First of all Gavin and I are doing well, considering that Star is still in Japan. Hopefully we will be able to see her soon. It is still unclear if we are going to the Austin area next week, so stay tuned for that info.

We arrived safe to SEA-TAC and spent the following four days with Rod and Robin. Their help has been fantastic in these tough days. On Monday Gavin and I took a drive up to Seattle to visit with some friends here and to meet Porter. He is so an Stafford/Armstrong.

We have been trying to stay busy by spending time exploring the Wallingford area around Sean and Michelle's house. The weather has been very nice the last few days.

Anyway, we are fine and anxious to seen Star. Here are some photos from the week.

Gavin and I are about to head to the states on the longest St. Patty's Day of our lives. Star and I decided that it was best for the little guy to be far away for the time being. Here are a few photos that I did not have time to workup. Next post from Washington.

If you can please take the time to either donate or spread the message to donate to help the effort in Japan. There are too many organizations out there to name. The land of the rising sun is an amazing place.

The trip this past weekend was a huge success. Sparing you all of the details, we arrived to one of the bouldering areas in the Shousenkyou area and went boulder hunting. Star and I both found some fun boulders to pull on to our delight. Our plan for the evening was to either find a hotel in Kofu or car camp near the bouldering area. After a tasty Indian dinner we inquired at five hotels to no avail. So we headed up the mountain to "camp" for the night. It was chilly and Gavin was a bit congested, but his first night in the mountains was fun. I can not wait to go again.

The next morning we hiked/scrambled to another boulder field and practiced some good ol' boulder wrestling. I finally finished a problem that I had tried six months ago. Star played on a couple of boulders and I believe had a great day with Gavin and I. A sunny day and nice crisp air made for a good climbing day.

In trip news, we are starting to prepare for our trip to Austin/San Antonio. We are planning on seeing some friends that live in the area and are hoping to climb too. But of course that all depends on the littlest man.

Here are some pictures of our short trip.


Go Climb Something!!!

Here are some photos of a new line. What a nice day it was. I bolted the line, then sent it. Come On Eddie is 11a and fun. For a two more wonder that is. Sorry that the climbing photos are terrible. It turns out that not all of the Japanese cameras are good. Proof in the finished product.

In other news, Gavin is 4 months +2 today. He is meeting all of his 4 and some of his 5 month goals already. We are very proud of him.

This weekend the fam is heading on a small adventure. There are a few boulders in the Kofu area that Jack and I are developing. Star has not seen them so I am taking her and the little dude on a over night trip to the mountains. We are planning on staying at a Japanese BnB. The BnB is located right on a beautiful mountain river. The weather looks to be fric-tastic!!!!!! I am taking the new Organic pad in hopes for some killer photos!!!!! Photos coming soon.


Go climb Something!!!!!

Star and I took Gavin to Nagano for some snowboarding this Valentine's Day. What a success!!! We stayed at Hotel Terry. Our rate included breakfast and dinner. The breakfast was a buffet and dinner was a very interesting French (Japanese interpenetrated) cuisine. The first night we were at the hotel in the town of Hakuba, it snowed about a foot. Star and I had decided to split the ski day and take shifts with Gavin. It worked out very good. Star was very happy to be on her board again. The views from the top were amazing. The next day I sent Star out for some more runs and I went and took some photos of the surrounding yamas (mountains). We wound up having such a great time that we booked another trip in a couple of weeks back. This time we are staying at a different hotel that seems VERY nice. We will see. On Tuesday Jack and I went ice climbing. It was the first time that I have ever been. Knowing my experience is key in the story. This waterfall that Jack picked was to be a first ascent and onsight. He had never been to the base before due to lack of trail and a super steep approach. Well after an hour of hiking/scrambling/climbing up 1000ft we made it to the base of the 60m waterfall. It was awesome. Everything went great!!! Jack onsighted it and I followed clean. The line went at WI3/4. Super fun day. We even made it back to Tokyo in time to make it to Caramba.

Also in the happs was the bolting of some routes at the Col. Towers area.

Here are the pictures!!!


Go Climb Something!!!!

This week was some what eventful. I am making headway on the guide book. I have been in touch with a publisher and they seem to be interested. So, I hope this will go somewhere. I went to another sport area close to home today. Really nice joint. Tufas and stalactites, super cool. I also built a climbing wall in our storage closet in our condo. Small but pumpy. The wall will be great for days I can not get outside or to the gym.

This weekend the fam' is heading to the Nagano Prefecture for some snowboarding. We are staying at a ski in/out resort in Hukkabu, which is where the Olympics where held. Hukkabu is being dumped on right now. Steep and deep!!!!!

Star and I have been talking about a few things and trips is one of them. In the next 1.5 years we are looking into going to Australia, New Zealand (south island), Mongolia, S. Korea, and Exploring Japan more in depth. I am pumped about all of these ideas/trips but most so about Mongolia. I am turing 30 next year and we think it so to have a big excursion. So I looked into Chad and Morocco. Both are in the future but not near future. For now the Ulan Bator area of Mongolia looks tops. Clean rock too many untouched stone. The perfect ingredients for a fantastic trip. For more reading on this check out Black Diamond's recent trip there.

Anyway. This week looks like developing more at the Towers area and bouldering at the gym. Star is on call so I will not be able to get outside this week. Next Tuesday I will be heading out with Jack to check out some new large and STEEP!!!! boulders that he found and can not stop talking about. I am stoked to say to the least.

Enjoy the pictures.


Go Climb Something!!!!