PASCHNAMPOOK

ART - Intricate carvings from used books

2012-01-26T15:28:00.006+01:00

Ever thought about what will happen with all those books when discarded or put away in cartboxes at the attic? French Canadian artist Guy Laramée did. Based out of Montréal, Laramée is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, director, composer and anthropologist.

He uses books to create intricate fine carvings of the most elaborate landscapes. 3D views of well known places like the grand canyon or the rock temples of Petra. Both as artist as well as from philosophic point of view he presents the books as natural material showing nature's denudation. Nature becomes art and art show's nature's decay, the hardcopy books might 'denudate' into the flatland of e-books.

Urban Environmental Innovation - 2100.nu

2012-01-24T10:03:00.005+01:00

In one year citizens and companies in the urban area Østerbro in Copenhagen, Denmark have reduced a lot of CO2 and created green innovation. See the remarkable results and get inspired to do something in your own city or urban area!

The best thing however is the common sense of awareness and urgency they have created! There are a lot of ideas and methods of reducing the human inpact on the environment. The hardest part though is to mobilize people to act on a larger scale than one houshold. This initiative has reached that goal, which I think is far more important at this stage than reaching a very respectable 10% recuction of CO2.

(zourze: 2100.nu)

2012-01-06T12:02:00.002+01:00

Brillant gig by the band Pickwick from Seattle. Reminds me of music from..., yeah what?? Just listen en make up your own mind.

Live From The Basement - Pickwick (bonus track) from Sound on the Sound on Vimeo.

FieldCandy Tent - Customize your tent

2011-12-10T16:00:00.000+01:00

If you want to stand out against the mediocre and boring tents around you on a festival you can order your own print on your tent.

Through a two-year development process, Jersey, UK-based FieldCandy has created something never seen before. They selected a group of 20 or so artists and designers – photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, branding and advertising designers – to create designs that were then transferred to the ultra-light, waterproof flysheet that covers the two-person tent.

Only twitch: they're not cheap, ranging from 340 to 1.100 dollars....

(Zourze: thecoolhunter.com)

Ned Feehally - Bouldering Highball Samson - Burbage

2011-12-09T10:06:00.005+01:00

Ned Feehally has repeated Samson at Burbage South. The route (or highball boulder problem) breaks left from the classic offwidth of Goliath. Ned soloed the route above bouldering mats and his ascent is thought to be the fourth overall.

First climbed by Jerry Moffatt in 1997 and graded E9 7b, it has since been regraded at E6 7a, however the E grade is fairly meaningless on this desperate but short route-come-boulder problem. The boulder grade is thought to be highball 8A.

Life On Hold - Samson Preview from Outcrop Films on Vimeo.

(zourze: thelowdown)

Punks in the Gym - Footage

2011-12-05T11:50:00.004+01:00

Smitten: Punks in the Gym (5.13d/14.a) from Rock & Ice on Vimeo.

Ascent bij Australian climbers Jarmila Tyrril and Zac Vertrees in the testpiece of Wolfgang Güllich. Punks in the Gym was established by Wolfgang Gullich in 1985. At the time, this was the hardest route in the world at a debatable grade of 5.13d or 5.14a. I've seen the rock and felt the impossible-to-hold-holds the route contains of. It's magnificent colours and surroundings add to the entourage of it all.

By the way, this video is a sneak-peek segment from the new Australian climbing film SMITTEN. For more info on the movie and how to purchase it, visit smittenthemovie.com.au.

(zourze: rock&ice.com)

Dutchie Jorg Verhoeven climbs 9A - Video report

2011-11-29T07:52:00.003+01:00

Pure Imagination 5.14d (9a) from jorg verhoeven on Vimeo.

Jorg Verhoeven, the climbing Dutchie, Climbs his fourth 9A (5.14d) Pure Imagination in the USA. Coincidence (or not), it is captured on Video, which is a rare occasion! Even more weird is the skip in the footage at 4.45minutes. What happened there?

(Zourze: bladoverklimmen.nl)

Tourboarding in the "old" days

2011-11-28T11:44:00.006+01:00

It was back in 2004 and I just bougth a second hand splitboard. The idea was to go up to Plan de Aiguille, do some ice climbing and board down the Glacier. It turned out not to be the right place to board... To much icy slopes and to much kilo's on the back.
After a very cold night we made it down to Chamonix in one piece. I prefer Powpow !!

The Hulk - Peter Croft mentors Lisa Rands on Venturi Effect 5.12+

2011-11-25T06:00:00.002+01:00

Climbing legend Peter Croft mentors boulderer Lisa Rands on the finer points of alpine free climbing during an ascent of Venturi Effect, Croft's spectacular route on The Incredible Hulk, in California's Sierra Nevada. This is the second installment in the Origins series, presented by Evolv shoes with The North Face and Mountain Gear. Featured on the 2010 REEL ROCK Film Tour DVD and HD Download. www.bigupproductions.com. www.senderfilms.com.

This is awesome footage !! Watch and feel the urge to become green yourself :))

(zourze: bigupproductions.com)

Adam Ondra Bouldering Terranova 8C+

2011-11-24T18:00:00.000+01:00

Adam's hardest boulder until now, Terranova 8C+ stands for difficulty and "not for the most beautiful, exposed line in the world." he says. Although the different sections of the 16 move boulder have different grades he stil classifies is as a 8C+. Let the reapeats begin and see what others make of it.

(zourze: CzechClimbing.com)

Cartoon Rock Climbing - Deepzly Motivated

2011-11-22T22:10:00.001+01:00

It's an 'oldie' but ever so funny still. Made by the one and only Dutch Climbing Cartoonist Mike Meijnhard. Others will follow, so stay tuned!
(source: with curtacy of Mike Meijnhard)

Ice Climbing World Cup 2012 Trailer

2011-11-22T12:00:00.007+01:00

It's not winter yet in the Netherlands but instead an Ice Climbing a Dutch Drytool event has been held (see pic below made by Menno Boermans). Dennis van Hoek won the contest, and no surprise here since he is the leading ice climber in the Netherlands.

For the real thing on ice see the video above (funny similarity in pose of the climber in the picture below :))http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

(source: Menno Boermans Photography, Dennis van Hoek)

Pixar animation - Pigeon Impossible

2011-11-21T16:13:00.006+01:00

This animation was new for me ! Funny spoof of Mission Impossible.

Back in Bleau Bouldering

2011-06-24T15:41:00.001+02:00

Some pic of me in Bleau last time. All pictures were taken by Tim v/d Linden. Thanks mate, it was good to be back!!

Biggest Hoisting Crane of Europe

2011-06-23T14:38:00.003+02:00

This hoisting crane currently operates at the project of Rotterdam Central District, an urban development at the hart of the Port City of the Netherlands. It's being used to assemble the steel constructions which will later become the immense roof of the multi-user public transport station in Rotterdam.

The Liebherr 1750 stands 80 meters high and has a span of 150 meters, thus being the largest hoisting crane in Europe. It needed fifty lorries to bring toghether all te components of the Liebherr. A special fundament was made consisting of 70 concrete poles to carry and spread the weight.

Bleau Bouldering Busdriving - Camper Crashpad Crimp

2011-04-08T16:12:00.006+02:00

plus

makes

Let's go for bleau!!

(this is me a long time ago)

ReUse - ReCycle - ReInvent

2011-04-02T06:00:00.000+02:00

Rotterdam has a atelier/workshop where ordinary objects are given a second life; the re-use and re-invention of products. Beautiful products which some I would like to give a place in my house as well. Well.... besides the bycicle that is :)) Recycling with a touch of art and urban feeling, or as they describe it themself: Studio HeStudio Hergebruik / Re-use Studio displays work by artists and designers from all creative disciplines that focus on re-use and recycling of materials or concepts.Numerous functions are combined. Besides premises for a shop, gallerie and conferences, workspaces for educational activities have also been designed. Designers often make use of our facilities when developing prototypes. All areas of Studio Hergebruik are open to the public.Workshops, lectures and masterclasses are held in conjunction with vocational and higher education institutions.

(source: studiohergebruik.nl)

Spectacular pictures inside Glaciers (E.Ruth)

2011-04-01T12:58:00.008+02:00

Woah, spectacular photos from inside a glacier. This must be a stunning place to go ice climbing!! See for yourself, Njoy.

(source: stumbleupon.com)

New Trad Climbing Gear - Helium Friends Wild Country

2011-02-11T11:36:00.005+01:00

It's been a while since I have been trad climbing, but one of my best feats in trad climbing was topping the famous Oceano Irrationale in Val di Mello, Italy. Never have been in such a demanding route (for me that is :)) and enjoying the crag climbing at the same time.

The older cams of Wild Country have been my 'friends' for a long time since but the newest ones seem to be mor flexible in material as well as in range:

HELIUM FRIEND ESSENTIALS Up to 6% lighter per unit.
Up to 20% more range per cam. Bigger overlaps with adjacent cams. Bigger overlaps with alternate cams. Longer reach and deeper placements. Smoother triggering. Nine cams will be available.

HELIUM FRIEND NEW FEATURESNew:
Hot Forged Cam Head, Thumb Loop Trigger,m Moulded Thumb GripSprings, Trigger Stop, Stem Cover, Size Label, Low Profile Riveting, 12mm Dyneema Sling, Short Termination

(source: planetfear.com)

People Planet Profit - Dance Valley Spaarnwoude Climbing Structure

2011-02-10T14:05:00.003+01:00

A Dutch magazine in which the three P's are the main topic. BUT, with the outdoor climbing wall Spaarwoude on one of their covers (during the Dance Valley event), even rock climbing might get a greener immage :))

(source: peopleplanetprofit.be)

Top Ten Most Nutritious Vegetables and How to Grow Them in Your Backyard

2011-02-09T08:00:00.000+01:00

This is something I have been thinking about for a long time. Why should we buy food which has travelled around the globe befor we're able to eat it. I search the web from time to time to see what others do and how they cope with it. This is what I found lately:

A perfectly ripe, juicy tomato, still warm from the sun. Sweet carrots, pulled from the garden minutes (or even seconds!) before they're eaten. Growing your own vegetables is one of those activities that balances practicality and indulgence. In addition to the convenience of having the fixings for a salad or light supper right outside your door (or on your windowsill), when you grow your own vegetables, you're getting the most nutritional bang for your buck as well. Vegetables start losing nutrients as soon as they're harvested, and quality diminishes as sugars are turned into starches. For the tastiest veggies with the best nutrition, try growing a few of these nutrient-dense foods in your own garden. And don't let the lack of a yard stop you - all of them can be grown in containers as well.

The top10 list is:

- Broccoli

- Peas

- Beans

- Tomatoes

- Red Peppers

- Carrots

- Beets

- Leafy Greens

- Leaf Amaranth

(Source: Treehugger.com)

New Rock Climbing Guide Mallorca 2011

2011-02-08T16:11:00.004+01:00

"This book is not yet available", the website says but in the meantime everyone anticipates it being published in the week beginning 7 March.

The Mediterranean island of Mallorca is now well-known as a sport climbing destination. Since the last Rockfax in 2006, it has also established itself as the home of Europe's best deep water soloing (Check Kingline by Chris Sharma)

It is said that the Mallorca Rockfax brings together all the sport and DWS into one book. The sport section includes seven crags that haven't appeared in the previous books plus many new routes and sectors at the existing crags, and the DWS section combines the work from the Rockfax book Deep Water, and the Rockfax PDF MiniGuide Mallorca Deep Water Soloing

It looks like a big fun place to be and explore the climbing possibilities. Combine this with the mostly superb weather and it's a sure-to-go-location.

(for more details check: Rockfax.com)

Bouldering Challenge in Iceland - Highball

2011-02-01T15:30:00.004+01:00

Not only the shift in climate has consequences. Even (or just because!) the oldest force of nature, vulcanism, has it's own effect on the morphology of the earth. Sometimes even unforseen for climbers!

Despite standing more than 15 metres tall and weighing in at over 900 tonnes, above pictured huge rock has stood in its current spot for a mere eight months. So how did it get there? After the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland erupted earlier in the year the heat generated was enough to melt surrounding glaciers, releasing the rocks and debris that now litter the valley. This gigantic rock is one of them. Who is going to sent the first climb? (Image: Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson/Barcroft Media)

(source: pofroad.com)

Urban Space People - Urban Art

2011-01-25T15:32:00.005+01:00

Above art must have been performed by climbers or at least some very athletic people.

Bodies in urban spaces" is a temporarily intervention in diversified urban architectonical environment. The intention of "bodies in urban spaces" is to point out the urban functional structure and to uncover the restricted movement possibilities and behavior as well as rules and limitations.

By placing the bodies in selected spots the interventions provoke a thinking process and produce irritation. Passers by, residents and audience are motivated and prompted to reflect their urban surrounding and there own movement behaviour and habits. "Bodies in urban spaces" invites the residents to walk their own city thus establishing a stronger relationship to their neighbourhood, district and town. The interventions are temporarily without leaving any traces behind, but imprints in the eye-witnesses' memory.

(source: ciewdorner.at)

Animation Goofy Rock Climbing Tutorial

2011-01-17T13:42:00.002+01:00

Haw-haw, this is a funny animation which reminds me of some scenes of Timmy O'Neill in 'Return to Sender'. Goofy explains the principals of rock climbing :))

World Cup Ice Climbing Cheongsong - Korea 8-9 february 2011

2011-01-07T14:48:00.008+01:00

8-9th of february one of the World Cups Ice Climbing is held in Cheongsong Korea. The first time in Asia ever but the Koreans already have shown their capability in ice climbing.

For the Dutch (!) Dennis van Hoek and Marianne van der Steen are entering the competition. Having seen them climbing in the Saas Fee competition in 2010 (see pictures below) and the progression they made since, there might be promising results!

Competition Schedule

8, Jan(Sat)
09:30-10:30
Isolation Open
10:30-17:30
Lead & Speed Qualification, Semi-final

9, Jan(Sun)
09:30-10:30
Isolation Open
10:30-15:30
Lead & Speed Final
16:00-17:00
Awarding & Closing Ceremony

Results and news can be found on http://www.iceclimbing.kr/english/

(source: nkbv.nl)

New Year - New Looks

2011-01-05T21:08:00.004+01:00

Happy New Year for everybody and may it be healthy, sporty and with lots of climbingadventures.

Notice that my blog looks different; NEW. But not to worry the content will be changing as well :)). And me too with my Rjukan Ice Climbing T-shirt!! No ice climbing this year but I will surely return.

Climbing moves in Ballet - Dance Escalade

2010-12-27T12:40:00.007+01:00

I used to workt for the Dutch Royal Ballet in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) during my early years of climbing. I always have said (and many climbers with me) that climbing is a sort of ballet on the rocks (or wall).
This short footage is of a ballet company who incoporated climbing as a form of ballet in their performance.
Not withstanding the 80-ies and being ballet dancers they perform on (white!)climbing shoes. The climber is supposed to be Patrick Berhault.

Much more energetic and in a boulder style is part 3 of Dance Escalade

source: udini.de

Flashmob Christmas Choral singing Hallelujah

2010-12-21T16:47:00.004+01:00

A must see for christmas lovers. A flashmob choral singing Halleluja in a food court. Don't know where but it's great!

How to tie Climbing Knots

2010-12-02T07:48:00.007+01:00

Not that the most climbers don't know how to tie these knots, though very handsomely animated, but it's the uses they describe I find most informative. Besides knots to animate children (aka knots who resemble a butterfly or rabbit :)) like the double alpine butterfly) I have found uses for several knots I didn't knew about.

See (LINK TO SITE) and judge the site for yourselves.

And for the quick and smart 'knotters' the lightning way to tie a bowline:Or the One-handed Bowline animation (this LINK for animation):

(source: LinkedIn NKBV-group, animatedknots.com)

Leo Houlding interview after The Prophet on El Capitan

2010-11-02T11:38:00.008+01:00

An interview was held with the British rockclimber Leo Houlding after his first ascent of The Prophet on El Capitan, Yosemite, USA. A feat he carried out with his climbing partner Jason Pickles in 6 days in october 2010. The route is grades as E8 7a, 5.13d R, 8b with a length of 510m.

In the interview Leo states: 'a first ascent on El Capitan is, in my eyes, the ultimate achievement in rock climbing... we did it in the best style we could, it's fantastic. It's a lifetime achievement'.

Being a project for Leo for the past ten years (!)'. Maybe his new route will become one of the 'new' classics on El Cap one day.

The full interview is found here.

Coincidently I have watched the climbing movie 'To the center of the universe' of Alexander Huber climbing in Yosemite. Still inspiring to watch !! (see this trailer).

Upload Competition MONK - NEW CONCEPT

2010-10-29T15:24:00.005+02:00

WOW is het eerst woord dat me te binnen schiet als ik het nieuws over een nieuw concept van bouldercompetitie lees !!

MONK heeft een eigen concept gelanceerd dat er uit bestaat dat er een zestal boulders als een soort 'package' afgeleverd wordt bij een van de zes verschillende deelnemende klimhallen in Nederland en Belgie. Een package bestaat uit drie heren en drie dames boulders. So far nothing new. MAAARRRR het geinige is dat het jureren van de boulders gebeurt door deze zelf te filmen en je resultaat te uploaden naar uploadcompetition om daar je poging te laten keuren. If accepted: youre done; if not - then else en moet je opnieuw beginnen (en weer filmen).

De competitie verschuift elke maand naar een nieuwe hal met een nieuw 'package' met en onbekende boulderinhoud. In totaal worden er 18 boulders geklommen. Na deze rondes worden de zes best geklasseerde mannen en vrouwen uitgenodigd om op een avond (16 april 2011) in MONK de finale te boulderen.

Check voor meer details en wedstrijdformat en regels hier.

(source: monkbouldergym.com)

Fake Wild Country Quickdraws - Wild Wire

2010-10-21T08:19:00.003+02:00

Wild Country issued a warning about fake quickdraws named Wild Wire. They can be purchased in some webstores or shops. These quickdraws have NO CE-certificate and because of that are potentially dangerous.

They can be distiguished from the real ones by the following aspects:

- they lack the logo of Wild Country

- there is no multi-lingual manual

- there is no batchcode engraved in the karabiners

- the white plastic hanger misses (see pic under)

Click here for a German warning.

(source: NKBV.nl)

Kurt Albert - "Mr. Rotpunkt" died

2010-09-30T07:44:00.004+02:00

Kurt Albert was a legendary German climber who shaped the development of rock climbing and pioneered hard routes across Germany and beyond.
Albert fell 18 metres from a Via Ferrata in the Hirschbach Valley in the Frankenjura on Sunday. The 56 year old sustained severe head injuries and was transported to a hospital in Erlangen (near Nürnberg). He was in a critical condition in hospital for several days. He was pronounced dead at the the hospital in Erlangen yesterday at 8.45 pm local time. The exact cause of his fall is yet to be determined.

Kurt, inventor of the Rotpunkt (redpoint), was often regarded as the catalyst behind modern sport climbing. Kurt painted red circles at the base of routes when they were projects, and filled the circle with a 'red point' when he had managed to climb them, and this is where the now universal climbing term 'redpoint' came from.

Alongside Wolfgang Gullich, Kurt Albert made the first ascent of perhaps the world's ultimate rock climb - Eternal Flame on Trango Tower in 1989.

Albert had been climbing since the age of 14 and had made countless first ascents throughout Germany including the classic Fight Gravity (UIAA 8+). Kurt had made many climbing friends across the globe and will be sorely missed by the climbing community.

(source: ukclimbing.com)

Monkey King India performing climbing skills

2010-09-28T21:49:00.003+02:00

I think I've embedded something like it some time ago, but it's worthwhile to watch this climber from India (Aka Jyotiraju)performing his skills. Niiice moves dude !

A New Look

2010-09-24T16:27:00.003+02:00

Duhh.....

Urban Art Amsterdam

2010-09-24T16:14:00.004+02:00

Urban art is all around you. You just have to be prepared to look out for potential locations

Weird Rock to climb on

2010-09-10T09:59:00.003+02:00

Hmmm, I would reconsider bouldering here....

FokSuk Climbing Cartoon

2010-09-09T16:30:00.003+02:00

Translation:
title: they won't take anything for granted.
- 'Oh, that will be my retirment advisor calling'
- 'Ask him to hang on'

Spaceous Architecture in Amsterdam

2010-09-09T09:01:00.004+02:00

Watching TV yesterday my attention was drawn to an item about new constructed appartment blocks. The topic for that day was the 'Christal Court' (by Tangram Architects), located at a small area in Amsterdam (Netherlands).

The project consists of 37 stacked villa's on top of a parkinglot. The complex is consists of separate structures with a minimum of floor coverage which becomes more dense and wider at higher floorlevels. The way the houses are situated creates a high density of appartments at the upper floors and having a spatious patio with lots of transparancy at the lower levels. At groud floor several waterpools and plants can be found.

For more info see Tangram Architects (English) picture by: John Lewis Marshall

(source in Dutch: nieuwbouwprijs.nl)

2010-08-17T10:18:00.001+02:00

The Agricultural Urbanism Book has been launched!
Our awareness of the significant challenge our food supply faces in the 21st century is growing rapidly. However, few people offer more than a suggestion that we all grow our own food in our backyard or balcony, attend a farmers' market, and lobby for global change. This book, rooted in a sustainable food system approach and written by leaders in planning and design, outlines a powerful strategy for understanding and taking action on the full scope of sustainable food system opportunities in cities and how we build them.
This book takes sustainable food systems far beyond the community garden and the buying of local food and into strategies for supporting local food processing, wholesale and marketing, education and training programs, and celebration and culture around food, ensuring access to healthy food for all.

2010-06-23T15:31:00.006+02:00

The project, meant for a family house back yard in the suburbs, aimed at designing a small park or opened area where the young parents and their newborn child would enjoy a independent space from day to day house activities, a space for reading, playing, etc. Having in mind this objective, and considering the usages of the space in the long term, it was proposed the project incorporated a small building to complement and support outside activities. That way he building would serve as a shelter for the child to share with his parents and, later on, as his own personal activities and hobbies setting.

I would love to have such a 'shelter' in my backyard and turn it into a boulderobject!

(source: Archdaily.com)

Basic Rules in Presenting Poll Results

2010-06-09T18:00:00.000+02:00

Eheh, I like this as a counterpart to all the polls who spilled the media about the elections of our house of commons in the Netherlands these days. Njoy.

(source: StumbleUpon.com)

Advertisment comparing MS and climbing

2010-06-09T15:10:00.004+02:00

I found this advertisement on Stumble Upon. In a matter of speaking it has a striking resemblance with the condition climbers face if partly or completely devoid of power afer high exertion. Not that I compare both physical states of the body, they couldn't be more different, but it's very effective in the way it's used in this add.

(source: StumbleUpon.com)

Rooftop Agriculture - Growing food locally

2010-06-01T15:50:00.008+02:00

Although vertical farming is a very effective way of using unused space, it is also seems difficult to put into practice. Using rooftops makes it a little more achievable, and even more important; it can be put into practise on a very small scale. It is an almost perfect spot for growing crops as the roof is horizontality, has an openness to sun and air and an natural supply for water.

Many projects can be found. An example is the one named the fifth street farm project. The Fifth Street Farm Project has it all: It addresses childhood obesity, stormwater runoff, and climate change. Conceived by a grassroots organization of teachers, parents, and green-roof advocates, the project’s plan calls for a roof farm atop the Robert Simon Complex, a massive public school building on the Lower East Side that houses elementary schools P.S. 64 and the Earth School, as well as the Tompkins Square Middle School. The Fifth Street Roof Farm will grow only a very small portion of the food served in the cafeteria, but it should play an important role in educating young taste buds. “The challenge was doing a green roof at a school and marrying it to this idea of a farmable roof,” said Arad. “You could do an extensive green roof here quite easily and walk away. But it wouldn’t engage school children like a roof farm can.”

Such projects still inspire me to set up a mini rooftop agriculture spot for myself. Self grown food must be so very rewarding if all the ingredients are so close at hand: soil, runoff water from the roof and many friends of family having seeds or seedlings from their vegetable gardens. I can see no reason not to do it.

(source: archpaper.com & CityFarmer.com)

Dutch Environmental Film Festival - DEFF

2010-05-27T16:21:00.006+02:00

The Film Festival introduces itself as: We're Strawberry Earth and we proudly present the Dutch Environmental Film Festival (DEFF), an annual platform for the best international, environmental films and documentaries. Each year DEFF screens major international and national premieres, hosts inspirational speakers and creative green organisations, and organises memorable festival parties with talent from the European DJ and live music scene. DEFF is the only major international film festival in the world that uses 100% of all money raised to make the screening venues eco friendlier. Thanks to the support of energy company Greenchoice - and all our other sponsors and partners - DEFF has grown to become one of Europe's premier environmental film festivals. Come and see for yourself, June 3 - 6

One of the starring films is about 'the lazy environmentalist' being Josh Dorfman a.k.a. The Lazy Environmentalist. He is a New Yorker with a mission. It's a rather big mission - to save the planet - and he plans to achieve it by fighting the excesses of the wasteful couch potato.

Must quality or cost be sacrificed in order to adopt a green lifestyle? Does being greener mean being geeky? Josh goes on search throughout New York for the answers to questions like these. And with help from other environmental experts we're able to share in his entertaining style of storytelling.

Join us for one of the first screenings outside the USA, of the Sundance Channel's new series, The Lazy Environmentalist. He's sure to help change your wasteful ways...
You'll also be able to chat 'live' with Josh himself during a post screening transatlantic Q&A!

check: the strawberryearth and the lazy environmentalist

Start of the backyard bouldering season

2010-05-26T14:54:00.005+02:00

The really first fine weather days made me 'unwrap' my boulderwall in my backyard. The first to take advantage was my daugther and a friend. She did climb but even more desirable was to make a shelter and play with all het stuffed toys. One way to use the boulderwall and the oversized crashpad.... note that even the brush-stick is used :))

Your morning coffee 's amazing journey

2010-05-20T15:16:00.003+02:00

Not only climbing gyms are worthwhile climbing. Just keep your eyes open and seize every opportunity to climb objects out of the ordinary. Life Magazine Cover January 14, 2005
The cover of Life magazine features a photograph of men as they climb an enormous wall made up from sacks of coffee beans in a warehouse, accompanined by the headline 'Your Morning Coffee's Amazing Journey'.

(source: stumbleupon.com)

Photography of bouldering is serious business

2010-05-19T17:30:00.001+02:00

Climber Wall decoration at home

2010-05-19T11:27:00.002+02:00

For those who can't afford a boulderwall at home...

(source: stumbleupun.com)

Vertical Crop Growing and Agriculture in an Urban Environment

2010-05-18T08:14:00.009+02:00

Although plants and crops mostly tend to do it naturally, mankind thinks to have evented a new way of growing crops and plans in high density urban environments: Vertical Agriculture. Aggreed, vertile soil doesn't come in stacks high but here technology can play a major part in the development.

I found a most enlightning post about it on Landscape+Urbanism from Jason King. Seemingly lots of gizmo techniques about space environment producing crops some of the mentioned techniques and structures are very well suitable for small scale production as well!

A future problem of the urban environments is not only the large scale water consumpion but congestion as a result of the never ending supply of food as well. What if most of the inhabitants were able to grow their own vegetables. They would have a better quality of food and, added bonus, it would be cheaper in two ways: less transport and cheaper to make than buy. The only thing is; it takes time to grow it.

Nevertheless let's take a look at the futuristic and cunning structures, architecture and most of all conceptual projects. Below a selection of them. For the complete article go here.

picture above: The Plantagon project is one of a raft of recent projects designed to make urban environments more sustainable in the long term. For example, pictured here is a project called DragonFly. The 600-meter-high (almost 2,000-foot) vertical greenhouse is shaped like the wings of a dragonfly and was created by the Belgian designer Vincent Callebaut. It is designed to house livestock and a wide range of crops.

(above: City Farming in a Plantagon Greenhouse. With its largest glasshouse model estimated to cost about €70 million ($104 million), the costs of such projects are huge — but so are the environmental changes the world will face in the years to come. The stark facts of global warming, combined with population growth, speak for themselves (source: cityfarmer.info)

(below:
Looking into the economics and politics of rising food prices and theories about impending food shortages led us to create the “food farm” to test peoples sensitivity to the issue. We wanted to develop something initially that would supplement the nutritional needs of a family living in high rise accommodation, without drawing electricity or gas (source: cityfarmer.info)

And now: let's go and try to develop something alike for my own roof, and see if I can grow my own crops without all the high-tech installations. Vegetables instead of a green sedum roof: Vegitecture?!

Climbing and yearning to Nature

2010-05-17T17:00:00.000+02:00

Not everything about climbing is strength, training and physical technique. Having a balanced mind is a much underdeveloped, and important factor with climbing, everyone should practise, or better still let him overcome. And where better to reach that 'hightened' state of mind than in nature. Away from the (big) cities and crowded places. Even those where it crawles with climbers....

Two weeks ago (at a wednesday) I spend a whole day rock climbing in Freyr with my climbingbuddy 'the Lank'. If ever I have not seen so few climbers at that magnificent place. It felt as if we had the whole place for ourselfes. Yo, let's do it again !

Stone Monkey Urban Climbing Old Skool

2010-05-17T07:57:00.001+02:00

If you roam around cities with your eyes open, a whole new world of beautiful, most illusive and most of all small archtectural wonders reveal themselves.

Above picture shows climbing monkeys from the interior of the National History museum in London, designed by Alfred Waterhouse. Ofcourse this is an (old skool) interst from my love of climbing but interesting in it's own way as well.

Seemingly fond of ornaments displaying flora and fauna (both living and extinct) he used all sorts of mamals and plants for decoration of his buildings (see pics under).

Woo-hoo, tipple-AC

2010-04-29T11:12:00.005+02:00

Yup, it's time to start posting again. No idea where it will lead, because there are so many climbing-blogs it seems sily to try and add more info to the abundance of it.

New topics?!: Climbing 'nd Climate, Comics (still a favourite), my own climbing thingies, Art and Architecture and last but not least; Animation of all kind. Ya got the tripple AC already?

Back from a long break - Dutch Comic Littlestarman

2010-03-09T08:18:00.002+01:00

For the Dutch Comic lovers: Littlestarman is back online !! For me a humorous start of the day and always a twist in the plot. I love the 'klare lijn' (specific drawing style by Sandra Kleine Staarman) but to enjoy it to the most go to her website for her dailies. Njoy !!
Click on the pic for her annual 24-hour comic.

Ice Climbing in the Netherlands

2010-02-15T09:39:00.005+01:00

Last sunday I got the word from my ice climbing buddy, Tim, that some guys in Woerden (Netherlands, duh...) had made their own ice climbing wall !! Not bad for the Lowlands and despite the changing climate this winter had many activities in store for the seriouly out doors minded.

Not so many posts...

2010-02-02T08:04:00.003+01:00

I am not posting so much lately, for which I am sorry. But, being optimistic I reckon this will change in due time. Perhaps it's because so many new blogs and websites are being made about climbing and bouldering. Maybe it's time to make a change although 'what' is not clear to me. I will continue to 'blog' though !!

Above is the comic figure Gaston who represents to me 'taking the ordinary out of ordinary' and making the most out of life with tons an loads of fun. That's the way I will continue with Paschnampook

Hard New Ice Climging Routes and Scary Soloing in Austria

2010-01-28T15:10:00.003+01:00

On January 7th the Austrians Albert Leichtfried and Benedikt Purner completed the first ascent of Centercourt WI7+, 300m. This route is located in the Eisarena in Gasteinertal, Austria. It took Leichtfried one and a half hours to climb the crux pitch of Centercourt, placing a single bolt on the lead that still did not make him feel that this pitch was safe. The line is now probably one of the hardest ice fall routes in Europe. Leichtfried and Purner are both Austrian Alpine Guides and are building up quiet a resume of hard new routes in their home country. Before Christmas they climbed a 1000m long route that weighed in at WI6/M7 that they named Moonwalk.

Continuing the hard Austrian ice ticks this month was Rudolf Hauser. Just to the side of Centercourt is a 270m long WI6 called Supervisor. This route was first climbed nearly twenty years ago by Joseph Steinbacher and Hans Zlobl and it took them eight hours. In January this year Rudolf Hauser free soloed the route in one hour and forty minutes.

For more info: see here
For more pics: go this place

source: climbmagazine.com

Pictures Ice Climbing World Cup Saas Fee - Finals Men

2010-01-26T08:56:00.013+01:00

Being in the vicinity of Saas Fee during the World Cup Ice Climbing I took the opportunity to shoot some pictures of the world class competition ice climbers. Our 'basecamp' in Grachen turned out to be a perfect hot spot for ice climbing activities ourself. Just below Saas Fee a small but fine gorge is situated and filled with high quality waterfall ice in the grades of III and IV. Tim and I scaled two of them and later on another near Saas Balen.

Below some pics of the (for me) two leading men, Markus Bendler from Austria and Park Hee Yong, delivering some spectacular ice climbing acrobatics in the (world?) famous parking lot of Saas Fee. Pictures of our own ice climbing adventures will follow later.

World Cup Ice Climbing - Saas Fee, Zwitserland

2010-01-22T16:50:00.007+01:00

A nice occasion to visit 'the Boermans' in Grächen, Zwitserland; the World Cup Ice Climbing in Saas Fee. Tim and I would take the opportunity to seize out ice axes and taste the ice in the Saastal and at the same time support the Dutch Climbing Team.

The first day in Grächen Tim and I went just below Saas Fee to a nice gorge where the conditions were as good as can be. To get used to the ice we both climbed two routes and then decided to head for Saas Fee and some warm coffee. In the warm rock of the 'eventhalle' all the climbers and coaches assembled for the ritual meeting of sorting the numbers and having some spagetti supper.

Today Menno, Dick and I went walking to the Hannig hütte and spent some sunny hours walking. After a quick lunch Menno and I ran back to Saas and were in time to watch the Guys of the Dutch Team (Corné Brouwer and Dennis van Hoek) climbing. Below some more pics and more to follow in the coming dayzzzzz.

Optical Illusions - Climbing the stairs

2010-01-12T09:03:00.005+01:00

Escher-like optical illusions are not always so complicated as the one above. Try the more simple but even so effective climbing the stairs as shown below. It's deceptive how the trick is done but look closely to the tiles and the way the painting is drawn. To make such an optical illusion, the artist has to step back from his work of art and see if the perspective is still right. DO try this at home !!

(source: stumbleupon.com)

New Years Resolutions - Sarcastic Remarks to help you through the day

2010-01-07T10:47:00.003+01:00

Some fine sarcastic remarks to put someone off if needed....

- This isn't a office. It's hell with fluorescent lighting.

- I pretend to work. They pretend to pay me.

- You!!.... off my planet!

- Does your train of thought have a caboose?

- Allow me to introduce my selves.

- Suburbia: whert they tear out the trees an then name streets after them.

- Are those your eyeballs? I found them in my cleavage.

- I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.

- Stress is when you wake up screaming and realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

- Okay, okay, I take it back! UN-fuck you!

- Chaos, panic and disorder; my work here is done.

- How do I set a laser printer to stun?

Dave Grahams The Island (V15) repeated by Vincent Pochon

2010-01-04T21:31:00.004+01:00

Happy thoughts and many happy memories for the coming climbing adventures in 2010. This footage is from Dave Graham climbing The Island (V15) in Coquibus, Rumont, Fontainebleau, now repeated by Vincent Pochon.

Christmas Break - Calvin and Hobbes

2009-12-24T06:00:00.000+01:00

For all those of you who follow my blog or Stumble Upon it: all the best whishes and a merry christmas with my all-time-favourites comic.

p.s the second comic is a slightly altered version I found during 'stumbling' through the web.

Red Bull Urban Bloc - Anna Stoehr (by Rainer Eder)

2009-12-24T05:00:00.000+01:00

Check out the fine pictures taken during the Red Bull Urban Bloc, held in the end of october 2009. Amongst others Anna Stoehr was present and together with Rainer Eder (the photographer) and Franz Widmer (a local climber) they roamed Zürich for climable objects.

The contest was more of a photo- than bouldering contest, so the best photo's would win.

Go here for more pictures, and there good !

(source: anna-stoehr.at)

Simon's Cat - Snow Business part 1

2009-12-23T15:42:00.006+01:00

Unfortunately I wasn't able to put an embedded file here. Don't know why but I'll try to fix that.
Njoy !! for I did certainly.

Calvin and Hobbes - Christmas Loot Reprise

2009-12-23T11:22:00.007+01:00

Because last year the resolution turned out to be less than hopeless, this year the full picture of the best Christmas comics of Calvin and Hobbes; as a teaser of the christmas comics...

Simon's Cat - Snow Business Part1

2009-12-23T04:00:00.001+01:00

Sorry, I couldn't get the film embedded here. I'll try again soon !!

Louder Than 11 presents "Colorado Glow" - boulder movie

2009-12-22T20:08:00.004+01:00

Click the picture to watch the movie.

(source: revolutioniclimbing.com)

Chris Sharma Neanderthal - part 2

2009-12-21T22:09:00.003+01:00

Is there some controversy about the route and grading of Neantherthal??
Bjorn Pohl reports:

I just had a chat with David Graham, who's snowed in with Jon Cardwell in Cataluña. He said they were all kinda laughing at the Neanderthal reports because they're all so off regarding the route.

"The route is like a 9a (more or less) which is comprised of something like four 7C blocs on a row, very resitant, on pinches and kinda crack like features. There are some holds to shake on in between the last 7C and the crux which is this dyno. The dyno is a move from a crimp and a two finger pocket to a sloper brick. Then there is a jug after a couple more moves. The boulder must be 8A minimum.
Then there is a small rest, a small boulder, maybe 3 moves, not so hard, then a big rest. Then it is a maybe 8a+/8b route to the end of the cave, out another little bulge.
Thus the route is something like a 9a, to a 8A bloc, to a big rest, which makes solid 9a+ or easy 9b? Then about 8a+/8b route outro climb after a big rest in a break.
This is Neanderthal."

To be continued or not? I'll keep U posted.

Chris Sharma sets another possible 9b in Santa Linya

2009-12-21T21:28:00.005+01:00

(picture by Joe Kind)

After adding Papichulo 9Aa+ to Oliana, Demenica Senil 9a to Margalef and Golpe de Estado, a possible 8b to Siurana, Chris Sharma has now freed another testpiece for the world elite. Neantherthal stands a 9b and is located at the wildly steep Santa Linya cave in Spain.

Less impressive climbing skills

2009-12-17T05:00:00.001+01:00

hmpfrr, a dry wit to the max.

(source: xkcd.com)

A guide to understanding flow charts, in flow chart form

2009-12-16T15:10:00.003+01:00

eh-eh, I luuuve this kind of humour.

(source: xkcd.com)

Climate Change?? - Economical Energy !!

2009-12-15T08:53:00.006+01:00

In the hausse of news about the climate change, and weather global warming is true of false, one forgets that men (in the sense of the inhabitants of the earth f/m) are capable of huge changes and feats that have impact way beyond our imagination. But on the other hand many, far more catastrophic changes have taken place during the earth's history.

I think it's true that men consume much more than we should, and in that sense we change the 'world'. But to say we can change the climate and make a shift in the global system is much more 'credit' than men should get.

So all in all we should focus on consuming less, including energy. Contrary to the filosophy of Cradle2Cradle where the focus lies on 'consume more' if the equation waste=energy is true.
It's the way of living we should worry about (consuming, production, waste, environmental health) not the amount of CO2 or the global warming that certainly could originate by the earht's system itself.

Anyway, enough of my thoughts and it's time to activate. Check the site of GE (yes.... they company who invest in energy from coal and gas, but also in renewable sources) where you can set your own wind of solarenergy system in motion. Augmented reality plugged into the smartgrid of ecomagination. Above picture is me blowin into the mic of my laptop showing a part of the print I am holding and the 3D picture that my webcam constructed. Nice eh !!

Check this link, download the solar panel marker and get started !!

Sports Center Paris - Mulifunctional vs Monotonic

2009-12-14T15:41:00.006+01:00

Designed by Paris-based KOZ Architects, and coexisting with several older educational buildings and a residential development, the 1,600 square-meter facility is unexpected and bold in its riotous use of colors both inside and out.

The funhouse by KOZ has turned into a favorite of kids, parents and teachers, as the facility was planned and its wild colors used in specific ways that fosters the intended functions -- play and sports – and not just to shock or delight.

Joining cube-shaped, basic concrete structures with an overlay and creating a sports court on top of the building have not only increased the building’s usability and maximized the use of the site, but also accommodated the complex’s surprisingly easy fit into the site. A monolithic, monotonic approach would have created a mass much more imposing and seemingly unfriendly than the varying-height structure with its pixelated glass facade that now draws children in through color and an abundance of natural light.

Comic - Climate Summit Copenhagen 2009

2009-12-10T11:17:00.005+01:00

The Dutch comic figure 'Sigmund' by Peter de Wit posted 'his' opinion about the Climate Summit in Copenhagen. I freely translated the original Dutch text and I hope the sarcasm still prevails...

Tim Burton on the mov(i)e again - Interview and news

2009-12-08T07:44:00.007+01:00

At the end of November, the Museum of Modern Art in New York mounted an exhibit of the sketches, paintings, storyboards, props, cartoons, and puppets created by director Tim Burton. Wired.com chatted with Burton about the birth of Edward Scissorhands, the rise of 3-D, and anthropomorphic coffee pots, look here for the interview.

The above picture comes from the set of 'a bride corpse' (2005) a brilliant puppet stop-motion film. Set in Victorian England, the story of Corpse Bride begins with an arranged marriage between recently bankrupt Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson) and Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp). Put together by their parents, the two find that they really are attracted to each other and are more than happy for the wedding to go ahead. But when Victor makes a hash of the rehearsal he is sent away to practice his vows.
Whilst walking in the forest he places the bride's ring on the tree that resembles a hand only to discover it is, in fact, a real hand that grabs him, and up comes Emily (Helena Bonham Carter) who declares Victor her husband and takes him down to the land of the dead to celebrate

And even more for those of you who are Burton-adepts:
Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp will team for a feature film version of the classic 1960s soap opera "Dark Shadows." the film will shoot in the fall, with Depp set to play the vampire Barnabas Collins, according to producer Graham King.

"We're actually going to shoot that film next September/October with Tim Burton and Johnny," King confirmed in an interview Friday in Los Angeles. To guarantee a fall release, King is already prepping production with screenwriters. "We've been working on the script a lot, even though he's working on 'Alice,'" King said. "We've been given a script. John August wrote the first screenplay. We're making some changes, but the film's going to be in production ..."

From 1966 to 1971, "Dark Shadows" was a daytime gothic soap opera on ABC, featuring Jonathan Frid as Collins. NBC attempted a prime-time series reboot in 1991 that stared Ben Cross.

(source: wired.com, denofgeek.com & rabbiddoll.com)

The Muppets - Bohemian Rhapsody

2009-11-25T11:20:00.004+01:00

This is truely amazing. I love, no worship the Muppets, but this is truely awesome. A parody on the opera-like song Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen, but now 'for something completely different'. Watch in wonder.

Liu Bollin - The Invisible man in Bodypaint

2009-11-24T14:26:00.008+01:00

I stumbled upon this a while ago. Brilliant art work with the combination of bodypaint, camouflage and trompe l'oeil. Especially the last picture took me a while to spot the man. Stunning !

(source: stumbleupon.com)

Footage of James Kassay repeating Sleepy Rave (Font 8C) - Australia

2009-11-19T15:27:00.004+01:00

James Kassay has repeated Sleepy Rave (Font 8C) in the Hollow Mountain cave, Grampians, Australia.

The endurance boulder problem links three Font 8A+ problems together and is part of the very famous boulder problem The Wheel of Life (Font 8C+). If James links the Font 7C problem of X-Treme Cool to the start of Sleepy Rave, he will get the ultra-coveted tick of The Wheel of Life.

Click the picture to see the footage.

Chris Sharma new redpoint - "Sistema Analogico" hard 9a

2009-11-11T12:46:00.003+01:00

Daila Ojeda is posting again... It took a while after her trip to Bishop USA. The PETZL team meating in Siurana gave Chris and Daila a boost to dig some hard routes in their favourite cave Sta Linya. Chis managed to redpoint "Sistema Analogico" hard 9a and Daila send "Deja vu" (Finestra)7c+ onsight!

Chris's ascent has been filmed by Mike Call for momentumvm.com and will be awaited shortly. Keep U posted.

(source: Daila Ojeda blog)

Huber brothers repeat "Eternal Flame" (FA by Güllich/Albert '89)

2009-11-10T15:42:00.005+01:00

During a four day period of good weather between 11th and 14th of August, Alexander and Thomas Huber managed the first RP ascent of the »Eternal Flame«, a legacy of the legendary German climbing team Güllich/ Albert from 1989.

This route runs with an impressive line through the South Buttress of Nameless Tower (6251m) amidst the Granite Mountains of Trango Group in the Karakoram. Its first ascenders could climb large parts of the route free. However, four pitches proved too difficult to complete the RP ascent. Climbing difficulties up to 5.12a at 6000 metres was a true pioneering achievement back then.

In the years that followed, climbers from all over the world tried to ‚free’ the »Eternal Flame«. In 2003, Denis Burdet from Switzerland free climbed two of the four aid pitches, with difficulties up to 5.13a. In 2005, Spanish climber Iker Pou found a possible solution to the problem of the 10th pitch: he discovered a variation to the right of the bolt ladders, but unfortunately, bad weather conditions prevented him from redpointing that pitch.

This summer, Thomas and Alexander Huber were so fortunate to have both, perfect conditions on the wall as well as a perfectly timed patch of good weather, which enabled them to make the first free ascent.

After they had investigated the first four pitches of the route and discovered a variation to the second pitch’s pendulum, the Huber brothers had to wait a few days for better weather conditions. Within four days they managed to redpoint the 24 pitches back to back – with difficulties up to 5.13a at an altitude of 6000 meters!

„I take my hat off to the achievement and free climbing instinct of the first ascenders. This route is a true enrichment for mountaineering“, says Alexander Huber. „With »Eternal Flame« Kurt Albert and Wolfgang Güllich have passed on the best and most beautiful free climb on the globe. We are thrilled that we could play a little part in developing this route!“

Read more here

Conversation Qualities - Dilbert

2009-11-09T15:29:00.003+01:00

Sorry for the long absence but the flu hit hard at our home :P

(source: Dilbert.com)

Rocklike Outdoor Speakers - Rockustics

2009-11-03T06:30:00.000+01:00

Sturdy Econo Speakers Rock Your Knoll, Blast Your Neighbors
Finally, the perfect set of speakers to crank up Twisted Sister's "I Wanna Rock." The Pavoroccis are backyard boomers that will satisfy all your hard rock and metal cravings, and anything else you throw at them. Despite a campy appearance, these are some sophisticated outdoor speakers, with a clean, well-balanced and sharp sound. On the Beastie Boys' "Pass the Mic," they produced some spooky-cool imaging during the synth solo, and the tight, earth-shaking bass toppled several gnomes on our patio. Rockustics speakers are in play at high-profile places like the White House and Sea World — if they're good enough for Dubya and Shamu, they should work for you.

WIRED Speakers designed like rocks. Place them in the garden, and crank up the Led Zep and drive out those meddling gophers. Cabinets constructed of 90 percent recycled products.

TIRED What happens when the dog discovers these are perfect leg-lift height? Pricey. No indoor option with these speakers, unless you happen to live in a cave.

Electronics: Outdoor Speakers
Manufacturer: Rockustics
Price: $780, duh....for the seriously demented

(source: wired.com)

Bouldering the Dolphin - some Highball stuff on Video

2009-11-02T10:29:00.001+01:00

The Dolphin from Garrett Gregor on Vimeo.

Ekaitz Maiz has made the first ascent of Basapiztien eremua 9a at Etxauri, Spain.

2009-10-28T17:24:00.003+01:00

Basque climber Ekaitz Maiz has bolted and freed a new mega route at Etxauri, "Basapiztien eremua" on the north face of the Kantero. The route is a massive 90m long and is the 29 year old local has graded it 9a.Although Etxauri isn't one of Spain's most famous crags, perhaps it should be. As many will remember, the cliff made headline news at the end of 2007 when Patxi Usobiaga climbed into history with the first ascent and contemporaneously world's first 8c+ on-sight, Bizi euskara. The route was later repeated and the grade confirmed by Iban Larrion.Maiz explains briefly why the crag is so special: "Etxauri is a climbing area in Spain's Basque Country, circa 15 km to the west of Iruña (Pamplona). The crag counts some 800 routes and the imestone is of excellent quality. There is much climbing tradition and classic and sport routes coexist. The climbing is mainly technical and crimpy, but there are routes of all styles . The best time of year to visit Etxauri is in autumn and winter, although due to the sectors facing different directions we can climb all year round."

Click on the picture for footage of the route.

(source: planetmountain)

Bouldering in Arkansas - by Jimmy Webb

2009-10-28T16:09:00.003+01:00

Check this out.Found two videos from Jimmy Webb from bouldering action at the Ozarks, Arkansas. The most cool and notable footage is about the possible 2nd ascent of Chris Sharma's 'The Zone' possible somewhat at the grade 8B.

Part 2 of bouldering in Arkansas

Comic Daylight Saving Time - Dirkjan Humour

2009-10-24T07:00:00.000+02:00

I love it, this kind of humour !

Nina Capres - Trailer Video Tuzgle

2009-10-19T10:05:00.005+02:00

Nina Capres on a month long roadtrip in Argentina with Mickael Fuselier, Julien Nadiras, Nina Caprez. Lots of highballs, stunning landscape and loads of fun. A pure bouldering teaser made by ABK. Click picture to start the trailer.

(source: ninacaprez.ch)

Dilbert - Unproductive time

2009-10-19T09:50:00.001+02:00

Hello world. Goodmorning Monday.

Adam Ondra bouldering at Melloblocco 2009 - Airbag

2009-10-17T06:00:00.000+02:00

Click the pic to start the video. Funky moves and the crashpad must be the (in)famous airbag...

The Power of Jam / Video from the roadtrip of Nicolas Favrese and Sean Villanueva

2009-10-16T13:50:00.002+02:00

Nico Favresse and Seán Villanueva spent four months in fall 2008 traveling western North America (the pair are from Belgium) with their climbing gear, a mandolin, a tin whistle and a penchant for hitchhiking. From Squamish to the Bugaboos to Yosemite to Indian Creek they did bold repeats, set new routes and played many a jam session along the way. Click the pic to check out the film about their trip.

(source weblog of Nicolas Favresse)

Berni Schwaiger - Anam Cara 8C (Silvretta)

2009-10-14T18:30:00.003+02:00

Berni Schwaiger bouldering in the beautifull Silvretta (Austria) region. A short (duh) boulder route at 8C level with pretty small holds making body tension a must. Watch in awe (click picture to start the movie).

(source: climb-up.com)

Gunshow Boulder Venue Colorado

2009-10-14T11:59:00.003+02:00

I found this video with footage on the net at Routesetter.com
Lot's of action and the familiar buzz of a boulder contest. Note the fabulous 'rock structure' of the boulderwall and the yeah! mantle moves you can make on them. Real Bleau-like. Love it.

By the way click on the Vimeo Link in the top righthand corner of my blog. To give it the full size left click with the mouse and select 'full screen'. Njoy !!

Frankenjura Climbing Update - Ondra / Bock / Seeger

2009-10-13T14:01:00.004+02:00

Frankenjura climbing updates: Markus Bock, Sarah Seeger and Adam Ondra
Sarah Seeger climbs Steinbock 8c in the Frankenjura, Markus Bock creates his hardest to date, The Man That Follows Hell 9a+, while Adam Ondra makes swift work of two other testpieces in Germany's premier climbing area.

A crisp autumn has facilitated important ascents in Germany's Frankenjura. Sarah Seeger kicked off the high-end action on Saturday 3 October with her redpoint of Steinbock, a steeply overhanging 22 move 8c at the Orakel first ascended by Markus Bock in August 2008. After redpointing Ronin (10+/11-) earlier this year, Steinbock is now Seeger's hardest route to date and contemporaneously is also the hardest route climbed by a woman in the Frankenjura.A day after Seeger's success Markus Bock experienced "one of the happiest moments" in his climbing career when he freed The Man That Follows Hell at the aptly named Grüne Hölle. Bock's latest effort is in fact an old project originally bolted by Milan Sykora (thge man who envisioned the line of Action Directe) and a direct start to the existing Kawaschuwu (8c+). The straightened out version weighs in at 9a+ and the 30 year old described it as follows for the German climbing magazine Klettern: "16 moves - exactly as many as Action Directe 9a - with comparable climbing and steepness - yet the individual moves are significantly harder." Bock stuck the crux on his seventh try on 4 October of what is now, together with his 2006 testpiece Corona, the Frankenjura's hardest route.Talking about Kawaschuwu - last weekend Adam Ondra repeated this route third go, a day after redpointing Pantera (9a) which he had first attempted in June. Ondra needed 4 days to climb this nth Bock creation, a record for the young Czech climber who no doubt will have "Follows Hell" high on his agenda.

(source: planetmountain.com)

Sigmund Cartoon - Monday Philosophy

2009-10-12T13:22:00.002+02:00

(source: sigmund.nl)

Frank Bogerman and friends in Rocklands South Africa

2009-10-09T11:08:00.002+02:00

I found this footage on the site of Sloper. Click the picture to watch the video.

(source: sloper.climbing.nl)

National Geographic captures Big Sequoia

2009-10-08T08:35:00.008+02:00

National Geographic sent Nichols to spend an entire year in California's redwood forest. His mission was to capture the majesty of some of the tallest trees on Earth, some of which date back before Christ. And if you've ever photographed in a forest, you'll understand the challenge this presented. There's no capturing the awe one feels before these monoliths that measure, in some cases, upward of 300 feet.

The making of the above picture, which is composed of no less than 83 images, took the team three weeks and an assortment of climbing gear worthy of climbing a big wall. In a recent lecture at National Geographic in Washington, D.C., Nichols described his frustrations. Eventually, though, he devised a way to do redwoods justice. It involved three cameras, a team of scientists, a robotic dolly, a gyroscope, an 83-photo composite and a lot of patience. Check the short movie about the making (click picture below).

(source: unclesomebody.com)

Totem Pole Tasmania climbed free

2009-10-07T06:30:00.000+02:00

All individual pitches of the original climb up the Totem Pole in Tasmania, Australia, were freed in January by Doug McConnell and Dean Rollins.
News from downunder sometimes takes time to sicker through: in mid-Janaury the original route up one of Australia's most iconic rock pillars, the Totem Pole on the SE coast of Tasmania, was finally climbed free by Doug McConnell and Dean Rollins. In a massive nine-month effort the two local climbers freed all the pitches of the first route up this remote sea-stack, established with the use of aid by John Ewbank and Allan Keller in 1968. The three pitch outing now goes free at grade 27, circa French 7c, and the two climbers were the first to point out that their style can still be greatly improved upon: they had freed the individual pitchs on seperate days and pitches two and three were split by a hanging belay. Those aspiring to climbing the line in a single push should be aware that the route takes fiddly trad, is run-out and solid for its grade.

(source: planetmountain.com)

Kilian Fischhuber flies Airstar Fb 8B

2009-10-06T13:30:00.000+02:00

Rocklands bouldering, In August 2009 Kilian Fischhuber from Austria freed Airstar Fb8b, a long-standing problem at Rocklands, South Africa.
What do you get if you stack two of the best boulders in Rocklands, one of top of the other? The answer is Airstar, the Fb8b problem first ascended by Kilian Fischhuber this summer in South Africa's bouldering hotspot. Airstar was an old project. Klem Loskot, Fred Nicole, Bernd Zangerl and many others had tried it. This year when I returned to Rocklands Nalle Hukkataival told me about it, and both he and Kevin Jorgeson tried it a bit (see here for more).

(source: planetmountain.com)