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HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!!!

For the past 4 weeks Colette and I have been going pretty non-stop.  By that I mean climbing, bolting, traveling, camping, hiking, and driving and more of that with little resting… wow I am seriously worked.  Heading to Ely has been a once a week thing.  WORTH IT TOO!!!!  The past two days were the first two rest-days in a row since we were in Spain.  I am one of those people that do pretty well without resting and it honestly messes my body up.  Two days chilling makes me feel awkward climbing and rusty.  Resting is KEY, but sitting around and staring at my computer for two day straight is hardly an “active” rest-day, which always proves to be the best.  It was productive, yes, but not exactly good for an athlete.  Yesterday’s climbing day was just one of those off days… hard to engage, clumsy, funny head… it happens.  I still managed a first ascent of one of Bill Orhan’s projects at The Fin Cave… I added an anchor to this awesome line and banged it out yesterday after like 30 tries.  Not sure of what he wants to call it, but I will get at him.  13+ classico!

I was able to lock down the latest version of Premier Pro CS6!  It is such a great workspace and program that I am totally sold.  It’s a big deal when you find a tool that excites you and allows you to manage your work in a better way.  I have actually gotten more motivated to cut videos now that this new format is out.  Stand by on the latest Sterling Rope video with Muriel Sarkany… Friends have told me that this is the best one yet!  Well… we will let the populous decide.

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We had an awesome time shooting photos, hanging out, climbing, and just doing the all around climber thing… it felt great having friends (Jules, Pete, James, Burr) at the Mondo Cave….  Here’s a little random photo of Burr.

What I really dig about Andrew Burr photography is his compositions and interest in the 2d square of a photo.  I believe that his compositions separate him from everyone else (outdoor industry-wise).  When you see Andy at the cliff  he clutches his camera pretty much the whole day.  He works with the simplicity of three lenses and is not particularly concerned with gear and tech talk.  Andrew is not one to have you pose and we did absolutely NONE the entire time.  He is the dude who hangs back and more of a photo journalist.  He is tactical about his shots and continuously moves one direction, analyzes it, then tries another, analyzes and finds an angle to play on for a bit.  He sessions that angle and then finds more in the same way.  Photography is a skill and I can see very clearly he is a honed photographer and someone to learn from.  He is pure motivation and pure passion and I really enjoyed his approach.    I cannot wait to DO IT AGAIN!!!!  YOU THE MAN BURR!!!!

Check out his goods here…

This season has been different for us in a few ways.  Primarily because we aren’t sitting in front of the same cliff day after day projecting the same routes we have tried in the past and banging out heads on them.  This season, we have been exploring, visiting new spots, developing (as usual and way too much), and doing things we don’t usually do.  It feels great to mix things up with Ely involved.  So far we have been there three times and it’s been a once a week deal.  My van is getting a TON of miles put on it, the gas funds are sky high… And I don’t care.    When we head back to St. G from Ely I am over it and ready for a nice bed, civilization, and a roof over my head (in terms of a house!).  The drive is starting to feel longer too and the scenic parts are a little less scenic. But then… It takes about two-three days until I am jonesing again for another Ely dose and feinding to go back.  I honestly don’t get it, but I think I am in love with the place. The amount of rock that I don’t even know about is another thing that keeps the place so mysterious and interesting.  AND… the Mondo Cave has got me sprung to the point of shrugging with a huge question mark over my head.  How can anyone conquer this thing?  The cave is so massive I cannot even understand it myself.  I think the only time I can really get how enormous it is, is when Colette clocks a photo of me on the wall…. then it makes a little sense.  I guess…

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