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Climbing, Adventure, Gear & Choss
Contest Post – Winter Motivation
A big thanks to everyone who commented on last month’s post, the winners have been notified, and if you weren’t one of them, here’s your chance to win some more great stuff!
I was working at my desk the other day, and looked out the window, noticing the light was starting to fade as some clouds moved in. Wait, what!?! It was only 2:30!! That can’t be right! It’s kind of ironic, I suppose, as this is the 35th December I’ve lived through, and still the short days always seem to catch me off guard.
Though it’s been unusually warm for the last month, it appears that we may finally be heading into winter here in Colorado. The change of seasons is always an exciting time, and with it, we often change in regards to what motivates us. For some, maybe it’s hanging up the rock shoes and sharpening the ice tools and crampons. For others, it’s waxing the skis and checking the forecasts 
obsessively, hoping for that next big Pacific storm to drop its bounty of frozen fluff. Or maybe it’s time to head inside and see if you can’t get a little bit stronger this winter. (Or maybe you just deny the whole thing and book a plane ticket to somewhere warm and tropical.)
So for this month’s contest post, I’m wondering, as the season changes to winter, what motivates you?
Leave a comment, win some gear. This month’s prizes are brought to by Millet, and up for grabs are two of the Peuterey Integrale 45L technical climbing packs, which are super durable and perfect for ice climbing and winter mountaineering. Also, be sure to click their ad below and check out their other excellent packs, ropes, climbing shoes and technical apparel. Good luck!
One entry per person. Winners will be picked by random drawing by the Splitter Choss super computer. If you won last month, you can’t win this month. Folks affiliated with Splitter Choss aren’t allowed to enter, more fine print, blah, blah, blah.
35 Responses to Contest Post – Winter Motivation
Bulldog Creek Dog Walk (IV WI 4+)
Hayden Carpenter and Tom Bohanon recently repeated an obscure ice climb on the south side of Mt Sopris. Given a brief mention in Jack Robert’s ice guide, Bulldog Creek Walk is described as being 100 meters of WI 4. What they found was seven pitches of ice in a remote setting that makes for one […]
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i want the gear!
Come on Jacob, surely you can let us in on what gets you psyched this time of year? Trying to have a bit of a discussion here, not just a gear frenzy free for all!
I can’t wait to try ice climbing. Sandstone Icefest is just a week away!
Right on! Get some good gloves, maybe the most important piece of equipment you can have ice climbing.
Winter doesn’t mean skiing or escaping, it means it’s time to get psyched on cold rock, down jackets, wool socks, hot chocolate, and shoes in your armpits. Rock is the ultimate motivator and season’s can’t keep me away. I plan to spend time this winter in Joshua Tree, Bishop, Indian Creek, St. George, and more! There’s so much good climbing to be done, wait, I need to get out of here and go climb NOW!
YES!!!!
Climbing weather motivates me!! I live in the desert, so this is our season!! That, and the thought of finally having an afternoon off to actually climb…
Off season does not exist in the minds of the truly obsessed. Cold temperatures equal exploration and bolting, plasticising (read: woody sessions), hardware updates and anchor replacements. Go ski and pick ice; i will be prepping the routes for the warm winter days on south faces or the next season’s uber project.
“Off season does not exist in the minds of the truly obsessed.”
I couldn’t agree more, well said sir.
Here in VA winter is when the climbing gets good! Granted the shorter days kill after school/work sessions. So it’s gym during the week and driving to the good stuff on weekends. Finally get a real shot at those pesky summer projects, Bring it!
Winter means bouldering comp season! I’m trying to get a team started right now at my school…
just climbed on real rock today in squamish … temps right above freezing … where there is a will there is a way 😉
Winter means more quality time in my local climbing gym. Here in Seattle the gym really helps keep the dreary winter months at bay.
Climbing in southern utah. Skinning in the Wasatch… sure some skiing too.
Remember: the days start getting longer again in just two weeks. Only 3 more months until spring!
Nevertheless, there is just as much to be motivated for in winter as in any other season. Skiing, bouldering, and climbing some plastic to get the power back up. Winter is when you get to appreciate the sun–not flee from it. Getting a winter tan at Shelf Road–winter isn’t so bad.
Winter in Maine means crisp temps and no crowds at the crag! There’s something deeply satisfying about hitting the timing just right so you’re climbing at a sunny crag in the middle of the snow. There’s also something incredibly affirming about sport climbing next to ice climbers.
Last season I succeeded in my small goal of climbing on rock at least one day every month of winter. This year I hope to climb even more. Then again, my winter won’t really start until the new years, since I’m on a 2-month work trip in Asia. So right now, winter means hot limestone, waking up early to beat the heat, and a realization that, for the first time in my California-born existence, I actually long for the snow. Like Dylan said: It’s time to get psyched on cold rock!
The thing I love most about being outside in the winter is the light. With the sun so far south, it makes shadows long and dark all day long, and gives a beautiful yellow glow to the world. When you’re at the crag in that light, it feels like late afternoon all day long. There’s something peaceful and quiet in that light. It makes my soul settle down just a little bit. 🙂
As a heavy sweater, my motivation is knowing that the cold air will keep my dry on approaches and climbs!
Living in Vegas is a pretty awesome motivator. Headed to the South for a month of epic bullet proof sandstone doesn’t hurt either. Can’t wait to give Mrs. Socrates a go at the the T-Wall.
What motivates me is people like you. You push me and pull me and make me try what my mind is unsure of. You, you and splinter choss are my motivation, calling me and saying come try, compelling me to exceed. To venture to places I have not been to before, so the only thing I can give is by no means the greatest gift, but only the thanks of a great full person. A man trying to be the best he could wish.
Climbing with a Legend
A little over a year ago I had this idea to project an entire route in Zion National Park. Most pitches are over 5.12 and every pitch is physical, regardless of grade. I knew that this would require more dedication and perseverence than I’d ever conceived. But I knew I had the right partner to help me train.
A few weeks ago, when Dave P. and I decided to train all winter together, he commented on my partner who had helped me train all winter last year. He said, “Mary, Chris is the glue that has held Rifle together for the last 2 years. He is honestly one of the best people I know. He is truly a legend.” Yup, that’s right. Chris and I trained in Rifle, on rock, twice a week, for 4 months last winter. He pushed me harder and farther in my climbing than I ever thought possible, and in the kindest, gentlest of ways. I only had to put up with a little cold weather.
We brought propane tank heaters, we wore long underwear, fleece pants, down pants, 3 base layer shirts, fleece’s, and 8000 meter down parkas. And it worked! Something happens to your body in the first 15 mins of rock climbing on cold rock, where, if you have a heat source and a lot of clothes, you can manage to stay warm, even your hands and feet, for the rest of the day, if you can just stick out the first 15 minutes!
Chris turned 50 this fall. Chris climbs mostly anywhere that has less than a 5 minute approach. Chris strategically, diligently, works routes, not just to send them once, but to “make it his bitch.” He’ll do the route until it feels easy for him, even if he climbs the same route 150 times. Chris, by the way, climbs 5.13 routinely now. Chris also suffers from a brain injury that prevents him from working. He has come a LONG way in the two and a half years I’ve known him. And because of him, so have I… He is currently living out of his Sportsmobile Sprinter with his wife in Red River Gorge, KY, for the winter.
I wouldn’t have guessed that I would be able to rock climb all winter, outside, in the Roaring Fork Valley. I will greatly miss my training with Chris this winter. Although I have an equally as hearty and supportive partner, my mentor, the legend, the glue that held people together, is out exploring new territory. But it is truly the friendships I gain by going to the climbing gym or venturing out into the cold to get on real rock– the people who are willing to sacrifice a little comfort and convenience– this is what motivates me. Just bring the propane tank heater, please!
FUN. Fun motivates me no matter what season it is. During the winter I have to be extra careful to schedule my fun during peak light hours because climbing in the dark is not fun.
Is there any ice in right now from cdale to marble?
Ice climbing doesn’t motivate me near as much as skiing does. I’m definitely one of these jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none. I’ll ski into June, maybe even July. And its likely I won’t pull down on real rock until then, except for the occasional ski-mountaineering moment.
living in brooklyn and working in manhattan, all the motivation i need is in the craziness that is the city to get me unplugged, outside, and away in nature~
Three things:
1. The awesome crew that shows up every night at the Red Brick. I love heading there after a long day at work, eating my dinner at the gym, and figuring out problems with my friends.
2. The occasional super warm sunny day when you can head to Pup Tent and climb in a tank top.
3. Desert trips!
Gear is motivating. Like getting gear for Xmas… Winter is a time to not feel obligated to climb. When the weather is bad I feel better about being a slacker. Also a great time to go running and train in the gym!
Winter? Heck it was 70 degrees today in NC! I fled the icy Rust Belt half a lifetime ago for a good reason. Year round rock climbing can be had in the paradise of the southern Appalachians. Actually it is a bit jungle like in the rhodo thickets I frequent in the summer so I seek whitewater, but Fall signals time to blow the spiders out of my climbing shoes and start exploring again. Winter equals first ascent frenzy. But honestly, I’ll sneek in a few of our ephemeral ice mirages each season too. I am a climber after all and the siren’s call of ice tinkling down the cliff is hard to resist to this Ullyses.
Here in lovely SoCal, so the only sign of an off-season is the dump reports from Mammoth. It’s looking like it might be a good season for BC skiing, so I’m motivated to hit the resort runs to get my legs back in shape. For climbing, it’s driving to the desert instead of the mountains, and hoping for mid-50s and no wind. And I might have found a partner for Positive Vibrations, so I could even be motivated to go to JT and practice crack skills.
An epic ice season at Lee Vining would be motivating…
Winter means it is time to pick up your season pass at the ski resort and renew the climbing gym membership. Time to start training for spring climbing!
In the dark of winter I am motivated by the knowledge that this too shall pass. Winter nights are the perfect time to plan my climbing trips for next year. My list for next year is taking shape already! Montezuma Tower, 5 Gallon Buckets, Snake Dike, Cosmic Wall, next year I’ll 2nd some multi-pitch climbs, maybe even set some trad pro and lead on my own a bit. The days grow longer, the sun stronger, the rain and snow will eventually end and I can return to the rock again!
Winter is all about chasing the sun on south faces! But also knowing what days are better left to skiing, swinging tools, or parking it on the couch. Another thing I’m stoked to do during the winter, especially at cold but not super snowy times is exploring new, remote, and undeveloped areas.
Winter means climbing big walls in Yosemite in a day because you don’t want to bevy in the cold
In the winter, my motivation for climbing has to draw from the opportunity to go hard and train in the gym. Its particularly sweet this year because I broke my leg this past fall on a tricky boulder problem and I’ve been really itching to get back into climbing form after being on crutches for a few months.
The scenery motivates me. I love hiking and camping to climbing spots. Waking up to a fresh layer of snow all over the ground is a different kind of beautiful. Even though it freezes your nads off.