apAdventures

posted by ARR

posted by ARR

We climbed. We hiked. We climbed. We camped. We climbed. We climbed some more. And mama sent! (Which never happens in Yosemite). Photo log below. Video coming soon.

posted by ARR

Scored a campsite in Rock Creek en route to Tuolumne! And what’s more – it had just rained when we arrived. Now, this may not be exciting to most. But for us, pure heaven. “Mama! Walk through the grass!  You can feel the wetness on your toes!” were Ivan’s exact words after he stepped out of the van and ran around.

posted by ARR

First and foremost, all of our trips are stellar…for the record. But this one for sure is bound to be a little more special than most, as I’ve been suffering from a bit of cabin fever lately.  Within the last couple month we’ve had fun plans shut down multiple times, keeping us homebound. First, our Pittsburgh climber buddies had to bail on a rendezvous with us here out west. Then we had a trip to the north rim of the Grand Canyon canceled due to forest closure because of fire danger (which also shutdown all northern AZ options). Next we had to turn back on a trip to Hueco Tanks because of apocalyptic rainfall and flooding. And, we’ve bailed on Mt. Lemmon camping & climbing quite a few times because it was just too dang hot!  On top of all that the “work from home” mandate still persists, which I am not at all a fan of.  Our desert adobe with pool and personal climbing gym is sweet and all (don’t get me wrong here!) but I need to get out of this place before I go crazy!!!  Time to bust this joint!

posted by ARR

Yosemite Valley, California

Mt. Lemmon, Arizona

posted by ARR

posted by arr

posted by ARR

Two sends from this fall’s trip and one from last. Enjoy.

posted by pjv

So here’s the story of the real reason why we’ve been so busy lately (and neglecting the blog so sporadically!). Settle in folks, this might turn into a bit of a novel, haha.

During the spring of last year, I got the hair-brained idea that if I wanted to continue to progress in the sport of rock climbing I needed to lift weights. Yes, weights. As in “scrawny little April pumping iron…one more rep, bro!” A comical visual, I know. I suppose this idea came to me in realizing that the climbs I’m most interested in doing these days don’t simply require, say, more finger strength, or better endurance, or a little more dynamic power in my legs, etc. The climbs I’m most interested in seem to require a whole new ‘April’ to achieve. I need to be a stronger human being overall to even have a chance. There you have it – rationale.

I did a little research, placed a (significant) order with Rogue for equipment, and by mid-March Paul and I found ourselves with two hands clenched around a barbell, asking the other “am I doing it right?” while said other watched a deadlift video on the iPad that had in big bold letters across it, ALWAYS CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL WHEN LEARNING A NEW LIFT…OR RISK INJURY! Um, yeah. To our defense, we’re rock climbers, remember! Who, like most in this sport, have been completely self-taught in every aspect.

No, we didn’t hurt ourselves. But we did smarten up really quick and decide to seek out someone who knew a little something about lifting more than one’s own bodyweight. Through a friend I got connected to Jerry Trubman at The Protocol, who basically specializes in making people wicked strong. Dang, what a goldmine I hit when finding this man. AND his facility is 8 minutes away from our house to boot!

Thinking we’d pay for our 4 private sessions with Jerry, learn how to lift all this fancy equipment we just bought, and then retreat back into our late-night-after-the-kids-are-in-bed-backyard-training sessions, I’m amazed myself to be reporting today, a full year later, that not only are we regulars in Jerry’s gym, but as of two weeks ago I am now a certified SMK Level 1 kettlebell instructor! Oh, and our climbing game is feeling really, really good too by the way. 😉

With the certification now behind me, it’s time to put this new muscle to use. I’m still shooting for that V9. Summer weekends will be spent up in Flagstaff. And as soon as temps cool it’s off to Hueco. And then we’ll be wrapping the year up with some more Yosemite. I’m in the process of starting up a strength and conditioning class specifically for climbers at The Protocol, which is exciting. And I also plan to go back to work in August when Ivan starts kindergarten. That’s the plan, man!

Typically the busier I am, the better my performance is in all aspects of life. Let’s hope this remains the case. And if not … well … nothin’ wrong with some new good-lookin’ muscle, haha. 😉

Training for the certification

Not how I would prefer to expend my energy while in The Valley, but the cert was a month away!

The Strength Matters (SMK) “swing test” during the 3-day certification

posted by arr