1. Bouldering in Red Rocks! For many years, I've heard about the sandstone bouldering in Red Rock National Conservation Area just north of Las Vegas, Nevada. I've always wanted to make the trip, and spend some time bouldering on sandstone (one of my favorite kinds of rock) in the desert (which I love), but it always seemed too far away. This year I finally made the drive down with Kyle and Ernie in February, to check out the area (and climb with all of the U of L Climbing Club folks). I had an amazing time, climbing a lot of very fun lines including Pork Chop (V3), Monkey Bars Right (V6) and Monkey Bars Traverse (V6/7, which is likely my hardest flash ever, in part due to beta from Kyle). We had a blast climbing around the area, spending time not only at Kraft Rocks but also several other areas including Black Velvet Canyon (which has amazing rock, and where Mark D. climbed The Fountainhead (hard V9)) and Oak Creek (where I managed to do the amazing but weirdly hard Blood Trails (V5)). Had a blast with so many amazing people, including Kyle, Ernie, Mark D., the hilarious Morgan D., and all the 'Club Kids'. Would love to go back!
2. The Channel in Idaho! While I hadn't heard much about this area, Kyle was keen to check it out on our trip to the desert this fall. I'm incredibly glad we went (we spent two days in the area); the problems, the rock, and (especially) the holds are second to no area I've ever been to. The rock is so incredibly sculpted, it is hard to believe that holds like these actually exist - even when you're climbing on them. Another trip is definitely in order! The only downside is that it is filled with water for half the year.
3. Bushido (V7), The Golden Rule (V4), and Memento (V0/1) in the Boulderfields. I love the Boulderfields just outside of Kelowna. I love the rock, I love the problems, I like the terrain, the city is fantastic place to visit (for a bit, anyways), there's a fantastic swimming lake, and the local climbers (huge props to Andy, Jay, Braden, Garett, and all the gang!) are an amazing group. Futhermore, I've always enjoyed finding and putting up new lines, and there is a wealth of untapped rock in the Boulderfields. I was lucky this year to put up three fantastic lines; Bushido and Memento are both incredibly aesthetic lines on the Nerf Boulder, and The Golden Rule is just a few steps away. Memento is (I hope) one of the very best easy highballs in the 'Fields, with perfect incuts up a tall wall of perfect gneiss.
4. The 2016 Rock the Blocs (again, in the Boulderfields). Every year, Andy White and the Kelowna locals put on what is likely the best outdoor bouldering festival in Canada. I managed to make it out to the RtB again this year, and although they had to call the event early on account of rain, I managed to climb enough problems to squeak into first place in the Masters Category. I'll be back again next year, hopefully with a few more Frank Locals in tow. One of the great things about the RtB is that it is a great place to meet up and reconnect with old friends, and I was psyched not only to hang out with the Kelowna crew, but also to spend the day with (the Hope bouldering legend and all-round great guy) Marco Lefebvre. It was also fun to spend some time with Aletha and Stephan (Frank Slide locals who I don't actually get to see that often). Mark D. also got third in the Men's Open, so I was pretty happy that Frank Slide was well-represented at the event.
5. The 2016 Tour de Frank, at Frank Slide. Every year, Kyle and I organise the Tour de Frank, an outdoor climbing festival/competition in Frank Slide. This year, the TdF came to the House and Heart sectors, with a huge list of hand-picked problems to challenge visiting climbers. This year was the best TdF yet, with about 80 people from across Alberta and SE BC. Some incredibly strong climbers came out this year, with Marc Eveleigh (Men's open) and Samantha Li and Eva Thompson (Women's open, tie) winning the event. With great sponsors, a lot of the climbers walked off with well-earned swag. We were worried the weather would turn ugly, but it held off nicely and everyone enjoyed a great day of climbing. Huge thanks to everyone who turned out, and (even more huge) thanks to all the volunteers. You can read all about it HERE. See you next year!
6. The 2016 Butte Bouldering Bash, near Butte Montana. This year Kyle and I attended the BBB in central Montana. I have been keen to visit the boulders of the Batholith for some time, and so Kyle and I timed our fall trip to coincide with the BBB so we could do some climbing and meet up with the locals. The rock of the Batholith is a brown-to-grey compact granite, and though many of the boulders are on the small side in some areas, the climbing is of a pleasantly technical 'tic-tac' style (which I really love). We spend a lot of time talking to Patrick and Tom (the organisers of the BBB who do a fantastic job), and were lucky to meet Erik Christensen (the Montana bouldering guidebook author) as well. I'm looking forward to bouldering more in Montana this year, I think there is a lot of fantastic bouldering to be done there! Read about the 2016 BBB HERE and HERE. Kudos if you can spot Trent and Kyle in the latter blog post.
7. Frank Slide! I had a fantastic time climbing at Frank Slide again this year! Once again, the Slide has provided me with not only a great climbing experience, but has also continued to produce new problems at an astounding rate. I managed to climb many great problems at The Slide this year, including the aesthetic Old Man And The Sea (V3, FA), The Oracle (V4), Beautiful Struggle (V4, which was also repeated by Shelley and Jonas), Mark Derksen's Force of Will (V6/7), The Gifts of Life (V5, FA), the funky Black Slot Arete (V4), and the weird but satisfying Alberta Meat Market (V4). Of the 40 first ascents I made this year, the vast majority were at Frank Slide. Although I failed on most of the harder lines I tried, 2017 is another year!
8. The Karage Crew and the Frank Slide Locals! Bouldering is less fun if there are no fun people to climb with. Luckily, that isn't a problem here! Though the local community isn't huge, it is composed of great people. So, I sincerely salute all of the Karage Crew, including (and especially) Kyle, Jonas, and Mark D. "Training" is more fun when more people are in the Karage. I also need to extend my sincere thanks to all the Frank Slide "Locals" (i.e. all the people who regularly show up at the Slide, and generally make it an exciting place), including Kyle, Jonas, Dan A., Josh B., Mark D., Mark G., Morgan D., and Davin (the newest addition to the Slide Posse). From building patios, to cleaning lines, to shuffling rocks, to finding new problems, to spotting and being psyched, the Frank Slide locals are a great group of people. More and more people are coming down to (or up to, or over to) the Slide every year, so here's to meeting more people in 2017!
9. All the Frank Slide problems that haven't gone... yet. There is always something new going on in The Slide. Despite all the effort that Josh has continued to put in at The Slide (as he single-handedly writes a new chapter in Alberta Bouldering History), three problems have yet to be sent; The Sunny Corner project (which is amazing and will be one of the hardest problems in Canada when it goes; Josh Bylsma has been sieging it, so its ascent is likely someday), the Baby Jesus Sit project (a savage and temperamental line that refuses to be climbed), and The Length project (which I'm certain will be wrapped up this year). I wish I could send one of these lines, but I suspect that my double-digit days are behind me. Don't worry, though... I've got several lines on my own project list!
10. Those climbers who are excited to climb! It's always fantastic to see excitement and dedication in other climbers. Whether it is a new climber nursing their first flapper, or the world's best athletes trying some of the planet's hardest lines, I can relate to both. When I see a video of someone crimping their way up a pane of granite, or swinging though a hueco-filled roof, I can feel the chalk on my hands and the momentary weightlessness of well-coordinated movement. I would like to single out Adam Ondra for his send of The Dawn Wall (huge props!), Nalle Hukkataival for finally completing his project, my friend Sean McColl for nailing down the IFSC Combined Championship, Josh B. for persevering on the Sunny Corner Project, and to Kyle for showing me yet again how easy V7 dynos can look. Adventure is not dead, and there are always new horizons to find!
So what does 2017 hold for me? I'm looking forward to some exciting trips (Hueco Tanks (at last!) in February, Boulderfields in June, maybe Montana in the spring (and again in the fall?), hopefully I'll get to Spiral Tunnels too...), and a lot of exploring and climbing at Frank Slide. I'm hoping to start putting together a Frank Slide guidebook this year, and I'm looking forward to that. Regardless of what happens, it will be a lot of fun, so I'll see you in 2017!
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