Jul. 23rd 2014
By SCARPA
Once a month, we will be keeping you posted on SCARPA athletes goings-on, whether they’re breaking new records, winning wild races, or are just out there having fun.
Photo: Udax/Flickr
Alex Puccio recently did her first V13 — Top Notch — in Chaos Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park. Check out her accomplishment. Just five days later, she was back in Rocky Mountain National Park and easily sent her second V13, Nothin’ but Sunshine, on her first try. Read about it here.
Jul. 23rd 2014
By SCARPA
We met up with Alex Puccio on a hot summer day in Boulder, Colorado. She lives just a few blocks from the SCARPA office and although the 25-year-old climber couldn’t make a 5 o’clock happy hour, she was thrilled to meet up for a midday coffee. We sat down with her to talk about where she’s been climbing and what she has in store for the future.
ALEX’S PREFERRED SHOES: THE INSTINCT VS FOR CLIMBING, SPARKS FOR HAPPY HOUR
SCARPA: How did you end up in Boulder?
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Jul. 21st 2014
By SCARPA
Joel Bettner, a skier, mountaineer and coach based in Boulder, Colo., considers what “happy hour” means in basecamp.
It’s the “in-between” time on an expedition that makes all the difference. So many of us plan adventures with an eagle-like focus on a big goal, all too often neglecting the time spent waiting out storms, recovering or generally living in a tent. That time not actively pursuing the big goal can make or break you; it’s crucial to your sanity and therefore crucial to your success.
THE PERFECT AROUND-THE-CAMPFIRE SHOES: THE MAI TAI
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Jul. 10th 2014
By SCARPA
After a long day, unlacing rock shoes or unbuckling ski boots verges on a religious experience. And the sound of a beer cracking after a 4,000-calorie day wraps it up perfectly. It makes it seem like après is the main event and the sport is just what we do to make the après feel so darn good.
CHECK OUT SCARPA’S LIFESTYLE LINE – THE PERFECT SHOES FOR APRES
Credit: Dana Lee/Flickr
Some of our best memories of mountain sports are those days after a huge adventure. Here are three of our favorite après escapades. Continue reading...
Jul. 2nd 2014
By SCARPA
Rob Pizem is an experienced climber, who has explored the world looking for traditional, sport and big wall climbs. But when he’s not climbing, he has another passion. He describes that here.
Happy hour isn’t just the hour associated with drinking beer with your friends or those couple of hours unwinding after work. If you break down the simple language, it’s just the hour you’re most happy.
SEE SCARPA’S “HAPPY HOUR” LIFESTYLE COLLECTION — THE MOJITO, MARGARITA, MANHATTAN, CITY & MAI TAI Continue reading...
Jun. 19th 2014
By SCARPA
Once a month, we will be keeping you posted on SCARPA athletes goings-on, whether they’re breaking new records, winning wild races, or are just out there having fun.
May 30 – Scott Simmons completed the fastest ascent of Mount Hood in 1:26:28. Keep up with Scott on his blog.
June 6 – Alex Puccio came in 10th place in Vail, Colorado’s IFSC Climbing World Cup. Stay up to date with Alex on her Facebook.
June 9 – Scott Bennett set the speed record on the Naked Edge in Boulder, Colorado’s Eldorado Canyon in 00:29:53. His friend, Bill Wright, wrote a trip report.
Jun. 19th 2014
By SCARPA
SCARPA employee Artley Goodhart took a week off and headed to Yosemite to finally try the climb he’s been dreaming about for years: El Capitan’s Freerider. But what happens when you don’t achieve your goal?
Recently I attempted a project on El Capitan in Yosemite that I’ve been eyeing for years. After training for six months, I was ready to give Freerider (5.12d, 35 pitches) a go. But a day before we left, we saw that Mother Nature had other plans. We made some adjustments to the game plan, but our one-week window was already a little tight. Continue reading...
Jun. 19th 2014
By SCARPA
Sarah Hueniken is one of only 10 women who are ACMG-certified rock and alpine guides in Canada. As a NOLS instructor and a private guide, Sarah has a number of first ascents under her belt, and has competed in many ice and mixed competitions. To add to this month’s theme of trad climbing, Sarah wrote out nine tips for SCARPA fans to follow when multipitch climbing.
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Jun. 17th 2014
By SCARPA
Topher Donahue, one of the world’s most experienced trad climbers, is running a new trad coaching program in collaboration with the Colorado Mountain School for beginner through advanced leaders. He volunteered to help SCARPA readers make it to their next level in trad climbing.
Do you ever think, “What do I need to do to be a better trad climber?”
Check out SCARPA’s Techno X and Techno X Women’s for your next trad climbing trip. Continue reading...
Jun. 10th 2014
By SCARPA
Seasoned climber and writer Blake Herrington took time to tell us about his experiences climbing at Washington Pass and what the area means to him.
I was a 19-year-old student when I first climbed at Washington Pass, an area of steep granite spires in Washington’s North Cascades. I was carless and had found a partner (primary qualification: own a car) through a climbing website. I remember fretting over potential temperatures and snow conditions, and I still recall the first route I did – an 800-foot 5.8 on the highest spire in the Liberty Bell group. I repeated this route, with some 5.10 variations, as a “date” with my now wife, Allison. In the last nine years I have climbed abroad and returned to Washington Pass dozens of times, banking up a list of memories, completing new routes, and bailing amid dead ends and storms. I’ve learned about my abilities and my skills as a partner, making Washington Pass a great yardstick to return to and measure myself against. Continue reading...
