Grim Ryan

FINALLY went for the first time. Went to a local rock climbing gym with some friends and we jumped into bouldering. I gotta say I'm pretty freakin' hooked. I'm sure we were doing shit wrong and technique was horrible, but overall it was incredibly fun and I can see myself going back long-term. My only hesitation is that the gym price is ~$70 a month. Not THAT bad I guess all things considered. Skip a weekend of going out?

Forearms and shoulders were sore the next day, but we did some fun stuff. Mostly V0-V2s. Anyone have suggestions on solid bouldering shoes that aren't gonna cost me too much? I used to see the 510 Hornet on sale a lot. Any good?

Join the Clymb, its a deal site for outdoor gear. Good prices on 5.10 and Evolv shoes right now. Buy a nice pair of shoes, when they wear out you can send them for a re-sole for like 40 bucks. Most shoes handle 2 re-soles pretty well.

If your going to primarily boulder definitely get a nice turned down aggressive shoe.

As for the cost, if you have health insurance from a major provider and the gym has a small workout area, you can usually get a fitness credit.

one of my french presses just broke, thinking about replacing it with either a chemex, or an espro press.. any recos?

You looking to brew pots of coffee or smaller servings/espresso? I would go Chemex for pots and Aeropress for small servings.

You're probably best off checking out Dwelltime. It's a (pleasant) 10-15 minute walk from the center of the square and it's much more suited to the presence of humans than Barismo's main location. FYI, Dwelltime is Barismo's cafe--the other location in Arlington is their roasting/lab location.

Dwelltime is solid. Cold brew on tap!

RJ Gourmet, Sherman Cafe, and Clover are my other favorite spots in Somerville to get a cup.

Keep at it. Excellent work.

Was anyone at Darkhorse Bouldering finals yesterday? First competition I've been to. Great energy, itching to start climbing again.

I wasnt there. Heard it was a good time. I climb there 3 days a week after work. Some solid problems went up for the comp.

Luckily (not really) my work week ended up being a 70 hour monster so I didn't need much convincing to not hit the rock gym. Elbow is feeling a ton better and my boss said too add Wednesday to my holiday weekend for putting in all the effort last week, so I'll be able to get a few good days in at the gym when its not crowded.

http://afollowingsea.tumblr.com

No Reblogs, Photos of my adventuring.

yo what do you guys do to keep your fingers from tearing up? started multipitching some long crack climbs and keep tearing callouses off. never had this happen before. tried finger tape before, tried moisturiser to keep the skin from drying out too much - neither is solving the problem but they help... is there anything else you guys suggest?

If your tearing up your hand in general (back of hand/fingers), then tape up like this.

http://www.chockstone.org/TechTips/Glove.htm

If you loosing big callouses in chunks then you gotta reduce the callus so its not sticking out and getting caught. 150 grit sand paper does the trick. Moisturize after.

Ugh. Got some pretty pissed off tendons in my elbow. Looks like I'm going to have to take 2 weeks off if I really want to let them heal fully and not turn into something chronic. Super bummed.

Building a home made bouldering wall isn't to hard if you have access to all the tools needed. There are good plans online. Its nice if you can get enough anchors into the wall to have it pivot so you can change incline. The it can also be stored vertical My buddy has a 10ft wide wall in his garage, i'll see if i can get the plans from him.

A hangboard has helped my gym progression a ton when work gets to busy for me to climb often.

Stoked this thread is getting some more attention and getting folks into climbing. Pushed my first V4 outside, been pushing a bunch of V5's in my local gym. Need more friends locally who are into it. Only getting on ropes outside like 3 times a year.

To the folks climbing indoors looking to move outside. Its so much better, fresh air, better views, less lines. The only different I found besides getting used to not following tape is how much sharper real rock is.

I'm in santiago for the next few days. Looking for recommendations on food, museums and bars. I'll be traveling for the next 6 weeks so I'm not going to be shopping much as my bags are already pretty full.

For food any good street/local food spots to check out would be good. For bars any places that have craft style beers would be awesome. I'm up for pretty much anything so if you have any suggestions they are more than welcome.

Anyone have any suggestions on place/date?

I don't know, it's pretty okay. The production values kind of compensate for what is pretty quickly turning into a real morass of a plot (it's always been a bit on the slow side but it felt appropriate for the time period for the better part of last season, this season is just kind of sickly so far).

Need some recommendations: I'm art directing for a film being shot in Providence about students here in 1991 - 1993 or so, if anyone has any recommendations of good films about that time period I'd appreciate any recommendations (especially anything shot post-2000 about that particular time). Myself and the pre-production designer are assembling our pre-production visual library so I thought I'd see if any of our film buffs had any recommendations!

Slacker 1991

Clerks 1994

The Wackness (2008 set in 1994)

Night on Earth (1991)

Wayne's World (1992)

Climbing 2-3 times a week now. Mostly bouldering, some top roping and the occasional sport climb. Really disappointed in how little outdoor time I got in this year. I was supposed to learn how to trad climb this year but I graduated college and all my climbing buddies and I ended up moving different places.

Just finished up Lazarus Churchyard and Desolation Jones and really enjoyed them. Anyone have any recommendations for more anti-hero stuff in the same vein? I really enjoy stuff with sci-fi, noir, or spook/spy stuff.

true story, almost got run over the other day in harvard square by some goofy looking dungeons n dragons motherfuckers in a toyota sienna or something cause all their worldly possessions were blocking the sidewalks

fuckers

Its such a disaster everywhere near schools. The only upside is that you can actually garbage pick some awesome stuff that kids gave up trying to move.

how are the topo backpacks posted on the prev page? they look good, but is the du on the website just wearing them really high on his back (i.e. tight straps) or what? looks a bit awkward.

I wear my Klettersack loose and the top is a couple of inches below my collar and the bottom rests on my belt. I'm 5' 10".

Just grabbed this from Topo Designs

They sell a smaller pack as well.

Did you make it to Anegada?

Not on this trip. Winds were down so we opted to not do the 4 hour motor each way. I went there last time I was in the BVI its a cool island. Very Bahamas like with how low it rests and being surrounded by shallow waters and reefs.

BVI Trip Continued.

After leaving Biras Creek it appeared our dinghy had been replaced by a UFO, but it was just ritzy dock lighting.

Next stop was the tiny island of Marina Cay. In 1937, in the middle of the great depression, Robb and Rodie White, only four months married, came to the British Virgin Islands and settled on this delightful little island. He was 28, and she was 24. The island was uninhabited, and they decided to make it their own private Shangri-La as they set up housekeeping on this tiny, remote and almost barren island.

Now the Island is home to a Pussers restaurant, but their original house still stands.

The Whites original home.

View from the Top of Marina cay looking North towards Great Camanoe

Next we took the ferry from Marina Cay to Trellis Bay on Beef Island. Usually we just drive the dinghy over, but there were 7 of us and that makes for a wet ride. Treillis bay sits right at the end of the airport runway, making real estate very cheap. Its home to a cool artist community that is home to many expats.

Trellis bay is also home to one of the coolest dogs ever.

And an unfriendly cat

And giant hammocks

And vintage rides

The next day we sailed to Jost Van Dyke home to some of the most famous bars in the islands. Foxy's i the most well known but since we have gone there the last couple trips down we decided to change it up and go to Sidneys Peace and Love. They still use the honor system where you make your own drinks and get your own beers and just keep track and pay for however many you had.

The next day we sailed to Peter Island which his home to some of the most expensive resorts in the Islands. The resorts don't welcome sailors with open arms so we usually pick up a mooring in the bay where this house is located. Its owned by and old blind man named Conrad who used to be a fisherman. He always comes out to welcome you when your bring your dinghy up on to the beach. From what I can tell he is the only permanent resident on the Island and must be the only person to have not sold their land when the resorts were built. Above is a picture of his house.

Deadman's Chest one of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean.

It has been a long time since I posted in here.

I spent last week in the sailing in the British Virgin Islands.

First stop after leaving Tortola was Cooper Island. The boat pictured is very similar to the charter boat we were sailing.

The weather for the week was beautiful, except for a lack of wind, so the sailing was poor. However all that means is more time to eat, drink and enjoy. It is very rare for the winds to be down, usually the trade winds are very consistent. It made it seem much hotter out during the heat of the day.

It seems at every anchorage the same seagull decides to sit on your dingy, and simultaneously shits and squawks for food.

Next day the stop was the Bitter End on Virgin Gorda. The beach looks out to an island called Saba Rock. When I first started going down to the islands it was about half the size and only had a dirty bar on it with parrots that swore. It was family owned and had an awesome thanksgiving feast every year. It was sold to developers a few years ago and built up, luckily it was done very nicely, but the funky charm is gone.

Ferry that takes you too and from Saba Rock if you are staying there.

View from Saba Rock looking out to the Atlantic

Old race boat inside the bar at Saba Rock. Wouldn't want to take this thing out on a rough day,

They chum the waters on the docks so Tarpon will hang out. Nasty buggers, probably 40-70lbs. Some unknowing college kids swam in from their boat and were not to excited when they got to these big guys.

Sunset on the second day at Briars Creek.

Time for me to get to sleep. I'll post the other days of travel up tomorrow.