A few McKenzie Videos

Ben took a big fall because of the wet topout with a good catch by Kyle. He sent next go.


JP is very close on this V5 but one move seems to be a bit too reachy for him. Guess he'll have to figure out his own way to do it or wait to grow a little more.



I now realize that I have to shoot videos with the camera horizontally, not vertically. Oh, well. Here it is anyway.

Can't get enough of McKenzie

For a second weekend in a row, we made the 2+ hour drive up to McKenzie Pond Boulders to work at some of our projects. Unfortunately as soon as we parked the car, it began to sprinkle. The rain fell for about 90 minutes, leaving us searching for dry rock or things to work on as soon as they dried up.
Finally around 1pm we were able to begin climbing. A few new V5's went down for folks. Kyle got Slot Machine, I sent Sweet Pea. Ben and Michael both sent a V8 variation to Slot Machine ( I am close). Ben made good progress on Flux Capacitor and I made good progress on the V8 that interests me, Star Chores, getting it in two pieces.
So despite the rain, our efforts just made us all that much more excited to return here soon. We've got many projects still to complete.

2 great Saturdays, 2 great ADK areas

Wow! Two new areas to climb for me. The Adirondacks are just full of great bouldering.

My first visit to Snowy Mtn Boulders on the 9th was incredible. This area is unlike any other in the Northeast that I know of. Hueco pockets of all sizes have been carved out of the numerous boulders below Snowy just north of Speculator, NY. These pockets along with all of the other boulder features make for an incredible area to continue working at (as soon as the black flies give permission in a month or so). Our day there was decent with overcast skies, a little wind and virtually no black flies yet. Some good sends went down. Everyone got at least one V6, a few got V7s and one V8 went down. Can't wait to go back later in the summer.

Today we made a bit of a longer drive up to McKenzie Pond Boulders. This was my first visit there and I was instantly extatick. A lot of classic problems got sent today. JP got the two he had his eyes on for the day (IF and Thrust Fault). Ben got his V7 Magnum and made good progress on a V8 Flux Capacitor. Luke sent a few V5s. Jess is SO CLOSE on Brock Lee Soares. I sent many of the classic easier problems that I wanted for the day (BLSoares, IF, Slot Machine, Great Roof, Time will Tell, Slobadon).

There will definitely be many more trips up north this summer to these areas.

New Video posted

JP just put together an awesome video of some of our sends down South last month. You gotta check it out. It is on the top of my video bar.

Tomorrow (May 9) we'll be venturing up to Snowy Mtn. Boulders in the Adks. Hope the black flies aren't too bad yet :-)

Good sends at 9 Corners

Last Saturday was a beautiful spring day at 9 Corners in the Adirondacks. JP, Kyle, Zack (Kyle's son) and I had a great afternoon of climbing. We all sent The Origin (a tough V4), took big falls off of Heart Attack Man and made quick work of a V6 on the Saccarine Boulder. Kyle and I also sent Long Live Legos (V5) and another V5 at Saccarine. I worked Thorazine (V8) and it is close for me.
As soon as the black flies let up in JULY, we'll go back to finish off more projects.

Personal trip to Virgin Gorda

Last week, my wife and daughter and I did a little personal vacation back to Virgin Gorda. We went last year in June and learned enough about the place to want to do another trip this year and to do it a little better than last time.
We stayed at the best possible place for beach bouldering (Guavaberry Spring Bay) and had four full days to play.
I bouldered each morning from about 8-11am before we went back to our 'hut' for lunch and a rest during the heat of the day. I climbed two days at Spring Bay, one at Devil's Bay and one at Little Trunk Bay. I was able to repeat many of the problems that I hit up last year and also did a few new ones (everything at Little Trunk). My toughest send was a V8 called Termite Highway at Little Trunk Bay. It is a problem that comes out through a roof and I worked it a little last year as well. This year it rained for a few minutes on our last day so most problems were wet, but I knew Termite would be dry, so I went and worked it for about 30 minutes before sending.
Still have many projects to do there, much of what I have left undone I would want to do with a spotter. There are so many great highball problems there, but with a two year old, my wife is a bit too preoccupied to spot me.
Can't wait to go back in the future.