Skillzboard

Honored to share the stage with a group of psyched gear innovators at the panel discussion.
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Solid finish to a Ouray visit supporting the badass and the unmatched on the comp tower at the putting the finishing touches on the Continental Open routes.

Isn’t it a little odd that we refer to the same things as both double ropes and as half ropes?

These pictures demonstrate a third benefit of climbing with doubles/halves (in addition to redundancy against abrasion failure and the potential to do fewer rappels). Can you guess what it is? Swipe to #3 and #4 for big hints.

Also, these pictures were taken on back-to-back days from two different classic routes on the same chunk of rock. For a bonus point, can you name it?

Made a little detour on the road to support the in their Climb Malawi program. After hearing about the use that our instruction board received at their Kenya program from , we were happy to donate the instruction boards that will help the Malawi climbing community develop expertise and create sustainable growth locally.

Had such a good time working with and to provide a camping and climbing weekend at Devils Lake to a group of youth (and little kiddo) participants from the Chicagoland area! And it was cool to have join us on Sunday, and give one of their climbers a first-time outdoor experience!

An unexpected double bonus came from being able to supervise Patrick carrying out an instructor-belayed rappel in preparation for an upcoming SPI (climbing instructor) assessment and giving Mike his first rappelling opportunity!

Free anchor practice ground school for , facilitated by and thanks to the generous hospitality of

Pictures from a mini-clinic on belaying techniques, lowering systems and transitioning back and forth between the two, with a plaquette-style device. What’s the best way to make sure newly acquired technical knowledge does not evaporate when it’s time to actually use it? Go home and practice! Reviewing the techniques - by actually doing vs just reading or watching videos - three or four times within a week or two of when you learn the material is a great way to actually make the time, effort and money you put into take the clinic worthwhile.

Critique this anchor!

This is for a base-managed (ie: belaying from below) top rope climbing session at an ice park with pre-rigged tree anchors. In this case, a sling above a high branch was tied off and three non-lockers were used for the masterpoint. A sling from the pre-existing tree anchor was extended and clipped to a strand of the climbing rope with a locking carabiner.

What are some strengths and weaknesses of this system? Would you climb on this anchor?

Get yourself a Skillzboard, and you too can build a really good Anker!