Hiking in Ouray with Rowan

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

 Of course, just seconds before arriving at the trail head, the boy falls a sleep.
 After 20 minutes of some sketchy hiking we were rewarded with some breath taking views of town.

 No Rowan, you make not trundle this huge block down the hill.

 Getting ready to dance with the Aspen trees in the wind.

A boy who does what he wants, here he is wandering back down the trail after eating lunch under a pine tree and getting a fresh diaper The trail drops off a few hundred feet just about 20 feet to the right.

My First Nap with Orson

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

 Since our new son arrived late night, way past my bedtime I was exhausted. Once Jane let me hold the boy for a few minutes while she took a shower all that I could do was fall a sleep.
Jane was immediately upset because Orson could have fallen off the couch that I slept on way too easily. Oops!

 Happy mom and son.

 Rowan playing with his new brother.

 Rowan showing dominance and loving it.

We shall see how long this smile stays on his face once he realizes that he no longer rules the roost!

I think that we are about 2 weeks in with Orson and we are finally settling into a routine that seems to work. Still some busy days coming at us fast but it is great doing it together!

Another Trip up Otto's Route

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

This time with my other brother in law!

 Clay booting up at the base of the climb.

 Clay crushing the first pitch.

 The snake that scared me that was sleeping in the crack at the end of the first pitch.

 Clay calling his shots!

 Clay in the overhang and making it look easy!

 The final pitch climbs through the roof just left of center.

 Clay clinging on for dear life!

Ah yeah! Great job man.

My Growing Family

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

 Rowan back in action after spraining his ankle earlier this week!

 Jane and Rowan at the park the day before our newest joined us.

 At the hospital ready to begin a long night of assisting Jane in labor.

 Jane at her most beautiful and really big too. Just moments before entering the hospital in Grand Junction.

 I readied the room as soon as we got inside to make Orson feel comfortable and welcomed.

 Weighing the boy. He was feisty.

 Getting cleaned up right after delivery.

 Orson resting his eyes.

 Photon wire gate draw for scale. He loves the good gear.

 Close up.

 Mama and the boy : )

Me and my son!

The Blue Route

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

Not too much to this other than showing you how the treadwall works!

Enjoy!

My Working And Equipped Treadwall!

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

 I mark the routes just like everyone else and most climbing gyms, with tape. In order to save a few bucks I just fold over each piece in half and reuse the tape for as long as possible. When bolting the hold to the wall, I just put the tape underneath and tighten away. That way I can get away with buying just two or three colored rolls and they will last for years! I chose the primary colors of red, yellow and blue.
I also started each route at the same place so that I could move easily from one route to the next after completing a lap.

 

Before I get started each training session I always stretch. Here is a short of some of the ways that I warm up.

Due Date for the Deuce.

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

So the new Pizem is supposed to arrive at the end of this week. No one could be more excited than my wife, Jane except for me I guess. I am ready for the whole family to be together and for us to have our own adventures!

Since our first child arrived at the 36 week mark during Jane's pregnancy, we had a false expectation of meeting the deuce early. That didn't happen with this child and we have been on watch for the past month. Neither of us has wanted to leave town for fear of the baby coming when we were away.
We are both going stir crazy! Now that we are less than a week away I am hesitant to go anywhere at all.

For the past few weeks I have went to bed hoping that Jane would go into labor and we would be off to the hospital for delivery. I am very much someone who is on a schedule. This waiting has played a major role in my going crazy. My yard is kept up, the house is tidy, small projects have been taken care of, our new Treadwall is installed and equipped with climbing holds and the garage has been reorganized, I even planted a small garden!
I know that I am complaining, but I am at my limits with all this waiting. Jane and baby #2, please get this this done so that we can get back into the routine, all this change is wrecking me!

In the meantime, we will take walks in the Monument and attempt to move the delivery along.

Jane is amazing in that she has not slowed down, obviously she is not trail running at the moment, but she is still capable of getting the miles in each and everyday whether it has been in the neighborhood or on the trails around town. No complaints just a ever growing basketball above her waist and below her ribs!

I will be sure to let you know when the deuce is here and I will actually refer to him by his real name! Until then keep yours eyes peeled for the deuce.

Training with Piz: Raised Arm Weighted Ball Pinches

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

 





This one is pretty simple,

1. With the two sizes of training balls, attach weight (here we have five pounds on each ball)
2. Raise arms to form a T
3. Hold for time (we do four sets at 40 seconds a piece)

We attempt to not hold on below the equator of the ball in order to just work our fingers.

If you have smaller hands it is advisable to use the smaller pair of balls for this finger workout.

Over time you can add more weight and grab less surface area of the ball.

 

Rowan Loves Big Trucks!

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

 When the treadwall came to the house it was delivered in a huge rental truck. This made Rowan's day! He walked around the garage and the driveway saying big truck over and over for the rest of the afternoon!

 Rowan checking the tires out of the his favorite big truck.

 Rowan got to explore the back of the big truck.

 Rowan looking small in the back of the truck.

 We got to sit in the front seat and even took a ride in the big truck and it was the highlight of his day!

 Rowan not knowing what to do when the truck started up and began to drive us around the block. He was in shock to say the least.

Rowan has learned how to say cheese. We will work on this, although he does enjoy the playing in front of the camera for mom and dad.

It's Treadwall Time!

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

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

 The guts of a treadwall. (the breaking system)

 Laying it out with Garnet.

 Axel that connects the two chains that run the wall.

 Almost done.

 Installing the panels to the steel that connects the tread.

 The last panel.

 

After you build it, you give Garnet dinner, a place to crash and his first desert tower summit at sunset!

 

Stay tuned as I share what I learn about using and training with the treadwall. Thanks Brewers Ledge for bringing out the Kore Model to me and my family here in Grand Junction, Colorado!!!