Its another post for another COLD ass day in the mountains. Drinking JD at 7am and napping all day. Waiting for the sun to warm up our little world here.
The beach was nice, but expensive. I flew back on a whim and have been bolting like MAD. I had 300 hangers left over from Kaya from last season, and they are all gone now. I am now starting to put in the Climbtech hangers. BTW, if you have not noticed with the new side badges, I am now with Climbtech. I am soooooooooooo phyched. I will be in Austin soon after new years to see the whole shop and talk logistics. Gonna be insane.
Extensions to Dantes ( 14) Camino (13+) and Quesadilla (12 ) are done ( botled, not sent. Jesus, gimme some time to breathe will ya! ):). I also put up three new lines on the left side of Las Animas, 11+ and 12- I think. There are still a few new ones to send on Carses's wall that should go as soon as someone shows up to belay LOL. The forth mentioned extentions will be sick. Camino's especially. They push the lines to 45 and 50m. mad whippers and mad air.
Also, put in a couple new 10's and 9's on the right side of Las Animas. Pretty intense. The new, updated list of all routes is below. Hope you enjoy.
I wrote this for someone special a few weeks ago on a plane, on a napkin. Thought you might want to read it.
Anyway, thats my update. Oh and yeah, my LS contract is up. Below the little prose is my Annual Athlete report. I thought it kicks ass.
BTW. Maxim is publishing my first ever add in gripped in a few months. I am stocked. If they allow me, I will show you.
Cheers everyone. Don't drink and drive. Give something away to someone who needs it. You can always buy another one.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She sits in quiet comfort. Quite aware of how attractive she is. Un-intimidated and un-phased by anyone or anything. Her confidence is intoxicating. An aroma like that is rare in this world. You can't fake that, you cannot. No acting. Her eyes shut, calmly and in safety, with her head resting casually against the seat back. She travels enough to not worry about fashion or looks but does intuitively, naturally. Just enough eyeliner to look sexy but not too much as to necessitate constant maintenance. Her soft hair is flowing, pitch black, drifting off her scarf and into her bone shoulders, which are covered by simple wool. She flickers, her expression changing. She's sleeping. She's preoccupied. Her dreams are not as rainbow color as she let's on. No matter. All matter of us have drifting times. Maybe she was hurt. Maybe he was not the one for hers. Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe its not over. Maybe its not all the way closed, that door. Maybe there is hope. She's hurt but mature enough to accept the consequences. She's moving on. She will love again. She will once again smile. Hold hands. Walk the park in the fall with her safety holding her, strong he is. Stronger then the last. The best. She will once again feel love for the first time. Be held and forget everything. Even this note. She will believe once again. She will once again be the woman she once was, her man allowing her, guiding her, to it.
2012 LA SPORTIVA AMBASSADOR ANNUAL REPORT
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1. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF 2012 (~500 words):
It really hard to write all the things we do over a year. Climbers tend to live on the moment, but I will try. I bolted over 90 new lines this year. FFA'd about 70. There are still some projects that are undone, and those will have to be left to my annual overview for 2013. I have sunk over 1000 hangers this year, mainly in Mexico, but also in Ontario, Quebec, Colorado, Utah, Serbia and Croatia. I spent three months in the eastern bloc giving bolting classes and bolting with the climbers there. I did my first DWS climbing in Croatia and will defiantly go back to do that again this coming summer. I am working with rock and ice to go on assignment there next august with a photographer and get it printed. I am writing a lot these days and submitting. its hard to get rejected, but still pushing. Developing new walls in northern mexico and new areas all the time. I am really into FA these past few years and bolting is allowing me to be active without partners, which is nice cause in mexico, its hard to get people up early.
2. HOW DID YOU HELP PROMOTE LA SPORTIVA IN 2012 (List at least 6)
- I bolted as special guest international setter for an outside comp and festival in uybovia, Serbia, on the Bosnian border in sept 2012.
- I bolted as guest international setter for a festival in Jilotepec, Mexico in Dec 2012
- I spent 4 weeks touring the eastern seaboard of canada, climbing with the various jr teams of 30 or so gyms.
- I did about 40 demos for LS in March and April 2012
- I spent about two weeks developing a new climbing area in Borski Stol, Serbia in August 2012. I showed the new techniques for bolting ground up that will allow them to open new lines in otherwise un reachable terrain.
- The el salto guide book is almost done, and the LS logo will be on it for sure ( with your approval, of course. )
3. CLIMBING HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2012:
- Signed on with Climbtech. Contract starting Jan 1st 2013
- I climbed FFA'd Ungabunga Mas ( 14a ) as yet un repeated in proper style, although 2 mexicans are claiming accents with an extended anchor, which compromises the grade and insults my accent anyway. Where has ethics gone?
- I FFA'd Dante's Inferno Directe ( 14a/b ), still unrepeated ( the variation was done by Alex Honnold in 2011@ 13D)
- Bolted 2 new 14's in Serbia, but I have to go back and send this coming summer, I was cut short by travels to other areas. HARD
- Climbed with the best climbers in Serbia and Croatia and had a blast.
4. NON-CLIMBING HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2012:
- Moved out of my apt and back into my truck full time. Got a storage space from which I live from now in Montreal. To do it, you must live it.
- My blog gets more and more hits. Averaging 2000 hits a month.
- Wrote a couple pieces, including one on serbia for En Route Air Canada Magazines thats being published
- Croatia piece is being considered at climbing and rock and ice. ROCK in aussie is printing it in may.
- Alain Denis took pics of me for the Patagonia Catalog. sick. we shall see at the OR if they made it in.
- Helped the serbian ZUMAN climbing club get pro deal with LS and Maxim and climbtech.
- Helped fellow climbers in croatia get in-touch with sponsors.
- Still single. Still looking :)
- Took my first actual vacation without any climbing in 7 years last week. Went surfing in boca de pescules, a pro surfing area. Swallowed a lot of sand and got a good enema everyday from crashing into the surf. Might make me lighter for climbing. Who knows. LOL
- Help Fernanda Galvan get a maxim sponsor. Although I don't agree with her boyfriends climbing ethics, I suspect she will not follow in his footsteps.
- I ate my first frog legs in Croatia
5. EVENTS YOU PLAN TO ATTEND IN 2013:
- Another demo tour is planned for March/April 2013, this time for more then 6 weeks. More then 40 gyms, including ones in Winnipeg and Halifax.
- TDB regional finals and finals in MAY
- OR Summer show
- RRGCC rendezvous in April 2013
- Every event in the Montreal, quebec ottawa area during May, June and July 2013!
6. PLANS/GOALS FOR 2013:
I have a really specific thing I want to climb in April 2013 in Montreal. Going to be HUGE! Training for it right now.
I am going back to the eastern bloc and Slovenia august, sept and oct of 2013.
I am bolting and climbing in mexico until april 2013. I have new projects and old ones to send.
I have 800 hangers left for the season after 4 weeks and 1200 total brought with me. I expect to put them all in. I am meeting up with climbtech in Jan2013 and will get even more hardware. SICK. MAY JUNE AND JULY are work seasons for me.
Buy a camera and start shooting
Continue my battle against the FQME to help protect my local areas.
Working with the mexican tourism office to protect climbing areas in Mexico and make them national parks.
EL SALTO GUIDE UPDATE!
Updated December 28 2012
Las Animas Wall. (from left to right) Updated January 11 2012
1. All Along the Watchtower 5.10+ 12 Bolts 30m Full Anchors
2. Get Shorty 5.9 15m 6 bolts Full Anchors.
3. The Power of Cheeze 5.13- R 11 Bolts 35m FA Poncheese.
Still undone and RunOut. Scary, even for me.
4. Angeles Caminan Entre Nosotros
5.12c/d 11 Bolts 35m FA/FFA Ulric Rousseau Nov
2011
5.
Cara Cortada
5.12a 20m * * * Classic crimping up orange bomber rock.
6.
Malvavisco
5.12a 20m Start on Bongkatron, but finish at the Cara Cortada
Anchors following a black bolt to traverse left.
7.
Scarface 5.13a 30m * The full value route.
Hard boulder problem ¾ of the way up.
8.
Dirt White Scorpion 5.12c 35m 15 Bolts (unfinished) FA Brigitte Robert & Ulric (
FFA ) March 2011
9.
Alien Short 5.11c 30m 12 Bolts * Climb
Alien Tufa to the first set of anchors for the warm up.
10.
Alien
Tufa 5.12c 35m 14 Bolts * * * Full value and
amazing 4 bolts of pure pinching ( not ) up high.
11.
Blood Brother 5.11d 30m 15 Bolts * * The classic warm-up with
great moves on solid stone.*
12.
Muchas Cornhuelas 5.12a 30m * * FA Jeb
Vetters 1998
13.
Body Groovin’ 5.12b 30m 11 Bolts * * * FA Jeb
Vetters 1998
14. Culo de la Negro 5.12a 25m 12 Bolts * * * One of
the first routes on Las Animas. Classic.
15. La Guitara De Homero 5.13c 35m FA ?/FFA Fernanda 2011
16. Hino
5.12b 25m
12 Bolts * * (2nd pitch is 5.11d, rarely done)
17. Lazy Boy Lover 5.12d 30m 16 bolts * * * Climb
right behind the tree, watch the 4th bolt whipper.
18. Tufalina
5.12c 15m
8 Bolts *
19. Tufaluna
5.13a 20m
12 Bolts * * *
20. Panocha Poderosa 5.13a 30m * FA/FFA Curt Love 2009
21. Ramones’ Mushroom 5.12a 20m * * Climb up to the obvious mega black tufa. Amazing. FA/FFA
Ramone Narvaez 1998
22. Big Grey
Tufa 5.12d 20m * Classic tufa pinching to a shutter crux at the last bolt.
23. Inertia
5.13b 30m FA/FFA
Curt Love 2009
24. Caronte
5.12d 25m FA/FFA Martinez y Ricardo Vara 2012
25. La Vida de Una Mariposa 5.13c 20m FFA Ulric
Jan 2012
26. Todo o Nada (Project) 5.14 FA
Ulric Dec 2011
27. La Maquina en el jardin 5.13a 40M 19 Bolts * * * Start
left of El Primero in a corner and continue up passed the achors for a mind
crushing pump. Stellar and super clean. Good job boys! FA/FFA Devlin Junker and
Adam
28. El Primer Paso en El Ultimo Dia 5.13a 30m 11 Bolts FA/FFA Ulric Dec 2011
29. Tufalero
5.12d
20m 7 Bolts FFA Ramone Narvaez
30. Ungabunga
5.12b 30m
* * * Climb the blue and orange slab up and left through Tufas and a little
surprise at the end.
31. Ungabunga X-Mas 5.14a 5 bolts 40m
Climb 5 more bolts and 12 meters off the anchors of Ungabunga for the
grade. Enjoy the runout at the 3rd bolt. :) You lose the grade if you clip the
extented draw at the anchors, put in by lazy climbers. WTF? FA/FFA Ulric Dec 24
2011
32. La Guitara de Lolo 5.14a 35m * * * Climb the start
of Ungabunga but head right at the 5th bolt through fixed draws for 35m
of power endurance climbing. FA.Lolo FFA Unknown
33. Unfinished (Project) 5.14? 40m FA Diego Montul
34. Touched by God 5.14 18 bolts 40m Start
on the ladder and clip the first bolt, grab the jug and get ready for the next
moves. Climb up bomber tufas to a thin crux and past good jugs to a sub anchor.
Climb past that up the tufa, treading right as it thins out for a little spice
before the anchors. Run out finale. Bouyah! FA Ulric Feb 2012
35. Assasino en Silencio (Project) 5.14?
40M 11 Bolts FA Ulric 2011
36. La Ultima Dia de Dios (Project) 5.14? 35M
11 Bolts FA Ulric 2012
37. Purigatorio
5.13a 20m
7 Bolts Same start as Bizarre Contact but follow the left line of
bolts. Watch the ground fall at the 2nd and 4th bolts. FFA Martinez & Moco
38. Bizarre Contact 5.12b 20m 11 bolts * * Bouldery start to
easier climbing. Stunning but short. FA/FFA James Carse 1998
39. Murder Weapon (Project) 5.14 40m 9 bolts Climb Bizarre
Contact or Purgatorio
and continue past the anchors for 25 more meters. FA Ulric March 2011
40.
Life After You(Project) 5.14a 45m 13 Bolts FA/FFA Ulric Feb 2012
41. Tufa King
Short 5.13b 20m * * * Hard bouldery route,
short but worth the effort. FA Devlin Junker
42. Dante’s
Inferno 5.13d 30m * * * Climb the obvious thin
grey streak. Only one accent so far. FA Arturo y Martinez 2008 FFA Alex Honnold
2010
43. Dante’s Inferno
"Directe" (Avoids the 3 bolt rest section out left ) 5.14a/b FFA
Ulric Feb 2012. Unrepeated.
44. Naked Lunch 5.14b/c TBC 50m 6
bolts Climb 42 or 43 and punch through the anchors for
another 20m of power endurance through thin moves with delicate feet manouvers.
Take a breather and hold off the pump for the runout to the anchors. Stellar. Sub/Full
Anchors. Belayer beware. FA Ulric Dec 2012
45. Camino de Chino 5.13c 30m 12 Bolts * * * Thin crimping
and technical work up the orange streak on bomber rock.
46. Camino de Chino EXT. 5.14a/b TBC 45m 4 bolts. Hike Camino de Chino and check
your fears at the door, crimp and throw all the way to the anchors.
Whippers galor! Runout but uber safe. FA Ulric Dec 2012
47. Dirty Grey Tufa 5.12d 15m 6 Bolts No stars. I wonder why?
48. Quesadilla 5.12c 20m 9 Bolts * * The oldest route
in El Salto. New bolts now make it safe and pleasurable after years of scary
run-outs on rusted home made hangers. Hold on at the third bolt. FA/FFA Paco
Medina 1990?
49. Quesadilla de Oro 5.13b/c TBC 40 m 14 bolts Climb past
the anchors of Quesadilla for more
fun in the sun and a huge pump, with the smallest holds being right before the
anchor. :) Full anchors. FA Ulric Dec 2012
50. Una de este Dias 5.12d 22 bolts 45m Sub Anchor Climb through the low crux at the thrid
bolt with a thin pinch and throw. Then ease up and climb 35m of 11+ technical
laybacks and thin slab climbing. Sub anchor to lower. Belayer beware. Full
Anchors. FA Ulric Dec 2012
51. I Vision 5.11- 22m 10 Bolts Don't expect to flash
this. Nothing is what it seems. FA Ulric Dec 2012
52. EZ Street 5.11+ 25m 11 Bolts Interesting start to a
super jug slab. FA Ulric Dec 2012
La Cueva aka The Cave (from left to right)
1.
Amor 5.12b
Follow the black bolts out the left side of the left most cave and finish at
the anchors of Felicidad FA Curt Love
2.
Felicidad 5.12a
First route on the inside of the Small cave, left of the Main cave.
3.
Rocket Man 5.12b
Follow black bolts to overhanging tufa system.
4.
Desconsido 5.11d The
second route outside the right side of the small cave.
5.
Missing Hanger 5.12c
6.
Limestoner 5.12b
7.
Culo de Fuego 5.13a
8.
La Violencia 5.13a/b 25m
* * * First route on the left inside of the main cave. Dyno to a very violent
move to reach the tufa 4 feet off the wall. Finish at the Tecalote anchors up
and left.
9.
Golden Man 5.12b/c At
the very back of the cave, start below the obvious spiral offwidth, fight your
way to the anchors out 30feet from the ground.
10. Tecalote
5.13a 30m * * * Gym climbing at its best. Start below the first draw
wrapped
around a
hole and go straight through the cave. This thing keeps you horizontal the
whole way. A classic tick to be sure. Finish out the left side of the cave at
the same anchors as La Violencia
11. Huiratica
5.13b 30m * * * Amazing steep pockets and sloppers starting on the
right side of the cave. Pull out of the cave to some technical climbing to
anchors. Long and sustained.
12. Nosferatu
5.12c 25m * * * The first route in the cave and the one to do ASAP.
Think 3D people. FA Alex Patinio and Ulric Rousseau Jan 1999
13. Kika
Shredder 5.13 a/b 25m * * * Hard moves off the ground to classic
traversing left on small pinches and crimps. Stay alive for the surprise move
at top.
14. H-Bomb
5.14a 35m * * * The hardest line to date. Supposedly unrepeated
since a key hold broke at the crux. Much harder now.
15. Soul
Power 5.12d 30m * * * Nice sustained pump up the main steepness.
Committing moves and large throws, kneebars, tufas and great pockets make this
a classic not to miss.
16. Merlin’s
Culo 5.10d 20mA must do for everyone. Start on the lower left part
of the upper cave and follow the bolts through the hole to exit on top of the
upper wall. Mega Classic.
17. Chi
5.13d 35m * * * Steep is the game, long is the name. Bring all you
got, cause it doesn’t stop for 150 feet. Climbs the center of the upper 45
degree wall.FA Jimmy Carse 1997
18. Andrada
5.13d 35m FA Dani Andrada March
2012
18. Dial
M for Monkey 5.13c 40m Info unknown, but looks steep and amazing.
19. Super
Chongo 5.11b 30m Left most route to climb the outer right arête of
the caves. Ok!
20. Super
Super Chongo 5.13a 35m Go past the anchors on Super Chongo for more
climbing on steeper rock and harder moves.
La Boca ( TBC )
La Sabrosa ( TBC )
Carses' Wall ( From right to left )
This wall is located on the hike
in, on the right side of the riverbed. It can be identified by its two arch
like roofs one on top of another and a long yellow streak on the right side of
the wall. New routes, so please be careful.
1. Petite Mervielle 5.11c/d 25m 10 Bolts
+ Full Anchors FA Ulric Rousseau FFA Ulric, Rodrigo y Eva Nov 2012
2. Electrika Kika 1 5.12
3. Jimmy's Route 2 5.12
4. El Camelion Azul 5.12b 30m First four
bolts of 3 and then tread right for 25 meters of steep tufas and knee bars to
the delicate finish below the anchors. Full Anchors. FA/FFA Ulric Rousseau Nov
2012
(Please avoid touching the blocs in the gully
on the left at the start of 3 and 4, A familly of Large exotic tropically
colored Lizards live in that habitat. Hence the Start to 4 from 3.)
5. Almost Believe
That They're Real 5.11+ ( Still Undone ) 30m Start on the right side of the
center wall, in a left facing Dahierieal. Climb past jugs through the roof and
punch it to the chains past the second roof. Full Anchors. FA Ulric Rousseau
Nov 2012
6. Pictures of You 5.12-
( Still undone ) 45m Climb Almost Believe That They're Real and continue
past the first anchors through the roof and thin headwall up top to Full
Anchors. Belayer beware. FA Ulric Rousseau Nov 2012
7. The Breathe of
Silence 5.12- ( Still undone ) 40m Left most route. Three roofs and
a run out headwall at the top. Belayer beware. Full Anchors. FA Ulric Rousseau
Nov 2012
El Jardin aka The Garden
The Garden is located right off the
4x4 road leading to Las Animas. A stones throw away from the trail. The wall is
located about 200 up the trail on your right after you leave the river bed. When
you start heading up the 4x4 road from the river bed, the white and grey tufa featured wall will
appear behind the canapy curtain of trees and vegetation.
From left roo right.
1.
2.Total Balance 11A FA Ulric March
2012
3. New Balance 5.9 FA Ulric March
2012
