Mar 21 2012

Sugar, Sleep and Vegan Shortbread Cookies.

Climbing
by Beth

I was born with an unending sweet tooth. I would eat row after row of Oreo's, Mint Milano's and Chips Ahoy. This makes my parents look like they stocked their kids with nothing but sugary garbage, but sadly that is not true. I would have to leave our house and venture to my friends' houses to fill my sugary habit. My sweet tooth has followed me all the way into adulthood like a loyal dog, never leaving my side. However, I am sad and happy to say that I have...

Read More
Mar 15 2012

Collateral Ligament Injuries

Climbing, Injuries
by Beth

Beth, Thanks for the injury related post. It is interesting to hear of all the injuries that pro climbers sustain. It is not limited to us amateur climbers. I saw you mention an injury to your collateral ligament. I was wondering if you could expand on this in a future blog post. I am currently suffering from a collateral ligament injury to my middle finger PIP joint, and I haven't been able to find much information on this injury, related to rehabilitation beyond splinting and buddy taping. How much time...

Read More
Feb 28 2012

Indian Summer

Climbing, Yosemite
by Beth

It seems that every year Yosemite gets a little gift from the weather gods and is graced with a stint of Indian summer. Usually, it's a time when I feel like being a local is cheating. Spring like conditions provide shorts and t-shirt weather, with hardly a soul in sight. Some years it is more welcome than others, but regardless I can't remember a year when I haven't gone down to the Cookie in January or February and cursed myself for overdressing.   Last year I learned my lesson when I met...

Read More
Feb 22 2012

Injuries

Climbing, Injuries
by Beth

I recently did a photo shoot for Outdoor Research along the Northern California coast. I had the pleasure of spending two days with fellow Outdoor Research ambassadors, Shingo Ohkawa and Graham Zimmerman. I had met Shingo several years back in Patagonia, while on a hiking trip with my dad. Yes, you read it correctly, hiking. I flew all the way down to Patagonia and didn't even take my harness. Luckily, I know myself well enough to recognize that I would have been miserable and terrible at climbing there, so I...

Read More
Jan 01 2012

Mortar Rock Christmas

Climbing
by Beth

I couldn't wait for Christmas as a kid. I wonder if any kid can actually wait for Christmas? No school, presents, the permission to rip, destroy and mangle wrapping papper, endless playtime, and desserts that go on forever, it seems like heaven to any six year old. Without fail, I would be the kid that slept in front of the fire with cookies and milk inches from my nose hoping to see Santa, only to wake up flummoxed that he had come and gone without notice. I think if I...

Read More

The French Laundry

Climbing, Food, Travel
by Beth

As the season for gluttony is in full swing, we thought we'd add one of the most glutinous experiences to our roster of feasts by eating at the coveted French Laundry. It was Theo's graduation trip, which somehow justified the five hours of gorging ourselves on food almost too fancy to eat. Robin's account sums it up perfectly and is head and shoulders above anything I could ever hope to write. Our courses, however, were different, so between the two blogs, you can see almost thirty different courses (minus three of my dessert dishes due to...

Read More
Nov 14 2011

Kauk Slab

Climbing, Yosemite
by Beth

All in all it's been an amazing fall in Yosemite. Yes, we've had some rain and snow in the valley, but it's nothing like last year around this time when we were graced with several feet of snow before Thanksgiving.   Along with cragging, I've been enjoying wrestling the granite boulders of Yosemite Valley. This past weekend I had planned to meet up with friends at iconic Camp 4. Arriving in the jumble of boulders, I was surprised to find that I had accidentally left my cragging shoes in my pack. Normally not...

Read More
Oct 29 2011

Climbing Takes Hollywood

Climbing, Travel
by Beth

is past weekend I was scheduled to attend the Access Fund's 20th Anniversary party and subsequent board meeting. It was a pretty big deal for the Access Fund and the climbing community, having played such a huge role in perserving climbing areas and facilitating huge access issues for two decades. I am honored to have served one term on the board and this was to be the kick off of my second term.   However, around Wednesday evening I got a Facebook message from a casting agency in Los Angeles. To be honest, I...

Read More
Aug 12 2011

Colorado and Furry Companions

Climbing, Dogs
by Beth

This past month I've been traveling within the confines of the US. It's been a nice change to long airplane rides, rental cars, jet lag and all the other hurdles of overseas travel. However, one of the best parts is I get to bring along my four legged companion, Max. We adopted Max about a year and a half ago from the local rescue. He came to us fifteen pounds underweight, scared, nervous and the farthest thing from an agile mountain dog. I haven't had a dog since I was...

Read More
Jun 23 2011

Abroad

Climbing, Travel
by Beth

I have a funny relationship with traveling. I am a homebody at heart, but have a conflicting and innate desire to explore the world. Perhaps my love of being home also coincides with my love of a routine. I thrive on the known and get anxious about the unknown.   While in Font this past February, I got the travel bug again. I'm not sure if it was unfairly balanced with the fact that I've spent more time at home in the past two years than I can remember, but being in...

Read More