Training with Piz: One Leg Squat, with Oppostie Arm Raise on Balance Disk

Get outside and have an adventure!
piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

Here is a great way to work on your advanced balance, leg strength and core tension.
You end up working your quads and stabilizers throughout your body.

Instructions

• Stand on balance disk on one leg with opposite arm extended above your head holding bar.
• Squat with the weight of your body on your heel, while extending the opposite leg in front of you.
• Attempt to go as low as possible. You may need to perform this next to the wall if you don't have the balance.
• Repeat for a given time and perform 3-5 reps

This is a difficult version of a simple and effective exercise. You need to decide whether or not to use the balance disk or the additional weight.

My Hands are Full

 This is my newest line, just follow the black fixed line up the wall for 500ft!

 Next on the list of routes to establish.

 Oh yeah there is a little bit more rock to look at too!

 Cool arete anyone?

Chris taking a ride on the new rig.  It goes at 5.12 gear and bolts 40 meter pitches (for p1 and p2) and then a 5.9 pitch to the top.

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

Change

Brian H, taking on "Hanging to the Right" at Escalante.

I titled this one Change because as winter fades hard into spring next week, we are all making adjustments.
-Jane and I are bracing for the next kid some time in lateMay/earlyJune, we are both excited for the new baby, the warmer temps and my summer vacation.
-We got a new fence at our house which is a SUPER change that gives us a safe place to raise the kids and to enjoy our beautiful yard.
-Three good friends are getting married this summer, which will whether they think it or not, be a change from just being "together".
-My part time job training folks at the climbing gym is adapting to the new summer schedule where college students leave town and locals want to be outside more.
-I have had to make major curriculum changes this year at my new school and am just about done with the overhaul of academic overload!
-I have a years worth of events to teach climbing at and give slide shows which will keep me busy and traveling a little bit.

The bottom line is that with each season something is changing and we are constantly adapting to those subtle differences. I am happy to be able to be getting out more with my family and for climbing.
Change is good. But not too much!

 Jane hiking to Delicate Arch, Moab. It was a bit icy and plenty or tourists were taking the fall around this part of the trail.

 Jane and Rowan posing down!

 Me and the boy basking in the winter sun

Brian trying to figure out the beta on Blood Pulse in Escalante.

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

Unaweep

 New to cracks, this one is a nice challenge!

 The crew and dogs.

 Ready for battle!

 Splitter

 First time on this awesome line!

 Getting her lead on!

 Wow, Unaweep rocks!

Really, no bolts to replace this anchor? Yep we messed up. The tat will remain for another day or two.

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

Plans

Some things are not meant to work out, even though you have the best intentions.

I have been planning a spring break challenge and training for it since December 2012. Now that I am two weeks away, a number of things have stacked up against me and my achieving that goal.

1. The training didn't go as planned due to something as simple as the cold. We were in a very bad inversion all winter and the temperatures were never able to raise high enough to climb or if they were warm enough, it meant that it was just warm enough for you to have feeling in your fingers some of the time. That is not quality training.
2. The weather was bad most weekends. I had planned a couple of two day efforts to help get me in shape and one by one they were foiled by rain or snow or cold temps.
3. I got sick a bunch this winter. I was in the doctors office too many times and I missed training days.
4. My partner got sick, bad enough that he still can't get out of bed. That doesn't make achieving the big plans very easy!

So what does that mean? It means that I have to make the most of my existing time and get after the challenge when the time is right.

Jerimiah Watt photo
Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

Desert Crack Potential

Yeah, I was hiking the other day and found some cracks that I would like to climb in the future.

Have I mentioned that its awesome living on the western slope of Colorado with the desert just out my back door.

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme