You can find the first and second parts of the USA gig from here and from here.
After Ten Sleep, I continued on to Lander, where it was about to start International Climbers' Festival. I don't remember exactly where I had heard about this festival, but somehow I was itching to go there. There was also a guy in Lander who I had met years ago in Tonsai, with whom I could bunk (although I ended up sleeping in the car in front of that house).
Tights fashion at climbing festivals.
Festareilla oli kaikennäköistä ohjelmaa – leikkimielisestä kisailusta ei-niin-leikkimieliseen (palkintoja sekä arpajaisvoittoja jaettiin joka ilta!), kiipeilyklinikoita, leuanvetokisoja, dynokisoja jne. jne… Lähes mitä mieleen tulee! Kovin “International” festari ei kuitenkaan mielestäni ollut – itseni lisäksi tapasin siellä vain yhden kanadalaisen pariskunnan, yhden saksalaisen, ja yhden indonesialaisen kiipeilijän…
Photo from the tightrope-jumping competition. I myself won the blind speed competition of securing and tying the knot with my partner! As a reward, a good daypack (and also a haulbag) and a rope - the goods were distributed in good harmony :).
Pinches. By the way, it was crazy hard to hang on...!!!
Lander is a small, relatively quiet village surrounded by cattle breeders and cattlemen, although a short drive away. You can climb in Lander all year round - on cold winter days, e.g. in Sinks Canyon, and on hot summer days in Wild Iris. (However, many of the Wild Iris sectors are in the sun in the afternoon, and an early morning departure is recommended).
Boulder bash which was part of an organized climbing festival; Sinks Canyon can be seen behind.
Boulder bash.
I participated in climbing festivals, e.g. to the Boulder bash shown in the pictures, as well as Hazel Findlayn vetämään klinikkaan “The Mental Game with Hazel Findlay”, jossa käytiin läpi mm. kiipeilyssä esiintyvää putoamisen pelkoa, ja miten siitä voi päästä eroon.
Hazel talking to the group members.
Hazel watches her climbers.
Ryhmässämme oli hyvin eritasoisia ja myös -kokoisia osallistujia…! 😀
Tall and stocky (and I'm not even THAT stocky with my 164.5cm frame!)
The clinic gave me good tips on how to e.g. practice falling, and where the associated fear comes from and when it is appropriate and when it is not.
“Virallisten” festarijuttujen ja haastattelujen järkkäilyjen lisäksi ehdin toki myös itsekin kiipeämään – ja myös ensinousemaan 5.12a (7a+) reitin, jonka nimesin “Cool Beans”. Kuvaa ei tosin tullut, mutta jälkeenpäin näppäsin tän selfien, hahah! Kiitos Ben Searsille, joka on pultannut Landerissa kymmeniä reittejä, ja lahjoitti mulle niistä yhden (tosin siihen oli vain se flash-mahdollisuus, että jos ei ois menny niin ois jäänyt FA itseltä tekemättä 🙂 ).
Just a quick crazy glint in the eyes..
I personally liked Lander's style a lot - maybe the climbing taste has changed over the years, because maybe 4-5 years ago the boulder-like and powerful climbing style might not have caught on so much. Loved Lander's climbing and pockets though, yikes!!!
Me with Bobcat Logic (5.12c) in Wild Iris. Photo: @kimstagraham.mcg
Cameron Hörst was also seen having fun in addition to the rest of the Hörst family.
I'm the king of the world… Alex Bridgewater @agbridgewater does as the photographer (me) tells, North Country, one of the lesser known sectors of Wild Iris.
Lander is almost worth knowing someone, or knowing someone who knows someone - or going there during the festival. Also By Steve Bechtel Elemental Performance + Fitness -gymiltä tai paikallisesta “CAMUsta”, Wild Iris Mountain Sportista voi kysyä kiipeilyseuraa. Yksin matkustavana voi olla hankala löytää kiipeilyparia köysittelyyn ja kaltsit on kuitenkin noin puolen tunnin ajomatkan päästä itse kylästä (plus lähestyminen jalan), joten itse en ainakaan menisi kaltsille asti varmistajan toivossa.
Wild Iris bows. Great pockets!!! Some unknown guy caught this spanking request, Dylan making sure.
After Lander, I returned to Rifle for a few days - ahh, Rifle was my favorite! I want to go back there...
From Denver, I still flew to San Francisco for Woman Up! to the women's climbing event, where e.g. competed and participated in clinics. I narrowly missed the finals myself, but it would have been too much to ask to be in the same finals as Nina Williams ;). Great event and really good clinics, I myself participated in e.g. Beth Rodden's Big Wall clinic and Nina Williams' training clinic.
Woman Up! competing in the event in San Francisco.
Bongaa Lynn Hill, one of the speakers at the event.
In its brevity, Jenkkikiipeily beta, you can ask additional questions if needed, for example via Instagram: @katariinarahikainen.
Forever... Nowadays, CAMU also offers cool print shirts by Kelmi Climbing, and Juha Olli's, Jorma Käyhkö's and Sampo Kiesiläinen's new Climbing Training book!!! Awesome!!!
Jeez!!!! Kelmi Climbing @kelmiclimbing and Climbing training @jolli_jolli_