Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Shorties

Wow.  There sure has been a lot happening since the last time I posted.  So, I'll start from the beginning.

I spent the last two weeks in the Carolinas.  My trip began as I headed out the door one morning on my way to Sunrift Adventures in Travelers Rest, SC.  We rocked an Evolv demo that night and worked up some plans to check out Rumbling Bald the next day.  And we did!  This was the first time I had been to the area.  My head was on a swivel as we drove through mountains and down into the valleys.  I wasn't really sure what to expect.  Was it gonna be flat terrain? Overhung?  Crimpy?  Sharp?  No, yes, yes, no.  The approach is moderately easy, only because your taking switch backs on a bulldozed path up this hill.  Otherwise, yes it is all uphill.  The climbing was varied.  Most bolders were exposed on three sides having fallen off the cliff above.  It's very interesting how the boulders clustered.  It's as if certain parts of the cliff gave way, leaving piles of boulders in certain areas rather than being a consistent concentration. Being NC granite, it is very crimpy.  The rock just naturally forms edges that are perfect for pulling on.  My friend Jared Hancock showed me around.  I really wanted to see the Brackish boulder.  So we went there and climbed....a lot.  

Brackish Water from Chaz Warren on Vimeo.

I love the days that I can go outside and climb on my road trips.  It makes me appreciate the gift of everything we find in nature that much more.  Seeing the double yellow for hours on end can be taxing.  My body and mind need exercise to stay sharp and alert.  Thanks Jared!

From there I had to, yep, drive to Brevard, NC for an Evolv demo and dyno comp that night.  We had about 50 people come out and huck past the Evolv banners toward the finish holds.  The local news paper even came out and gave us the cover the next day!  Team Evolv NC was there in full force.  Love these guys....and gals.



I left there the next morning and headed to Asheville. Still, my head was on a swivel.  I've been to the Boone area but never Asheville.  The country is so beautiful there.  I thought about going to the Biltmore Mansion on my way back to Greenville like three or four times, seriously considering it too.  But then I realized I had time to get back to Brevard and go out with Travis and Eric.  The day was rainy.  I didn't care.  So, we headed to Looking Glass with high hopes.  And sure enough, we found dry holds leading to a wet topout.  Not to say I expected more.  I even managed to send this rig.

Travis likes Drunkgirl 7B+
Plan executed.  I arrived in Greenville that night in time to catch the 9:00 showing of Warm Bodies.  Zombie love story. Yes.  haha....It was alright.  The next day was EORA set up.




And finally, after a week and a half on the road, I got back the day before Valentines Day.  Little did Chandler know that I had BIG plans for our evening.  That's right I popped the question! She said yes!  



And here is another shorty.  I drove up the mountain yesterday on my lunch break and put this rig to rest.  I was ambitious but cautious in my approach.  No warmups, haven't tried this boulder in years, and overall not sure if I remember how to do it.  So, I started at the top, which is easier, and worked my way down, doing link by link until I got to the start.  From there I fell on the second move once, which is the crux, and then linked it to the top next try!  Total time spent at the boulder = 1 hour.  

Nine Lives from Chaz Warren on Vimeo.

We're getting married!

Cheddar.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Snow days and Boulders

Whoa.  The last month has kept me super busy.  Looking back I can say that I have had so many different things going on that I am having trouble figuring out where to start.  I can remember climbing at Twall with Nate, replacing all the gear on psychopath, falling two moves from the anchor (crux), and then the rain came.  Maybe the Minnesotans brought the rain?  The next thing I remember is two weeks of rain and time spent hiking to show our guests around.  Then I had to leave for Winter OR.

Emily and Zach (first two pics) had been in the south for a week I guess and had been chasing the weather across Tennessee and North Carolina.  They ended up coming to chatt and renting a room at my place for shelter until the rain stopped.  As the days passed it seemed like it would never stop raining!  How can this be happening?  These two are watching the climbing days on their trip pass by and I am leaving for OR soon.  Checking the weather became a joke.  I was so close to sending so many routes and boulders that I had been working on.  Every day I thought, "OK, I'm leaving for SLC in a week". Then it was 5 days, then 3, and then it was time to go.  We had one good day bouldering at Rocktown after the rain turned to snow but it wasn't one that I would make any progress on.  As I left town, I felt like I had just been robbed of completing what would have been the highlight of my season.







And wouldn't you know it, I returned to rain.  In a way that was a good thing as I had plenty on my plate to do.  What's the point of attending the trade show if you can't drum up any work?  2013 is going to be a good year.

And here comes the old familiar story.  I'm in town for a week, it's raining, and I have one or two days to get outside.  Bummer.








I know I may sound super gripey and depressed but man, the weather always gets good right when I get ready to leave town.  The few days I did go out were spent with Emily and Zach.  Those two moved here as acquaintances and friends of friends, but now I consider them good friends and am very happy to have shared that time with them.  

I'm in Brevard, NC right now.  Look for an update on the trip next week.  

Cheddar.