Wow… I have not been on here in a while… Lets see what kind of spray down about my life  I can come up with  this time…. Recently my life has been a wonderful, yet unseen turn of events. When I started Rock climbing I did it to have a new hobby. I did not see it taking over my life like it did. I am glad, but I did not think slowly all my friends would revolve around it, as well as my friends and some life goals. But lets start somewhere else….

So I have moved back home to live with my parents on the other side of town now that college is out. I am enjoying seeing them every day, but I miss living with one of my best friends who I am excited to live with again next year. I have obtained a lot of goals i have had for my self fairly quickly, but have fallen short on other ones. I have obtained the highest GPA I have ever had this semester, so mega psyched!!! I also have lost 24 pounds this semester, which has really helped my progression in rock climbing. Lastly, I have obtained a job with my friends at the climbing gym, and even have become a route setter! Today was my first day out of 4 days to begin to reset for the gym. I am excited, and just hoping I don’t throw up gym choss on the wall.

(cleaning holds at the gym for the day!)

Climbing lately has been great. I’m finding myself climbing harder than before, but more importantly having fun! Yes, its warm out, and its not sending temps, but GET OVER IT! Its so nice to not think about school for once, and go out with my friends and have a good time out at the boulders. I am so excited to have night sessions out at boulders this summer, and enjoy myself! I have only done a hand full of fours at this point, but I am hoping to really start doing a good mass number of problems because of my gains in strength, and in weight loss. I also have made a few goals by next season that I feel are possible, but I will get into that later! The point is my climbing feels great, and one thing with my new job at the gym as a route setter is I just hope I can make people as excited about rock climbing as I am.

TRAINING! I find this topic to be funny for two reasons. One because this part of the article is for a friend who I usually look up too, and two because most people hate the topic! Training is fun to me, a lot of my friends look at me weird when I say this. I do not find it to be the worst thing in the world. I enjoy feeling by body being stronger, but also healthier and happier. There is nothing wrong with enjoying training. I am excited to train this summer harder than I have to obtain my goals by next year! These are my goals

• Climb 5-10 v7′s, and a TON of v5 and under problems
• Compete in Hound ears (intermediate)
• Do skip 2 skip 2 on the big rungs
• Do a one arm
• lose 10 more pounds to even me out at 140
• Lastly be climbing 3 stars in our gym simi consistantly (that means v6-8 in our gym)

I feel like I can obtain these goals. I feel like I am constantly fighting a clock having started to rock climb a little over a year now, and already being 21. I feel like I have high goals, but I have done the moves to 2 v7′s  called Colt 45, and Pinch’n Loaf. Im psyched to get myself in the shape to do those climbs!

(Me on Colt 45)

Something for fun:

Recently I have started to go over my art projects, and I am really psyched to start doing it again! I believe it really helps me clear my mind along with yoga. It makes me mentally feel very strong and at ease. I am really making it a goal to start making art again over the summer that makes me feel in a healthy mental state!

(My art Projects from last semester)

Knowledge to bestow upon the world:

No matter what you think you can achieve, you can truly do more. If you feel like you have reached the peak of your climbing the only thing that is stopping you from achieving more is yourself, and that mental aspect. Never limit yourself or your capabilities, because your voice is the only one that matters in what you do. So many people get caught up in what they believe is there “limit”. I’m a believe that everyone’s limit is v16 it only matters how far down the road you go towards it.

Yes, I said it right. Weight off the head. Today I was lucky enough to get out and enjoy myself a nice day of rock climbing. A while back I had an injury that made it hard for me to be excited about outside climbing. I messed up my ankle in a bad way at the beginning of my climbing career making it prone to injury, and especially on the steep hikes to the boulders. Today I let that out of my head,and headed out to the boulders for a fun day. I made it my mental goal to not let that affect me today. The first climb I got on was a line called Smart Tom (v4), where my friend Lennon repeated the line. Its a crimpy line that is on a beautiful patio with an equally amazing view. I was also lucky to meet up with some cool guys that happen to be out at Smart Tom. I made it half way threw the climb and feel like it will go hopefully within this week. After this we went down a steep hike to a boulder called the 45 builder, and finally did a climb I had MANY feelings about. A little frustration, due to the mental problem I was having with falling on my ankle. Depression, due to people giving me a little crap for not being able to due it, and lastly maybe some more frustration due to the moves feeling very due able but again the mental block. I was so excited to do the climb, because its such a pretty line and fun. I am glad I finished it. After this we went to work on two other problems I am excited about, Harvester of Sorrows (V4), and Right Maddox.  First we went to right Maddox where  I fell of a pretty hard move, but excited to hop back on it. Worked on it for a while but the move still wouldn’t go. After that I went to Harvester of Sorrows and worked it for the rest of the day. I fell off the end, which is a hard mantle, 2 times and I’m hoping to get it done soon, but something more important happened today than all of this. Today I realized that not only have hard work and determination seemed to start paying off, but also to remember rock climbing is suppose to be fun. I let that monkey sit on my back for a bit too long. Glad to have it gone and enjoy some good ole pebble wrestling!

Smart Tom (V4)

Photo cred: :Lennon Redford

PS a picture from Rumbling bald the other day. Not much to say other than got a few moves on torque master (V6) and almost finished Brackish 1 (v4)

Photo credit: Cameron Cassan

Today I’m on a rest day, because I have App states Southern Comfort comp. tomorrow. Psyche is high I did as much as I could to train, and I sit here reflecting on the past 3/4 weeks prior to this. There are some things I have learned in this experience, and a few I truly do want to share.

First one would be training is not a bad thing. I truly have enjoyed it. I have sweat more than I have in a long time preparing for this, and I’ve seen gains. I feel like I learned more about my climbing strengths and weaknesses in this time than I have really known yet. Also having the luck of my friends being quite strong, and willing to sacrifice there time that they could be doing something a lot more enjoyable than help me sweat. So to the friends that might actually read this I appreciate you all so much.

Another thing I have learned from this experience is being a well rounded climber is key. I have recently been tying in at the gym, and realizing I have no endurance. I truly think that aspects of both rope climbing, and bouldering help one an other, and you should never only do one in your training. As said earlier I feel like I have learned a lot about myself here in the past few weeks, and I hope to continue on ropes to fix that weakness of mine. I think its funny also, because I actually am having a blast on the rope.

Finally I have learned something more important than anything else so far. Take rest days, and yes it truly is the most important thing. I struggle with it, and I am trying to be better. After seeing people get injured and hearing horror stories its very true. I truly believe if you want to get stronger you need rest days. That doesn’t mean come in and hop on the campus and hang board, that means don’t do anything related to rock climbing. Go on a run, or practice Yoga, but do not rock climb. It will benefit you in the long run.

Over all I so excited about the way things are going. I am hoping tomorrow goes well, and I am sure there will be a blog post about it.

Thanks for reading!

Daniel Combs

Sadly the weather has prevailed, and left me in a gym. I truly do get psyched about the gym unlike a lot of other climbers. ASU has some great route setters, and tons of good friends. The gym is one of my favorite places to be, and I’m grateful for it, although I’m excited for some real rock, and hopefully soon!

I miss the fall..

Today im going on a trip to blowing rock boulders for an afternoon session with honestly two of my best friends, Carson and Zack. Hoping to finally do Center 45 and maybe work on harvester for some fun! Im excited to have a good afternoon. Hoping to post afterwords with good news!

Zack , Carson and I

Hey, my name is Daniel. I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, and although being surrounded by it never really tried to rock climb when I was younger. After a while I got curious about it, and now im pretty submerged in it I feel. I enjoy spending time climbing, and have honestly met some of my best friends while climbing. I am making this blog to ultimately to just lay out my thoughts about climbing and utlimately help me make since out of all the information I will gain in climbing.

Me climbing at App. states “Finals on Finals” comp. (I did horrible, but had a blast.)

Ps- Worst grammer in the game over here!