What's been Up?

Its been quite a while since I last checked in, and since then I've been a busy, tired, injured, and lucky man.  Just a quick run down of what has happened.

USC Carolina Crush Competition 

On Saturday February 18th 2012 I attended the Carolina Crush Competition at University of South Carolina. I had a great time climbing with local athletes, I appreciated most of the local setters, and enjoyed the USC climbing wall which I rarely get to experience. An climber from Boone, North Carolina placed in first in the Men's Advanced Category. Garrett DeBruin, a local USC student and former Stronghold Gym employee, placed in second in the Men's Advanced Category and I managed to snag third Place in the same category. There were only three competitors in the Men's Advanced. There were no Female Advanced competitors but there were two intermediate ladies from Columbia that took 1st and 2nd in the Women's Intermediate Category. My love competed and placed 3rd in the Women's Beginner Category - Good Job Nicole!







On Wednesday March 7th 2012 I graduated from the South Carolina Fire Academy.  I can now work anywhere in the state of South Carolina as a Firefighter. I have the privilege of training at the Columbia Fire Training Academy until we test for competency and hopefully we all graduate on Friday April 27th 2012. Unfortunately, during the last week at the SCFA I had an awful toothache that required a root canal.

James Island Palmetto Pump 

Ava doesn't know how to read yet...

I competed in the Palmetto Pump Climbing Competition at James Island County Park on Saturday March 10th 2012 and had an awesome day climbing and hanging out with my girls (Nicole and Ava), a friend living in Greenville (Ashley Navarro), and a couple of the children/teenagers that I previously coached at Stronghold Gym when it was Stronghold Athletic Club.  The routes were a treat because the wall at James Island is a fifty foot 'woody'. It resembles a tall rappel training tower, like the military would use, that has been converted into a climbing wall.  I placed 1st in the Men's Adult Category, Ashley place third in the Women's Adult Category and we both won prizes in the raffle.

Bouldering at Rumbling Bald

Then the next day, Sunday March 11th 2012, I was able to enjoy a day of bouldering at Rumbling Bald, North Carolina. I haven't been bouldered in a long time but to my surprise I was able to keep up with the crew that invited me and my family.  We had so many pads that we were able to safely try some classic highball boulder problems.

I injured myself this week during training and badly sprained my wrist. I had to postpone my goal of working on Welcome to Crowders (5.12a) this weekend and settled with getting in a nice hike and trying to take some pictures.  I did climb a couple of routes on top rope but couldn't bring myself to lead anything.  We were suppose to have 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms but instead we left with sunburns and the overall feeling the winter never fully developed, spring never came and summer is already here.  West Virginia anyone?

This upcoming weekend is going to be exciting! I hope that my wrist will heal because I want to be fresh for the Jocasse Gorges Bouldering Trail Day on Saturday March 24th 2012 in South Carolina. We as South Carolinian climbers have an opportunity to develop a healthy relationship with South Carolina State Park Officials and maybe get more climbing areas opened to the public in the near future. Thanks to Steven Scoff from Columbia and especially Brad Caldwell, from the Upstate, whom have both been working diligently with the park staff to establish trail days at Table Rock, SC and now Jocasse Gorge, SC.

I was lucky to get a lot of climbing before I started fire fighter recruit school. I only climb about once a week now and I am truly missing my favorite past time.

However, I do appreciate that I am getting paid to cross-train for climbing. When my shift schedule is 24 hours on and 48 hours off, I will hopefully get back on track with my goal to be a consistent 5.12 climber by the end of 2012.  I do hope to enter more competitions because they are fun and challenging. Thank you to Nicole and Ava for coming to play with me on the weekends. I am grateful that you are willing to combine family time and climbing time so that I get the best of both worlds.


That's all for now, I'll see you outside. Keep crushing!