 4-star lines, even if you overslept.   Sure, it all sounds great, but if your life is anything like mine, sometimes reality goes more like this – You’re an hour away from the nearest…Read the rest of this entry →

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Lights, Camera…FRICTION!!!

Lights, Camera…FRICTION!!!

  My writing focus these days has been mostly on the Creating a Cragbaby series, so I’ve been a little slack on the trip reports…but a couple of  weekends ago we enjoyed yet another wonderful weather weekend bouldering (and I’m glad we were able to squeeze that in before all the cold and rain set in…)  It was the usual suspects – me, Steve, Canaan, Christie…but this time there was a twist.  Enter Jan Balster, a professional photographer / cinematographer.  We’d worked with Jan before a few years ago as guinea pigs for a promo-shoot at Pilot Mountain.  Well, about a month ago he contacted me…Read the rest of this entry →

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“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN