Update

Wow, I can't believe it's been just a couple of months shy of a year since my last post on here! I suppose I've been busy with life and enjoying the things in it. Within the last year, I'd say I've developed a deeper passion with bouldering, especially when it comes to rarely or never climbed areas. I've moved right up to the Sandia Foothills, only 15 minutes walking distance from a beautiful, large boulder with problems ranging from V4-V9. I've still yet to climb an outdoor V7, though I feel closer to it every time I go out. Lately, though, my goal hasn't been to just climb hard, but rather to reconnect with the adventure sense and the simple joy of climbing outdoors. Within one canyon lately I have found just that.
I have always looked up at the rocks higher up in this canyon but never took the time to check it out. And recently I decided to go and venture, and found some of the best climbing (in my personal opinion) in the Sandia foothills. Lined with endless boulders, the sides and ridges of the canyon alone contain seemingly limitless potential. The real gems I've found, however, lie in the canyon bottom right where it narrows. The first big boulder alone has a decent arete problem, very few moves but a fun problem with a dynamic throw (at least for me and my short reach). Then immediately past this boulder is one of the most aesthetically beautiful boulder I've ever seen in these foothills. It's nothing difficult, but it is a fun and must-do warm-up boulder, perfect for even beginning climbers. The higher up you hike, you pass boulder after boulder, presenting so much potential climbing at almost every turn. Lowball-highball, easy-difficult, there is something for everyone here. I personally have a project featuring some of the best movement I've found (again, in my opinion) in the foothills. I'd guess it goes at V5-V6. Nothing too crazy, but it is just so exciting to have found such a great problem with such fun movement. The best part is this canyon is only 5-10 minutes from my house, so I'll be spending a lot of days going out and climbing everything I can find. By the way, I am in no way claiming to have discovered this area, as I know other people climb here. But it is new to me, is mentioned nowhere online, and almost guarantees isolation, all qualities very rare for foothills bouldering areas it seems. There is more to be found and more to be climbed, but I think I'll be hanging out here, testing out all of the beautiful boulders and features I can.

Current project, my favorite so far!

Shut Down

Massive boulder several problems

One of the drawbacks to living in New Mexico, I've learned, is the increasingly severe drought that we are experiencing. There are so few days of rain, and when it does happen, it is typically for a very short period of time. This has left our beautiful forests, mountains, and bosques incredibly dry and ripe for wildfires. Because of this, there are several national forests across the state that have completely closed access to everything in their boundaries...and that includes nearly everything in the Albuquerque area. In this heat there are a few options to get out, such as San Ysidro Recreation Area and Box Canyon. Unfortunately, money's been tight lately and I haven't been able to afford the gas to get out. On the bright side, however, the foothills are mostly open, including the north side of Tijeras Canyon. This has allowed me to explore a bit farther out than the usual foothills bouldering areas. Of course almost everything out here has been climbed at some point, but it is all new to me!

Overhanging Knob Problem

Most of the rock out in this area is rather poor quality, but the few problems that do exist out here are really great! One area in particular has several boulders close together with high quality problems, primarily with cobbles and knobs for holds. Between the great holds are really grainy faces, but they are great problems regardless. Going back out to climb tomorrow, maybe explore some more of this huge area as well. There is extremely vast potential out in the canyons and on the ridges of this area, and I'm rather excited to see what's hiding! Time to put all the recent training in the gym to the test :)

Stepping Into Climbing

I recall one Saturday, summer morning in which me and my old roommate, Bret, decided to take the first Railrunner train from Los Lunas up to Santa Fe. There was no agenda or goal, aside from the simple desire to spend a day somewhere new. It started off as a beautiful morning in Los Lunas, where we fueled up on coffee and burritos from the locally-famed Burritos Alinstante.
Shortly after, we boarded the train and took our trip up north. It just so happened, that the train station in Santa Fe is located directly next to a REI. We had our fun in Santa Fe: exploring the roads, following the Santa Fe River, buying cds and books from a local bookstore, and hanging out at parks. What really made that trip for me, though, was checking out REI before boarding the train back to Los Lunas. I had been in REI several times before, looking at hiking gear, maps, etc. However, I'd never given too much attention to any of the rock climbing gear, books, and magazines. I decided to buy an issue of Climbing magazine, which ended up being one of the best decisions I'd ever made.

First issue of Climbing I owned

In that issue, there was an article on bouldering, which I had never heard of at the time. The article was so heartfelt, and the pictures were so great, that I decided right then that I was going to try and get into bouldering. Little did I know, this would come to take over so much of my life, and take me to so many unexpected places.

Lone Star SDS (V0+)

In Los Lunas, I was lucky enough to live close to a geologic formation known as El Cerro de Los Lunas (Los Lunas Hill). Though no climbing destination for anyone living outside the town, it became my stomping ground. Bret decided to join me in my new endeavor, so we hiked up to LL Hill and found some small boulders, great for beginning. I recall one boulder we named Slush Puppy that was a really fun slab, with two or three problems going up the face, all V1 or easier (The V-Scale is used to measure a problem's difficult, ranging from V0[easiest] to V16[hardest]). That got us started on our footwork. Then, we found a nearby boulder that was simply a one to two move problem, named Little Bitch (V0), that tested our mantling skills. Also nearby, we found a really small boulder with a chunk missing out of the bottom corner. This one was my first introduction to a sit-start problem. This one, Lone Star SDS (V0+), was a fun beginning problem for me and Bret, giving us yet another introduction to different holds and body position.
Since those first few climbing adventures, with nothing but tennis shoes, I myself have come a very long way. I am no spectacular climbing, but it has become one of the most fun aspects of my life. I have found, completed, and named probably 30-40 more climbs on LL Hill alone, with several projects still existing as well. The searching of new climbs is what motivated me the most. Regardless if they have ever been climbed, it is so fun to come up to an unmarked boulder or wall and find holds and figure out potential problems. I have fallen in love with doing this out in the Sandias as well. Though I am almost certain that everything I have ever attempted has been climbed before, it is still a great feeling to have to look at the boulder and start the whole process over.
Aside from finding new climbs, I simply LOVE traveling to different climbing areas away from home as well. I have been so lucky to climb in various areas, though they are not all terribly far from home: Durango, CO (Sailing Hawks, Turtle Lake); Colorado Springs (Ute Valley Park); Socorro, NM (Box Canyon), Santa Fe/Glorieta, NM (Apache Canyon), Manzano (New Canyon), and White Rock, NM (The Overlook). I'm sure there are even more, but these are all the ones that stick out. All such different environments, and all such beautiful places. Climbing has brought me to places I would've likely never seen, and it gives me motivation like I've never had.

Box Canyon Riverbed bouldering (Socorro, NM)

I suppose this entry is just my venting to voice out and talk out some of my excitement about bouldering and climbing (though I could go on for days). I never intend to become the best, or the strongest, or the most bold climber. I only intend to have fun each and every time I step onto the rock, and I have yet to fail.

:)

A Watermelon Introduction

I was born into an Air Force family. Consequently, I have lived all over the place; from South Dakota, to Germany, to Louisana, to North Dakota, then Texas, and finally...New Mexico. I have always had a wonderful fascination with nature and the various ways that it expresses its power and capabilities. For a long period of time, this interest was primarily in the high-intensity expression involved in meteorology, specifically severe weather. Since I can really remember, I have lived in mostly plain, flat terrain. Never did I have any interest in mountains, wildlife, geology, etc.

Pockets of water atop boulders in the Sandias

Now I live in New Mexico, the appropriately-named Land of Enchantment. I have tried to leave on multiple occasions, but I can never seem to stay away. From beautiful islands of forests and springs, to the winding, water-carved canyons and slots, there is always something new and exciting to be found.

I have become more active than ever, and especially keen to witness and learn the various geologic processes that have shaped this beautiful state. Especially since I am lucky enough to live next to the grand and surprising Sandia (spanish for Watermelon) Mountains. These mountains have been the introduction to my new found love for geology, hiking, rock climbing, and more.

I intend to become more active on this blog, posting about hikes, trips, rock climbs (and boulders), and just overall outdoor adventures. I have fallen for this beautiful state, and even if nobody ever reads this blog, it will be nice to sort of get out all this excitement and give others the opportunity to see and maybe understand why I am so "pumped up" about this corner of the desert Southwest!

View near the Del Agua Overlook along the Sandia Crest