Tag Archives: climbing

THRIVEtech

A New Knot and its Application (or What’s in a Name?)

2 Comments

Hey Tribe.  Do you think you can get through a tangle during your outdoor pursuits without knowing your way with the Working End of a rope?  I’m a frayed knot, folks…  Surely, without knots, all we have is the Bitter End!  As Grog would say, “Better to know a knot and not need it, than need a knot and not know it.”

I’ve been meaning to feature useful knots, hitches, and bends here on the Journal for a while now.  Well, our favorite Welshman’s bound up a perfect starting point with a truly classic knot (technically a “sliding or friction hitch”), and he has fastened down the loose ends of its creation.  Check out the Prusik Knot!  For you knot-nerds, it’s described by Ashley, in his Book of Knots, as #1763.  Stay Tight.  -JW  [Knot Pun count:  7-ish]

Prusik Part 5 - When loaded, the knot bites the rope tightly and locks into placeBy Graham ‘Sven’ Hassall

There are some truly ground breaking first ascent stories: Everest ’53, Heckmair and party’s ’38 epic on the north face of the Eiger and closer to home, Johnny Dawes’ infamous Indian Face to name but a few. None however has been as impactful to the world of climbing (not to mention rope access, caving and tree surgery) as when Karl Prusik first ascended a rope with his revolutionary new knot some 85 years ago. Continue reading A New Knot and its Application (or What’s in a Name?) →

THRIVEtribe

An Open Letter to Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell

Leave a comment

In the climbing mecca of Wichita, Kansas, we savored every moment of Jorgeson’s and Caldwell’s historic ascent of the famed Dawn Wall in Yosemite’s Valley…  Okay, maybe KS not a climbing mecca, but there are some serious, dedicated climbers out here in the Great Plains.   David Kortje is one of them- a Wichita local and an accomplished climber who is striving to grow the climber’s community.  He is inspired to follow his Bliss, and is working to build a world-class climbing gym here in Wichita.  For him, this feat of human spirit was especially awesome.  He awesomely allowed me to share his thoughts on the subject, and presents,

An open letter to Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell:

Continue reading An Open Letter to Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell →

101 Days From Now

101 DFN… Weekend Adventure to the Top of Arkansas

Leave a comment

We’re reaching “The First Ridge,” and closing in on the beginning of Phase 3!  If you have been with us from the beginning, or even if you are just getting started–  We’re stoked to have you.  Nice work!

To celebrate our achievement of Phase 2 and to get a jump start on Phase 3, a few of us plan to find the top of Arkansas this weekend.  It’s called Signal Hill or Mount Magazine and it sits at an elevation of 2,753 feet above Mean Sea Level.  This trek is fairly moderate in difficulty, and offers some of the best backpacking in the region.  Fall colors should be beginning to show, and the views should prove to be outstanding. Continue reading 101 DFN… Weekend Adventure to the Top of Arkansas →

THRIVEtribe

1,247 Reasons to Get a Reusable Water Container

4 Comments

On the small island of Okinawa, Japan there is an active community of climbers consisting of US service members and local Japanese nationals.  A favorite climb/boulder hangout is Gushichan beach on the South end of the island.  Not only is this beach home to hundreds of potential bouldering problems and even a few sport routes, it is one of many significant WWII historical sites on the island.  This beach is subject to busloads of tourists, typhoons, and multiple ocean currents.  Inevitably, it ends up trashed.

We met, one drizzly overcast day, to clean the place up.  This follow up to the original post documents the success: Continue reading 1,247 Reasons to Get a Reusable Water Container →

THRIVEtribe

Gushi Beach Cleanup and Boulder Bash!

3 Comments

Okinawa outdoors-men and women:  A call for volunteers!  Check it out!

On the small island of Okinawa, Japan there is an active community of climbers consisting of US service members and local Japanese nationals.  A favorite climb/boulder hangout is Gushichan beach on the South end of the island.  Not only is this beach home to hundreds of potential bouldering problems and even a few sport routes, it is one of many significant WWII historical sites on the island.  This beach is subject to busloads of tourists, typhoons, and multiple ocean currents.  Inevitably, it ends up trashed. Continue reading Gushi Beach Cleanup and Boulder Bash! →