NOW PLAYING | E+F BEST OF 2016

You can go ahead and add the week between Christmas and the New Year to my list of favorite things. For a brief moment, life slows down and there's a sense of magic in the air. A moment to pause and reflect on how far we've come and to dream about where we're headed over the next 365 days. 

I've spent a lot of time this last week doing a review of my 2016 and what I'm most hopeful for in the future that is 2017. If you're a Tim Ferriss fan like me and follow his podcast, you've more than likely already listened to Ep 210 'Becoming the Best Version of You.' If not, do it now. With guests Josh Waitzkin, Ramit Sethi and Adam Robinson, it's the best 1:35 you can spend.

The highlight for me was actually in the opening segment when Adam shares his keys to success. When asked how he thinks about the transition from one year to the next (resolutions, any particular routines or approaches closing out the year), he answered by saying that he likes to try and take stock of what he's learned over the past year, and that this year, he's learned three things. Three things he wishes he'd known when he was younger because, in his words, "I think they're the keys to success."

I'm not a big fan of resolutions, but I've decided to apply his lessons to my 2017 and always: 

Approach everything with enthusiasm.

Prioritize your relationships and connecting with people.

Expect magic. If you expect magic in every encounter, you find it. 

So here's to magic in 2017. And because I like to make monthly playlists, the E+F Best of 2016. 

Happy New Year!

 

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CLIMB | RED ROCK CANYON

Well, the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers are packed up and headed back to Jackson with my Dad and Truman. So much to be thankful for this year and always — the love of family & friends, the opportunity to travel to beautiful landscapes, the health and ability to climb and experience the world from unique perspective. The list goes on.

My first trip to Red Rock Canyon last weekend did not disappoint. Quick trip with only a day and a half to climb, but definitely maximized the days with Elaina Arenz. I bagged my first lead on trad (SPI here I come!). Practiced building anchors, belay transitions and rope management and cruised a gorgeous 'off the grid' multi-pitch before returning to Austin on Sunday. Already scheming the next trip, Red Rock will definitely be on repeat in 2017.

Elaina Arenz, Chicks Climbing & Skiing

NOW PLAYING | E+F NOV 16

Vegas baby...VEGAS! Currently packing my bags for my first trip to Red Rock. Wheels up in less than 24/hours for a four-day weekend climbing with Elaina Arenz. I promised our mutual friend Coach Seiji I'd try not to fangirl her too much. Needless to say the psych is high, and the E+F Nov playlist definitely sets the vibe. Enjoy!

NOTED | 11.6.16

Despite the rain, it was still a pretty amazing weekend for climbing here in Austin, with Austin Bouldering Project hosting the first annual Southwest Boulderfest. I volunteered as a judge for Session II and was incredibly inspired by all the talent competing, including Chelsea Rude, Meagan Martin and Paul Robinson. In case you missed it, you can watch last night's finals competition here. Congrats to the winners and everyone that contributed in making the event such an outrageous success. Already looking forward to next year.

Here's a few things of note from around the Web this week...

Toughness, grace, strength and fun. It's a powerful combination. 

What would you do for the person you loved the most?

The magic of how to have it all. Rob Pizem shows us how to get it done. 

10 ways to climb mentally strong. 

Add Zion big wall climbing to your bucket list.

Dirtbag tricks to stay warm when it's F****** cold.

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."

photo: moonrise over cliffs of Zion Canyon

NOW PLAYING | E+F OCT 16

Finally enjoying a little bit of a cold front here in Austin. And by 'cold front' I mean anything less than 100 degrees. Yes, it's still hot, but the cool mornings mean it's almost time for the long sleeves and boots to come out. Yeesss. 

Trying to take advantage of the break in the heat as much as possible with regular weekend trips to Reimers and little happy hour climbing at Gus Fruh. Made my first visit on Wednesday after work, and it's easily a new favorite. I don't think I'll ever get tired of the fact that I can now be outside on the wall, in the middle of the week in 20 minutes or less. 

In celebration of the new fall season and those send-it temps, here's the E+F Rocktober playlist. May it and the force be with you as you clip the chains on your next project. 

CLIMB | 10 MILE CANYON ROYAL FLUSH

I've been saying for the better part of the last year that I was going to extend one of my work trips to Denver and stay through the weekend to climb. A couple of weeks ago, I finally made it happen. My friend Max met me in Golden, CO, and we made the hour drive to Frisco early Saturday morning to have a go at Royal Flush, a 5.9, 8-pitch sport route located in 10 Mile Canyon on Mount Royal — my first proper multi-pitch.

The "planning" went something like this: 

Max: "Been interested in this if you're feeling multi-pitch." Max texts me the link to the route on Mountain Project.
Me: "Awesome."
Max: "Pretty sure we can be at the summit in six hours and hike off."

Well, you can't know what you don't know. 

We started our ascent at 9:30 that morning, and between my inefficient rope management, some tricky route finding between pitches and getting backed up waiting on other groups on the wall, it was some 9+ hours later before we made it to the summit at approximately 11K feet. Ah-mazing. Another hour and a half hike in the dark back to the car and a beer never tasted so good. 

After some sleep and a nice, greasy Denny's breakfast, our little mini-epic had me gunning for more. I definitely see a trad rack in my future...

photos: Max Deisch

NOTED | 9.11.16

My fall climbing trip calendar has shaped up better than expected. Headed to Denver this week for work and will be staying through the weekend to climb between Clear Creek and 10 Mile Canyon. My first taste of climbing in CO and leading trad. So psyched.

Another trip to CO next month for the Access Fund 25th Anniversary Celebration and Red Rocks in November to climb with girl crush, Elaina Arenz. A serendipitous connection through our mutual friend, Coach Seiji.

Speaking of, started training this week with Seiji at Austin Rock Gym. He's developing their adult training program (stay tuned!), and guess who found herself as the guinea pig. Summary of the first week: well, I didn't die, but I'm definitely a 'project.' Seiji has his work cut out for him, but the process is the reward and already seeing some early progress.

Planning to escape to Reimers today to climb with some old and new friends, but not before posting a few things of note from around the Web this week.

Conrad Anker's journey from dirtbag to rock star.

Dyno lessons from Lynn Hill. 

The women you should know about in the outdoor gear industry. 

89 and she clocks more time on Rainier than many rangers and guides.

Where to rent a campervan for your next road trip.  

"A strong woman looks a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink."

photo: Western Rise

NOTED | 9.5.16

I won't lie, still missing the sunsets from last week over the PNW, but Austin was a pretty nice place to come home to — especially when I'm ten minutes from the airport going against traffic. My Houston friends are jealous.

Enjoyed a pretty perfect Labor Day weekend climbing at Reimers yesterday with Coach Seiji and my friend Max (aka Houston's Lost Soles) followed by pizza and beer at Stanley's Farmhouse. It simply doesn't get much better.

A little late posting links, but there were too many good ones not to share. So without further delay, here's a few things of note from around the Web last week.

Columbia is hiring 'Directors of Toughness.'

The world's best skiers take over Portillo. *They're all women!

57 peaks in 32 days.

The AAC Ueli Steck tour kicked off this week and is coming to a city near you. Get your tickets here. 

Everything you need to relax after a day in the mountains. Psst, there's bourbon. 

Current girl crush: competitive paraclimber, Maureen Beck.

The pursuit of happiness. 

NOW PLAYING | E+F SEPT 16

Well here we are, summer's last bash. I for one could not be happier for the 3-day weekend. Extra time to unplug, get outside and maybe even do a little bit of *gasp* nothing. These days, I'm trying to practice being more present and in the moment, but I can't help thinking ahead to my fall climbing trip calendar. Things are looking good with CO and Red Rock already on the schedule.

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing this holiday weekend, the E+F Sept 16 playlist will help you celebrate these unofficial last days of summer and welcome the new fall season ahead. Enjoy.

NOTED | 8.28.16

This morning I woke up in my camping trailer happy and sore after a day of climbing at Smith Rock. I'd be willing to argue with Disney that Smith is actually the happiest place on earth — well, at least for me anyway. 

Ben Randall with Smith Rock Climbing School and I spent a full day at the crag, splitting the morning and afternoon between the Northwest Wall and Phoenix Buttress. If you ask me my favorite place to climb, it's usually always the last place I've been, but there's something really special to me about Smith. This will definitely not be my last trip.

In between climbs, here's a few things of note scouted from around the Web this week. 

The Process: "You know what's down below, but you also remember what was up above and how to be because of it."

Happy 100th anniversary to the National Park Service! Why America created its first national park.

What happens when ego is left behind, doubt is overcome and simple passion is left to lead the way.

Out of office reply: I'm in Nature.

An interview with the setters of Austin Bouldering Project.

She's 91, but feels 15. Here's her secret.

This video sums up everything we feel about the outdoors. 

NOTED | 8.21.16

My Dad is visiting from Jackson this weekend, and, with the seemingly non-stop rain, we've done nothing but eat and drink our way through Austin (not that I'm complaining!). Jeffrey's certainly did not disappoint on Friday. We kept things pretty low key with pizza in the neighborhood last night and plan on enjoying a few farewell oysters at Clark's tonight before his 8+ hour drive back to Mississippi tomorrow.

Looking forward to a little road tripping of my own this week. Headed to Oregon to sneak in my first Smith Rock climbing experience with Smith Rock Climbing School before making the drive from Redmond to Portland for work. If you have any favorite lines not to be missed, definitely send them my way. In the meantime, here's a few things of note from around the Web this week.

Healthy smoothies in 30-seconds.

Outside's The 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S.: 2016.

Party for the Parks tickets are now on sale.

A yoga warm up for climbing.

Outdoor inspiration delivered monthly. 

Alex Honnold on his brain.

Eight ways to improve your footwork.

For the love of climbing.

photo: Smith Rock Climbing School

NOW PLAYING | E+F AUG 16

Awesome day climbing with Coach Seiji at Reimers yesterday — I've had the biggest sh*t-eating grin on my face all week and still can't quite believe that, at any given time, I can now get outside to climb in 15 minutes or less. I love Austin.

Got rained out this morning, but recovered with hot cakes and a little afternoon gym session planned with Chalked Up Chicks. This month's playlist got delayed with the move, but here it is E+F Aug  16. A good one for these last few training days of summer before fall redpoint season begins. What's on your tick list?

NOTED | 8.7.16

I'm officially an Austinite! Moved on Friday, unpacked on Saturday. Finally settled and having a blast exploring my new East Austin neighborhood. Cuvee Coffee, Burn Pizza + Bar and Counter Cafe have already become fast favorites. Climbing the Greenbelt for the first time on Tuesday, with plans to hit Reimers on the regular starting next weekend. A girl could definitely get used to this. Here's a few things of note from around the Web this week. 

Adventurer and endurance athlete, Sophie Radcliffe, on achieving your extraordinary. 

Embracing change might mean disrupting your day.

How to train the ultimate adventure dog.

I am officially old. "Stand by Me" turns 30. Say whaaat?

Best climbing rituals. 

Reservations for the Hueco Rock Ranch are now open. 

The best of summer Outdoor Retailer 2016. 

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NOTED | 7.17.16

Success comes from loving the journey, not the result. That's been the common theme for me here lately both at work and in life — and especially with my climbing. Now keep in mind, I'm hard wired as a performance-driven perfectionist, so this is no easy transition. I've spent a lot of years tied to achievement and chasing the ring to 'check the box.' But I'm having a great time learning to let it go. Here's a few things of note from around the Web this week.

Ego is the enemy, bulletproof your mind and get more out of your body. 

The Calm of the Mountains, the short film about Rio-hopeful Melinda Withrow.

A hand care routine to keep your mits happy. *And guess who won the #getgiddy giveaway! Watch for my GIDDY review coming soon. 

Currently on repeat. The new single from James Vincent McMorrow. 

You might have to look a little harder for it, but you can definitely find adventure in Houston. 

Food & wine is my second favorite sport. Excited to explore my new hometown and eat my way through Austin with this restaurant guide from Camille Styles.

photo: Matthew Wakem/Aurora Photos, Outside Online 

NOW PLAYING | E+F JULY 16

Listening to E+F July 16, it's a lot like me this month — all over the place. The next three weeks will see me in Denver, Austin, Dallas and finally back to Austin for the move. Will still manage to squeeze in a weekend trip to Reimer's for a few burns on my project. This playlist might be a little scattered, but it's a good warm up for the redpoint run to help you finally stick the move. Enjoy.

NOTED | 7.3.16

Landed back in Houston yesterday after a week spent working in Laguna Beach. First trip I actually made it to the water, and all I can say is there are definitely worse places to be. Managed to have a lazy Saturday that included a bouldering session at Sender One and a little day drinking at the airport before getting upgraded to first class (thank you United). Still home with enough time to enjoy the three-day weekend.

It's my last 4th of July in Houston. After two and half years, I'm packing up my toys and relocating to Austin next month. I love Houston, but I'm psyched to have a work opportunity that will put some of the best urban outdoor climbing right in my backyard — and just in time for the new fall season. This next week is my last opportunity to organize the move before I'm back on the road, so I'll be spending most of the holiday packing. 

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing this 4th of July weekend, light it up. Here's a few things of note from around the Web this week. 

Your best cup of crag coffee. 

Up your camp cooking game with this one pot protein pasta.

Sometimes it's nice to leave the boys at home

Top 5 photo editing apps for travelers. 

A fruit-themed tent and 11 other gear innovations you probably don't need. 

American Alpine Club 2016 Craggin’ Classic Series.

ICYMI my guest post over on HoldBreaker. 

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NOW PLAYING | E+F JUNE 16

It's the (un)official start of summer, and for the next 3+ months here in Texas, it's all about the early start and chasing the shade. E+F June 16 is the soundtrack I'll have on repeat with a cold beer after the send at the end of the day.

CLIMB | KALYMNOS

One 11-hour overnight layover in Zurich, followed by a missed connection in Toronto due to customs delays and an unplanned stop in New Orleans for refueling later, I finally arrived back home in Houston. Two weeks later and the perma-grin is still on my face. Kalymnos in a word: EPIC.

The kindest, most gracious people, outrageously stunning views and the most incredible rock I've ever put my hands on. Oh yeah, and the Mythos wasn't too bad, either. 

Thank you to Rock & Sun and our guides, the extraordinarily talented Trevor Massiah, and rock goddess, Desirée Verbeek, for the totally inspired experience. Kalymnos, you'll definitely be seeing me back again very, very soon.

NOW PLAYING | E+F MAY 16

New releases and fresh discoveries with 'send it' vibes from Kalymnos.

TAKE THE WHIPPER

The Whipper has recently been generating buzz in both the climbing and tech communities as the world's first climbing performance tracker. A clip-on device that helps you improve your technique and endurance quickly for better overall performance? I was immediately curious. 

Then I learned that the Whipper is actually the creation of Laura Kassovic and her climbing partner, Matt Baker, both with MbientLab. Always inspired by women crushing it both on and off the wall, I had to know more. So I went to Laura direct for a little insight into her climbing, her inspiration for the Whipper and her long-term vision for this new technology. 

When did your love affair with climbing begin? What type of climbing do you do? 

I started climbing when I was an engineer at Intel; that was also my first job out of college. One of my mentors at work was already a climber and invited me out to the local gym. That same day I was hooked. It all started in 2009, and, before I knew, it I was climbing indoors and outdoors, mostly top rope and lead in places like Yosemite.

What was your inspiration for the Whipper? Tell us about the development process.

You can imagine how someone that works at Intel and climbs might one day conjure up a wearable climbing tracker. And that's exactly how it happened; I was finishing a climbing session with my partner Matt, and we were talking about how we often climb. We quickly realized that at the end of a session, we didn't really remember what we did; how long was the session? how many climbs? how many feet? what difficulty? are we even improving? So the idea of the Whipper was born, and we started prototyping.

What is your favorite Whipper feature?

My favorite Whipper feature is the "find a belay partner" feature. We've noticed it's a big issue for climbers and gym owners, and we want to fix it. No more awkward PA system announcement at the gym yelling, "We have someone looking for a belay partner."

What is your favorite climbing area? Destinations on your 'life list' to climb?

Yosemite will forever be my favorite, and I was reminded of this yesterday as I was watching Valley Uprising on Netflix; that movie is highly recommended. I LOVE Yosemite. My fantasy destination for climbing is Patagonia.

Any pre-climbing rituals?

My partner Matt has a love affair with Cliff bars pre-workout. I don't have a pre-climbing ritual that I am aware of.

What will we always find in your crag pack?

Knife, head lamp, food, and water are the essentials for me. After that it depends on where I am going and how long I will be out.

What is your biggest challenge in climbing and how does the Whipper help?

The skill plateaus in climbing are the worst; when you can't get to the next level, you get demoralized pretty quickly. I think that's also why the Whipper is important for me because it helps me surpass my climbing lows.

Single best piece of climbing advice?

Go outdoors if you haven't yet! You can't believe the number of people who climb or boulder at a gym and have never touched a real rock. When they do though, it's just like falling in love! My partner Matt and I often plan outdoor expeditions (in fact he is climbing at Mount Diablo as I am writing this).

Can you share a little bit about the long-term vision/plan for the Whipper? Where do you see it going and how do you see it being used?

We want to open up the Whipper to the entire community so we can connect local guides and climbing gyms to all climbers. If we can find a belay partner for you on a Tuesday evening because you wanted to climb on a whim, then we can also connect you with a guide at Yosemite if you decide to go outdoors for the weekend — on a whim. The Whipper and App will be about connecting the entire climbing community.

Improve your climbing, build the community...and all for a good cause. For every 1000 feet climbed by Whipper users, the Whipper team is donating $1 to the AccessFund. Now that's definitely something to get behind. 

The Whipper Indiegogo campaign launches today. Get yours here for just $99 as an early backer. 

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NOTED | 5.1.16

This time next week I'll be 6000+ miles away climbing in Kalymnos [INSERT CRAZY HAPPY DANCE HERE]. A lot of firsts for me this trip. First time in Greece. First time climbing abroad. First time I'll have a whole week with nothing to do but climb —  and maybe sneak in a little beach time. In between trip prep and packing, here's a few things of note on my radar this week.

Crux Climbing Center's Grand Opening in Austin is Sat, May 7th. Can't wait to get on the Future Wall when I get back.

So you're thinking about running a marathon? Talk about no excuses.

Like any true adventure things don't always go as planned. A story of risk, success and failure in the Baffin Island alpine wilderness. 

Solid beta for safe and satisfying travel abroad, courtesy of Brittany Griffith, Jonathan Thesenga and the Enormocast.

Hilarious but true.

How am I just now discovering this? I'm totally breaking up with Nutella.

New music from Broods available June 24th (and just in time for my B-Day!).

Um, I think I definitely need a pair of these.

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NOTED | 4.24.16

Spent a fun couple of days working in Denver this week. Coffee and climbing are my two must-haves when I'm on the road, and Corvus Coffee and Movement always come through for me when I'm in the Mile High City. Definitely check them out on your next visit.

A few other things of note on my radar this week...

Great perspective from Steph Davis on making friends with fear.

Georgia Abel presents a brand new approach to redpointing for big gains in your mental game. 

A recipe for the perfect smoothie. 

Is there such a thing as a smart, wearable climbing tracker to help improve performance? Yes! Meet The Whipper.

My new mantra.

For everyone that has The Temper Trap 'Sweet Disposition' on repeat. 

Kalymnos is less than two weeks away. Obsessed with this crossbody from Stash Co for all my travel essentials. 

Everything you need to know about the future and making plans. 

NOW PLAYING | E+F APRIL 16

Pack a suitcase and hit shuffle for this month's playlist. E+F April 16, the #kalymnoscalling edition.