Random Thoughts from The NRR a.k.a. Climbing with Squirrels and Other Misadventures

After a long arduous roadtrip from Boulder to Fayetteville and back I am exhausted. Having never been to "The New" I was in for quite an experience. A couple things I learned about climbing in the deep south...
-Its not uncommon to climb with domesticated squirrels
-Hunting through a maze of woods can give you flashbacks from the Blair Witch Project
-Locals are extremely friendly to everyone, just don't get between them and desertapalooza
-Be prepared for a little bit of cigarette smoke here and there
-HUMIDITY and POLLEN!
-Spiders the size of your head, put us western climbers running for the hills
-Local non-climbers giving you "the eye"
-Its good to not be too star struck by famous climbers, they are just climbers like everyone else
-The New River Gorge is amazing...

Comp day was a ton of fun as well. I got a great tour from some bouldering veterans. Ten problems was hard to finish considering I helped out with an evacuation when a kid dislocated both his ankles during a bouldering fall and they had to fly him out in a helicopter. Interp, and Upper and Lower Cotton Hill were my favorite places. Lots of beautiful clean boulders everywhere. After not thinking that I did very well in the comp I went back to my tent and missed the awards ceremony, oops... Could have gotten some nice shwag for placing, whatever. The dyno comp was one of my favorite moments of the trip. Hucking to huge glow in the dark holds with a huge crowd of people was just the motivation I needed to try hard. Crash pad wrestling might rival The Ultimate Fighting Championships for most dangerous activity.

The entire event was a great fundraiser from NRAC and I hope to see that they put all those donations to good use. I know I made as many donations as I could. The organizers did an amazing job putting the whole thing on. From the freebies to toilets, to food, and random climber debochery, they made it all go really smooth. Burnwood was so packed with people and tents I could not believe that complete anarchy didn't break out.

After the Rendezvous I took a few days to do some sport climbing and trad climber. I can easily say it is some of the best in the world. After that I headed out to Summersville Lake for some deep water soloing. What a rush! Mess up one foot hold and you take a 60 footer! Definitely recommend renting the pontoon boat. Everyone needs to go and check out the New its awesome.