New Year's Resolution, Instagraming and Malibu Bouldering

Every time I post after a long dry spell I talk about making a renewed effort to keep Kearney Journey up to date and relevant.  Needless to say these previous efforts proved minimally effective as life and appathy inevitably interfere with blogging.  Now once again I'm stating my intention to maintain some semblance of regularity on this blog and I even thought I'd try to make it a new year's resolution of sorts (despite waiting almost a full month to make said resolution).  So we'll see how it goes but I'm shooting for the very achievable goal of averaging one post a week for the rest of the year.

I'm also learning my way around Instagram (@kearneyjourney) where I'll be regularly posting photos of my adventures (see sidebar for feed).  For those without Instagram I'll be sharing those pictures on facebook as well, so if you like the Kearney Journey page you'll get them in your feed.

So until the next time, here are a few more photos of the bouldering at Malibu's Tunnel Boulders

I've actually been spending lots of time just hanging on the beach this trip but I do get out to the local bouldering from time to time.  Sure is nice to watch the sunset over the pacific after a bit of bouldering (or whenever really). 

I don't have much that I know of that I haven't done around Malibu so I've been trying a few of the more obscure problems.  One such problem at the Tunnel Boulders climbs a steep face and has a first move that was beyond my ability.  I guess Gato Cosmico will have to wait until I'm stronger 

My back-meat looked pretty good doing the upper moves of Gato Cosmico but failed me on the start.

Prairie on a sweet warm-up at the Tunnel Boulders

Matty contemplates using a mono.

One of the funner problems I did is a classic sloper problem called Leah.  The problem is essential lifting your butt off the ground and doing a couple hard bumps with your right hand before some easy moves on sweet slopers.  Even if the climbing isn't all that interesting it's a good line and some of the best rock around Malibu.  Got to love those slopers.

The fun thing about sandstone is it have be hard to judge difficulty.  Here Lina milks the slopers of a deceptively difficult problem.  

Terminator is one of my favorite problems at the Tunnel Boulders and I've added it to my circuit.  There is also an obvious sitstart I've spent a couple sessions on that adds considerable difficulty and may still be undone.  It's nice to have something to work on. 

Malibu Bouldering Video: Malibu Creek and Tunnel Boulders

We are still in Malibu waiting for a spell of bad weather to pass and I used my time to throw together a little video.  The footage is from various years (you might notice the haircut) and highlights a couple problems that are worth doing it in the area.

One of the problems is located in Malibu Creek State Park which is known primarily for it's sport climbing on steep volcanic tuff but has a bit of bouldering.  Chubbs (aka the Malibu Roof) is hands down the best problem there and is a saut after test piece for Los Angeles Climbers.

The other problems in the video are from the Tunnel Boulders that sit just north of the tunnel in Malibu Canyon.  Unlike Malibu Creek this area is a soft sandstone and while some of boulders are super solid most of the climbing is on friable rock and the problems are "evolving" as the area gets more traffic.  Regardless, there are some good climbs to be done.

Hope you enjoy the video.  And for those that don't pick up the quote at the start, drop everything and go watch The Big Lebowski  right now.



Malibu Bouldering: Malibu Creek and the Tunnel Boulders from Walker Kearney on Vimeo.

Life's a Beach: Hanging and Bouldering in the 'Bu

Since leaving Moab about a week ago we've been hanging at my Grandmother's place in Malibu.  There is a fair amount of climbing in the area but we spent our time mostly hanging with family and preparing for the impending celebration of gluttony that is Thanksgiving.  Now that we have eaten ourselves stupid it's time to hit the rocks and try to recover from the food coma.

We're still figuring out our plans for the next couple of weeks but as long as weather cooperates our options are wide open.  Yosemite? Bishop?  Black Mt?  Santa Barbara?  Hang in Malibu?  Until we make a decision we'll be hanging and climbing around Malibu.

Here are a few pictures of bouldering and beaching around the 'bu.  The bouldering photos are actually from last year and feature my friend Robert (everyone misses you.  Come back!).

 Sunrise at Malibu

 The view from Tutu's porch.  Life if good.

Prairie nearing the end of a sweet problem at the Tunnel Boulders in Malibu Canyon

Robert on Crocodile Rock, The Tunnel Boulders

Robert on Purple Prow at Purple Stone in Topanga Canyon

One of my favorite problems at Purple Stone.  Don't remember the name but it is awesome.

Robert finding a hold at Purple Stone.

Purple Stone

Perhaps my favorite of Malibu's local bouldering areas is Purple Stone.  The rock quality is good and there are several high quality problems that would alone warrant checking the place out.   I just wish the area was bigger.

 Ethan on the unique approach to Purple Stone

Matt one of the area gems, Purple Prow.  

Matt attempting the undone direct finish to Purple Prow

Whirlpool is one of my favorite problems and was surprisingly only put up roughly a year ago

Under the Weather

Been a bit under the weather as of late.  It all started with a short bike ride through a snowstorm and after 6 days of fever I buckled down and went to see a doctor.  I'm now $300 poorer but the antibiotics are doing the trick and I'm hoping to be back to full form when I finish the drugs.

For now we are back in Malibu, enjoying the sun and climbing locally.  Here are a few pictures from the Temporal Boulders, one of the small areas near Malibu.

 Matty on the gem of the Temporal Boulders, Temporal Relativity 

 Prairie doing the top-out of Torosa

 Sticking the crux move of Torosa

Matty milks the cool sloper of an alternative top-out to Temporal Relativity.  This one is still a project 

Malibu bouldering and the arrival of Goldie Locks

Goldie Locks (aka Peter) arrived in LAX 16 hours late after a heinous trip from Sweden. Unfortunately he brought Swedish weather with him as the forecast for the entire western United States turned to crap once he touched down. Obsessively checking the a multitude of weather sites and praying to any deity we thought might take pity on our poor souls was of little hekp as nothing could stop the trifecta of storms destined to dismantle our week of climbing.

Bishop was definitely out as the predicted snow is sure to shut down the milks so we hung in Malibu for an extra day to use utilize the precious half-day of sun before doom and gloom. The bouldering around Malibu turned out to be fantastic and I feel like an idiot for not discovering this little gem years earlier. There are two different areas about 10 minutes in opposite directions from my grandmother's house. Beautiful settings, good lines and quality rock got me psyched and had me jonesing for another day, especially since our outing was cut short by rain. I'm sure I'll be back.

Right now we are in Joshua Tree National Park since the forecast "only" called for 4 days of rain. J-Tree is becoming the standard last ditch effort to climb when bad weather slams California (remember last year Martin?). The last two mornings actually proved climbable and despite the fact that most of the rock is choss I think I'm starting to like the area (maybe it's a personal defense mechanism to keep myself from drowning in depression). There will be an update from J-Tree soon as we are now hold up in a coffee shop while snow gathers outside. Unfortunately our praying hasn't payed off as our best hopes of climbing remains Chossua Tree.

Hear are some pics from the bouldering around Malibu. The first 3 are from Purple Stone and the last 4 are from the Malibu Tunnel Boulders

Goldie Locks rejoicing that he is no longer in Sweden

A super cool arete

Lina warming up

A sweet pocket problem

Goldie Locks hopes to avoid taking a swim

Sweet arete

Lina in a new shirt and new shoes