Pushing Your Boundaries

Have you ever made an analogy in jest, only to have someone say to you, “you could never do that.”  Oh now, then it gets personal, as if they have just slapped you.  What you said was initially in jest, but now you come to realize, after thinking about it: “ What the hell do you know about me, to tell me I can’t do something?”  I remember when I was young, for some reason or other, making a joke to a friend that I could climb a mountain, and he said with the utmost seriousness, “you can’t climb a mountain.”  It rocked me to my core!  How insulting!  You, a supposed friend, telling me my limits! 

Blog Videos!

So I just got a brand new little video cam, a kodak zx3 sport, and I'm pretty excited about it!  I just wanted to see what everyone thought about some video blog topics.  Here's some ideas, but feel free to something out there; gear reviews, simple introductions, controversial topics, best trails/areas in Austin.  What do you think would be some good ideas?

--Hook

Two Fingers at a Time

         From outside or at a distance, the problem is less absolute.  Less menacing.  Approaching it, you may seem outwardly confident, or maybe you’ve even convinced yourself on the inside that you are sure.  You take hold, placing your hands and feet ever so slightly, yet very purposefully, on each hold.  As you ascend, there isn’t much that crosses your mind.  Only ‘left foot here, right hand there.’ ‘Right foot there, left hand here.’ ‘ Now lift.’ ‘ Got it.’  

I call it Beautiful.

              Although the collapsed grotto is not exactly the loneliest of an oasis, it is perhaps the most beautiful place I've been to in Austin.  Surrounding yourself with such a place grants anyone an insurmountably tranquil feeling that you can't help but stay there for the hours that pass only as moments.

The Proper Method Of Enjoying A Cigar

The cigar is an iconic symbol for a reason.  You see leaders, rulers, writers, nobility, white collar, blue collar, all sorts of people enjoying the bundle of leaves that are rolled so carefully and with such passion.

The Climbing Addiction

           Here are some pics of my regular climbing area.  My girlfriend Rachel getting her shoes on and just a few of the walls.  We usually go 3-4 times a week, climbing for about an hour.  We're getting better and better every week.  I love climbing, it's challenging, rewarding, has a great community.  The technical aspects of it are intriguing.

          Today I finally ascended a harder route I've been working on the past few trips, then I finished it 2 more times for good measure.  Also I worked my way over to the intermediate area and made a couple attempts, but no successful ascents.  It's ok, though, because I finally overcame that one I've been working on for a while.  Red route, you dirty bastard, you no longer defeat me.  Rachel also ascended 3 routes she had been previously working on, so congratulations goes to her as well.  It was a great session, full of victories.

         Climbing was something I started after being inspired by a documentary the name of 180 Degrees South.  I'd been fresh out of the hospital, still overcoming gallbladder removal, and basically watch a lot of NetFlix when I came across it.  The founder of Patagonia clothing company goes along on a ride with a guy following in his foot steps, travelling to south america, surfing the coast and climbing mountains along the way.  The way it's done, you really feel the rawness of being on the rode, the tireless efforts they go through to continue to that final place.  You can feel the dankness and the humidity on your skin just watching them swat away bugs as they trek.  You can smell the ocean salt as they sail, you feel fear when they are in danger.  If you care about climbing or the environment, you'll like this.  It's good to see people aren't afraid to still go and do big things.  Maybe you can watch it sometime and be inspired to do new things.  Look for it on NetFlix.

--Hook