- It's easy to get incredibly self-serving when it comes to climbing and other outdoor pursuits. Climbing for me = intense training = high performance and hard climbing. However, the motivation to climb hard-graded routes should always be one of creativity and sharing the pleasure of climbing with others. Watching someone create a new rock-climb, or seeing someone climb a hard route creatively and beautifully... these are the greatest inspirations for other climbers.
I hope that you will gain some inspiration and entertainment from watching these videos, and get outside and explore for yourself!
Rock climbing is more than just a pastime for me, it is an essential part of my life. It provides the perfect inspiration and balance for my music. I really believe that it is extremely important for musicians to have an intimate connection with the natural world. For me climbing provides a reality check and clearing of my mind that keeps my music natural and communicative. In some ways climbing can be viewed as an art with similar problems and rewards as music or dance. In training your body to perform at the top level, you find that you must engage your mind in an extreme way. You must be subtle and you must improvise, but at all times you must remain in complete control.
I train several days per week at "Tennessee Bouldering Authority" in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Besides my travels to climbing destinations around the world, I enjoy the world-class climbing right in my back yard. The beautiful water-shaped sandstone of Rocktown, HP40, Little Rock City, etc. is arguably the best in the world.
