If you’re a climber and you don’t visit Payahüünadü (Bishop), do you really even climb? Located in the high desert between the Sierra and the White Mountains, Bishop is a world-class climbing destination with a little bit of something for everyone: bouldering, sport climbing, trad climbing, and more. Bishop has some of the best bouldering in the country, and possibly the world: the Buttermilks. The rock is sharp. The feet are glassy. The views are unbeatable. Take any newer climber here and they’ll definitely be shut down on the technical climbing that the Milks require. To make their lives easier, here’s a guide to the best beginner boulders in the Buttermilks.
bouldering
You’d be remiss to not stop in Queenstown when in New Zealand. It’s the adventure capital of the country with hiking, canyoneering, backpacking and climbing in close proximity. Queenstown climbing is near synonymous with climbing at Wye Creek, or perhaps the crags of its neighbor to the north in Wanaka. Even with the abundance of bolts to clip, Queenstown is home to some damn fine schist bouldering, with stunning views of the Remarkables to boot. Here’s your guide to everything about Jardines bouldering.
Bouldering outdoors is just about the laziest type of climbing you can do. Boulderers wake up late and get to the crag after 9am. We measure approaches by how close they are to the car. We don’t like walking more than 15 minutes. Most of our time is spent laying on giant mattresses. I already put together a post on bouldering outdoor essentials. Now, it’s time for bouldering non-essentials. This is a list of stuff you really don’t need for bouldering, but they are so awesome, you’ll be glad you have them.
Photo: Sasha Turrentine
Empowertisement, the act of using female empowerment as advertisement, is roaring hard right now. I’m not going to knock it because let’s face it, we live in a capitalist society. Companies need money to do good and affect change. Where does the money come from? By selling stuff.
Empowertisement, when done well, can be a beautiful thing. It is incredibly powerful to see diverse faces and voices reflected in marketing material because it shows that you belong. REI believes that women are a Force of Nature. The North Face shows us that She Moves Mountains. Outdoor Research empowers with She Adventures.
Mountain Hardwear? As a sponsor of Flash Foxy’s Women’s Climbing Festival, they want you to buy their jeans.
Obnoxious, bright colored things are my thing. When I saw the So iLL 20L Dry Pack in all of its highlighter yellow goodness, it was love at first sight. I envisioned taking it all over the trails, the city, to my favorite rocks. But it didn’t quite end up that way.