Rock Climbing with Rob Pizem

May 15, 2014

Black Canyon and Big Wall Thoughts

Gearing up at the River

Heading up a nice 5.9 pitch

The traverse pitch from left to right through the pegmatite band (the pink stuff).

Getting wet

Nice views

Exposed

Ledge belay!

A far away splitter.

Getting my flare on.

A bolted anchor in the Black? Oh my.

Nice roof lieback

Super views!

I climbed in the Black Canyon the other weekend and it was great fun.
My partner and I were each climbing on routes that were new to us both and that is always a good time and adventure. Upon thinking about why I liked both of the routes that we climbed, I decided to share what I think makes a great multi-pitch climb.

Here is my list based on what I like on a big route:

Ledge Belays (after breaking my back in 2006, I will never turn down a place to sit while I belay)
Bolted Belays (at least one bolt makes life so much easier and faster.) I don't mind building a complete anchor, but if its in a super assessable location (like the Black) and you are not getting the alpine portion/feel/experience of it with a long hike in for hours and blah blah blah, anchors are good.
Varied Climbing (the same move over and over is not that fun) I like overhanging terrain, cracks, face, slab, chimney, off width', the works!
Good Protection/Stone (that means safe, but not necessarily every three feet)
Exposure/Views (who doesn't like that feeling that they are way out there)
Solitude (I don't need to be standing in line on a big route, I could go to an amusement park for that)
A Line (this means that the wandering is limited) For me classic routes might need a little wandering, but when the majority of the route is all over the place, its just not that fun.
A Good Descent Route (nothing taints the experience more that when there is no established way down the wall)
Shade Potential (melting in the sun is not classic!)

When I think about my favorite big climbs, each of them embrace the above topics. What do you think?

Being Sponsored Thoughts

Contact Piz at pizem@hotmail.com for Motivational/Instructional/Entertaining Speaking Engagements, Climbing Instruction, Training and Weekly/Monthly Training Programs

Until then... Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: www.arcteryx.com www.camp-usa.com www.scarpa.com www.sterlingrope.com www.americanalpineclub.org www.brewersledge.com

As an athlete for various companies, I sometimes feel that my services are being utilized and sometimes not so much. This last week I was invited to speak on behalf of the athletes at one of my sponsors marketing and sales meetings.

First off, it was an honor to be invited to these meetings and I would like to do it again! (those of you who attend them every year as sales reps may think otherwise, but it was a new experience for me and I truly enjoy these kinds of things because they provide enlightenment to an otherwise dark and unknown world for me.) So back to the point, I was invited to speak about what we do as athletes and how we can further assist in the branding process.

Wow. Since understanding marketing is not something that I studied in school, I don't really know the processes behind the scenes. To be in the "secret circle" of a company was really rewarding and made me truly feel like I was an integral part of the team. I like that feeling. Knowing that what you do matters whether or not you get press or have a photo in a magazine or even if you are on the cutting edge of anything. Just you doing what you do helps, that is pretty cool. The other things are icing on the cake really.

I guess my reflection upon the experience is that companies are out there doing their best to care for the market, the environment, to connect with their client and to provide people a streamlined experience. There is a ton that goes into it and I am sure that I only was exposed to the tip of the tip of the iceberg. The complexity of moving from one company to another and be in marketing must be crazy since you have to learn so much about the new company and its past, present and future. In many ways it is way easier to go and climb rocks! But as I said before, I think that feeling utilized and being utilized by companies is when they will get the most out of their resources (like athlete programs) when everything works together toward that common goal, growth is not far off.

High School Graduation Time and Thoughts

It is the end of another school year. I think it is my 12th as a high school teacher.

I have taught at many different schools and many different sciences to say the least. Here is a brief summary:

I started off at a middle class high school teaching Earth Science and a course that was called Unified Science.
Then while teaching in Austria, I taught AP Chemistry, Chemistry, Biology, and a combo 7/8th grade Science.
Once I came back to the states I taught, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, Geology, Marine Biology, and Physics.
Finally, I am teaching Geophysical Science, Biology, Marine Biology, Chemistry, Zoology, Astronomy, and potentially a combination course that I am designing to truly engage and motivate my alternative student body

With every graduation comes a sigh, not so much that students are leaving, but because the grind is over for a little while. Working with people/students where you get to know them and their problems intimately and in a way live it with them is pretty tough. Its one of those "by the way" parts buried deep within the teaching profession's job description. It's like when a student dies at your school, "by the way" your going to feel pretty crappy about that or when they loose everything in a fire, or when you see them falling in a downward spiral due to poor choices.

To you non-teachers summertime for us teachers is the holy grail and we get it every year. But the reality is that without a break and time to let it all go and recharge we wouldn't be able to give what we give every school year. Maybe it's just me, but that is how I feel.

So when I am enjoying my summer, I am really just trying to replace the many varied experiences and emotions that I had to deal at work throughout the school year.

April 29, 2014

Playing in Golden

Playing at the Clear Creek water park.

Orson is a tank, no terrain will stop him.

Jane and top Jimmy

Don't fall in little one : )

Orson thinking about climbing the net that his older brother just tackled.

Rowan and Zack getting dirty.

More car seat time with the boys.

Rest Stop fun with the Family

Jane and Orson hanging at the park.

Rowan liked chasing the front end loader.

Or ham : )

Rowan got to fly to kite for the first time.

He is learning how the string goes out fast when the wind picks up fast.

Rowan makes friends pretty quickly. He ran up to this boy and grabbed his hand and took off chasing and kicking his ball with him. After a few minutes they were laughing and playing together like best friends!

Rowan and Bikes

He is learning to glide and coast on his bike. Balance is coming slowly but he is having a blast learning at the local bike park!

We had a bike sale at my high school to raise money for our students. Rowan and I helped sell them in the rain.

With every storm comes a rainbow.

Rowan getting it done on the trails.

April 24, 2014

2 More Slide Shows!!

April 17, 2014

Climbing in Gateway

I have always wanted to try this route that Joe Mills got the ffa of in Gateway.
Mike B and i went out on a COLD day and froze our butts off while checking it out.