Rain Rain Go Away

I've been back in Sweden for 10 days and I think it has rained everyday.  The weather is so bad that even Swedes are commenting on the dreary conditions and unfortunately the forecast calls for more of the same.  This weather weighs on my soul and it is doubly disconcerting because I coaxed my good friend Antonio to come for an extended visit.  I just hope the weather gods smile on us before Antonio loses all hope and starts hitting the booze.

Despite the horrible weather we have made it out a couple times.  There are a few problems that tend to stay dry(ish) and the brief windows of opportunity has enabled us to compile several hours on real rock over a week.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Antonio on the verge of insanity

Steep equals dry (sometimes).  Antonio on Henry Lee

The first move of Henry Lee

 Antonio trying a new problem I put up called Salsa.

Working Bro-Down, a sweet new problem we brushed up

Monster Island Video

Here's a little video from Monster Island.  Hope you enjoy


Monster Island Bouldering from Walker Kearney on Vimeo.

Pie Town and Monster Island

So I'm back in Sweden and the weather Gods are already mocking me.  I've been looking forward to fall temps and even convinced my good friend Antonio to come for a visit but thus far we've only been rained out.  Such is the nature of Sweden.  One perk the bad weather has afforded me is time to sort some pictures and videos from the trip to the States.  Not sure if looking at footage from drier climates is the way to calm my nerves but it certainly keeps the motivation high.  Here are some pictures from Pie Town.

 Matt, a toe-hook master, on an awesome new roof.  I somehow overlooked this one for year and have Ryan Silven to thank for having the vision.  He did all the work of brushing and finding the beta but barely missed sending before he left.  I went back a couple days later and nabbed the fa but acknowledge that Ryan should get most credit for this one.  I called the problem Cookie Monster to appease an adorable 2 year old. 

Matt got close and helped refine the beta on Cookie Monster

Antonio on Christian Therapy (better know as Prince of Pie Town), an obscure problem that sits off by itself.

No sense in going to Pie Town if you're not going to stuff your face

 

Colorado Bouldering Video

Here's a little video of a hangful of problems in Colorado.  Hope you enjoy



Colorado Bouldering from Walker Kearney on Vimeo.

Alderfer/ Three Sisters Park

Alderfer/ Three Sisters Park is an area a little outside Denver.  We stopped there briefly to check it out and I was pleasantly surprised with what I found.  I only saw a small fraction of the bouldering but I'll make a point to go back and check out the rest.  Here is a picture of my favorite problem from the area

Prince Charles climbs out a steep prow and alone would be worth a quick stop in Alderfer/ Three Sisters Park

Emarald Lake

I've emerged from an internet free week in Pie Town refreshed and a few pounds heavier.  Man I love pie.  It's been a great trip but all good things must end as I've only got a few day left in the States before I return to Sweden.  Until I sort through more recent photos, here are a few from a day spent at Emerald Lake earlier in the trip.

Emerald Lake is a small area in RMNP that shares much of the approach with the larger and more popular Chaos Canyon.  While Emerald doesn't have all that many problems the ones that are there are top notch.  I was very impressed with what I saw and will hopefully be going back next year to finish off the ones-that-got-away.

 Antonio on The Kind, an amazing problem at Emerald Lake

 Keith Allen on Whispers of Wisdom.  Also at Emeral Lake, this is one of the best problems in Colorado and Keith came heartbreakingly close.  I'm sure he went back to finish it off.

Tommy's Other Arete is another gem at Emerald.  

Knee-Bar.  The beta is in the problem name

Endo Valley

Here are a few pictures from Endo Valley, an area in RMNP that has seen a revival in the last year.  We got rained out the day we went here but we did manage to climb a bit.

 T on a cool warm-up

 Antonio looking "swoll" 

 Trying a cool problem that I think is called "Merkin"