Happy Birthday to this sea shell loving, rock hopping, all around girl boss @monicurz 🎉🎉🎉 I can't believe it's been another year around the sun! Getting to watch you wake up every morning with more energy than the last and chase your goals makes me so happy. You have more drive, dedication and care for others than anyone I know. I can't wait to see all of the amazing things you get up to this next year!
Last week marked the end of my 6+ year stint in Vermont.
In that time I found my passion (product design), met an amazing girl, built out a van, and improved my climbing more than I thought I ever could. I also absolutely destroyed my ankle, grew a terrible moustache, survived a global pandemic and subsequently shaved a terrible moustache (mine could never match @dominicdlentini ). Thanks to all the friends along the way who made this time such a fun and wild ride 🙏
In the short term I'm looking forward to climbing more, practicing my photography (which I am currently very bad at), and searching for what's next with my partner in crime @monicurz . For the next month or so I will be in the Boston area. If you're around and want to meet up, grab some coffee or hit the gym then reach out!
Later Vermont. It's been real ✌️
Absolutely wild moment last night. After 25 sessions and enough hours in the car to drive across the country, one of Vermont's longest standing projects, now called "Kaizen" finally went down.
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I was first shown the "Groton Sloper Project" in early 2020. At the time it had been tried for decades but it was unknown if the climb actually went as no person had been able to figure out the blank section at the top of the sloping rail. Getting to sort out the moves and bring this thing to life was truly one of the coolest experiences I've had climbing. Incredibly friction dependent and technical, this thing is without a doubt one of the most unique hard climbs in New England.
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As far as the grade, I think it falls somewhere in the hard v12 range but given the style it's hard to say. Only time will tell.
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Thanks to @climbingptvt for all the weather reports, @david.p.russo
and @monicurz and @evan.trombley for all the night session support. Also, congrats @benblackmore01 for swooping up the second ascent of this thing you absolute legend 🍾
New England Bouldering /nu ˈɪŋɡlənd ˈboʊldərɪŋ/
(Verb) 1. Standing on a ladder for 25 minutes while breathing on the lip of a boulder to melt a sheet of ice that formed on the top out overnight. All so you can finally send your sharp A** project that sits in the middle of a bog that for 90% of the year is full of ticks. Example: “New England Bouldering is SOOOOO fun. Sometimes I can’t get enough of it.”
The many faces of @monicurz that I get to see every day 🥰 happy to have spent the past 4 trips around the sun with you 🎉 here's to more Lego, Mini-Golf and above all else, well curated meme content 👀
Really cold weather in the northeast these past few days. Getting to climb with the homies always gets the psych up though. Always good to tick a few off the ever growing to-do list too!
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Climb: Ashes to Ashes (V10/7C+)
🎥: @sweaty.tips
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#bigcatenergy #tallnotstrong #bouldering #climbing
Officially rained out of our last day in Fontainebleau 🌧️ When I came to Font I definitely had some goals but I also tried to keep an open mind to things I found along the way like this absolute gem here. It's been crazy meeting and climbing with so many great people and experiencing an area I've wanted to visit since I was a kid. I have a ton of thoughts about it all but mainly that I can't wait to come back for more ✌️
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Climb: Fata Morgana (Bas) (8a+/V12) ✅
📸: @monicurz
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#tallnotstrong #bigcatenergy #bouldering #climbing
