dbrayack's blog

Just a heads up, the Coopers Rock Bouldering Guide to Cooper Rock State Forest in North Central West Virginia is now available.

 You can get them at your local gear shop or order them online through my website:

 http://www.brayackmedia.com/orderguide.html

 Its a great area, I hope you'all enjoy if you get a chance to check it out.

Thanks!

 -Dan

Arriving back at the scene of the festivals, I immediately trucked over to the Prana tent to be sure to get my name on the massage list. I stood around for about 20 minutes, talking to this SUPER cool girl from Prana before it was my turn.

Once again, I ran into the really awesome Black Diamond girl, Amy...and took another 50 photos of her.

After my massage, I headed over to the Cooooolest tent in the world: the Trango tent. I was definitely psyched to sit down and speak some more with Malcolm Daly. What a rad dude! Instead of talking about "climbing" or "bouldering" or the "scene", we talked about normal stuff, housing in Colorado, "and the tube park in boulder canyon", life in different areas, cost of living, that type of thing...it was a nice break from "Yah, I'm climbing 5.13 or...yah I almost sent this ill V9 etc."

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Saturday at the New River Rendezvous was a long day, filled with joy, excitiment, super-chill relaxment, hard core rocking, and a frightful injury.

I woke up somewhat early, considering my patchy sleep (I was so excited, I couldn't hardly sleep.) Arriving early for my photog clinic, I met up with my group (all totally rocking!) and we head out to Hawksnest. The lighting was TERRIBLE for photos, but we did what we could.

On the way out, we noticed a large group gathering around the path to the Cotton Top boulders. I inquired and found that someone had been seriously injured most of the way up the hill. There being no cell-phone, someone had just run for help (Paramedics were stationed at the Hawksnest bouldering area, a 20 minutes hike.)

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I am so sore right now. My body hurts; my mind is fried. My inch long hair is all bunched up on one side from sleeping on my way to work (I car pool). I think my shirt is still a little moist from where I drewled on that drive.

I didn't even have a single drink of alcohol (unless Katie Sharp slipping something in at the No-Booze Bar). But I feel like I drank a sailor under the table.

The rendezvous was GREAT this year...wow...talk about amazing weather, and people! Everything, for the most part, came off without a hitch!

I'm going to blog a recap of each day from my crazy little world; Also, assuming my boss at work doesn't catch me, I'll be uploading a bunch of photos. Stay posted!

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This year's New River Rendezvous competition is heating up! It seems everyone is getting their circuit(s) wired for their respective entry. Its nearly impossible to get anyone to do any recreational climbing around here! (People are turning down NEW routes at the Meadow!!!)

Why such hype? The prizes this year are disproportionately amazing, the cherry being a 1 year sponsorship by La Sportiva!

Though a circuit will ensure some points on the score card, it really comes down to the cautiously guarded double-pointers (available the morning of the comp) that will seperate the sponsorship and rad prizes from the chalk bag and belay device winners!

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Well, I guess that it is now 11 days and counting until the Rendezvous. Being a recent transplant to the area, I never realized how much goes into this event! I’m used to showing up at the event, downing 20 red-bulls and just riding it out!

I hope all of you are as psyched as I am about the Rendezvous. Not only will it be a kicking party, but we will surely raise a good amount of funds to help with our anchor replacement efforts in the gorge! Next time you are climbing at Butcher’s Branch, or Summersville, or many of the other areas in the gorge, be thankful that you’re clipping a brand-spanking-new stainless steel NRAC bolt and not some 20 year old rusty death bolt (or pin!)

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