How to rock climbing

For more info on Jai visit jaiuttal.com

I have been an above the knee amputee for five years now. Despite this I have been very active pursuing rock climbing as my primary sport, with running and triathlon as my side sports. Climbing has been very liberating for me as an amputee, being outside in beautiful places, experiencing adventure, and working towards a goal was something that was missing in my life before I found climbing, after I lost my leg. It has been my biggest passion. Meeting other amputees like myself was really pivotal in my time as an amputee. It made me realize that the only limits we have are the ones that we set for ourselves. It is not always possible for amputees to meet others in their same situation. I saw the opportunity to put together a video project that would tell and story and inspire others at the same time. It could be spread through the internet and other avenues freely. Amputee Climbing: The Ronnie Dickson Project was formed from this idea. I believe that climbing is a very accesible sport for persons with disabilities. Aside from focusing on my personal climbing, I have been working on hosting adaptive climbing clinics across the country to introduce other persons with disabilities to climbing. My aspiration is to become the first amputee to boulder V10. Currently I am bouldering V7 working into the V8 range. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the video.

~Ronnie Dickson

For more info visit www.amputeeclimbing.com

Paul recently sent “Big Paw” V15 in Chironico, Switzerland.  This was the fourth ascent of the line (1st – Dave Graham, 2nd – Dai Koyomada 3rd – Adam Ondra). Congratulations to PRob on his latest!

Big Paw is a large prow in Chironico. The climb begins low and climbs the prow to its point at approximately 15 feet off the ground. Big Paw is one of the most exciting and amazing climbs I have ever climbed on. The beginning is very hard and powerful and the top is technical and crimpy. I climbed the full line in 3 days and had to brush snow off of the top out last night to make it possible to climb on today. It was so cold today that the remaining snow on the top out did not melt which made it possible for me to make the ascent. I have 20 days left in Switzerland and way too many boulders I want to climb!

~Paul

UPDATE:

Yesterday, I managed to make the fourth ascent of Dave Graham’s “Big Paw” in Chironico. This line has been one that I have been really psyched to climb on ever since first seeing it a little over 2 years ago. I climbed the stand start, �œBoogalaga” about a month ago and was psyched to come back and try the sit. With so many other boulders in CH to try it took me until the other day to get back to work the moves out on the sit. I quickly figured out a nice sequence that worked for me and came very close to sending that day.

Snow was in the forecast for the next day but fortunately the weather said it would never be above freezing. That night I wandered out to the boulder at around 10 pm with a hand-made broom in hand along with my head lamp and lantern. I managed to clean a bit of an exit area in which to top out if I managed to send the following day.

The following day was perfect. It was freezing cold and never went above freezing so the remaining snow on the top out didn��t drip. I managed to send that afternoon and endured one of the scariest and iciest top outs of my life. I crawled to the peak of the boulder grasping chunks of snow and ice. But none of it mattered, I was so psyched to have sent such a brilliant line with my good friend mickey and dave jones there. The day was perfect and I could not have asked for more perfect conditions.

I am exhausted today and will be resting. I still have a few climbs left that I am psyched for! I hope to finish off the list before my departure to Font on Dec. 20! C’monnnnnnnnn weather!

A massive video with big paw, dreamtime, and la proue comng soon!

~Paul



Dean Potter en la librería Desnivel

Dean Potter at the bookstore Vertical

Thanks @desnivelados

The Devetashka Cave is situated in the Lovech region and is located between the villages of Doirentsi and Devetaki in Bulgaria. It was discovered in 1921 and is one of the biggest caves in Europe.

In 1996, the cave was officially made a nature landmark. The cave is impressive with its enormous size. This natural phenomenon is about 1500 meters long and has a huge entrance (35 m high and 55 m wide).

The cave has 11 underground lakes and beautiful cave formations. One of the ceiling openings (with height is 41 m) is used for bungee jumps in the cave.

According to archaeological research, it sheltered people since the late Paleolithic era. Devetashka cave is a monument of culture and a place of national and international significance and protection.

Fore more information visit

Last year on Cyber Monday consumers spent nearly 0 million dollars online. Imagine the difference we could make if just a fraction of that money was spent on responsible, meaningful holiday gifts. That’s the goal of Green Gift Monday from The Nature Conservancy! So we thought we would put together some of our Greenest items and if you Like any of them feel free to blog/post them on Monday, November 29 in hope that more people will give green holiday gifts this year…



The men in your life will appreciate our focus on Organics again this year! You can get all the details at http://www.prana.com/men/collections/organics.html.

Organic Cotton

Conventionally grown cotton consumes approximately ǹ% of the insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides used in the world. Organic production systems on the other hand replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming.

We haven’t forgotten the beautiful women in your life either! Her Organic styles will not only keep her cozy and in style outside but she’ll feel better inside knowing that these choices have a lower environmental impact. You can get all the details at http://www.prana.com/women/collections/organics.html

Be sure to check out our Women’s Recycled Poly styles for another low impact alternative at http://bit.ly/WomensRecycledPoly!

For more on other TNC Green Gift Monday partners click HERE

Or Tweet ” Responsible, meaningful holiday gifts like these Organics from prAna.com bit.ly/GGM2010prAna  #GGM2010 #nature_org“