Man performing TRX workout

TRX for Climbers: An Affordable Training Tool

Glancing at the scabrous backs of my hands as I type, it’s obvious to me that climbing season is ramping up. This is a wonderful time of year for many reasons. First, rock climbing is cheaper than skiing, so I’m looking forward to my paychecks going farther. Also, my chances of suffering a life-altering knee

ice-climbing

Cold ~ Hard ~ Ice Climbing in the San Juans

Hank Shell The sound of tearing fabric reached my ear, as it always does, with the delicacy of a lover’s whisper. It was an unintelligible anomaly, mired as it was in the din of the crowded slot canyon, but impossible to miss. Yes, the krrshhing of fabric. Nothing was spoken, yet all understood. I looked

Couple hiking in the fall

6 Ideas To Stay Active This Fall

Hank Shell Turkey Day has passed, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll spend the holidays in a cycle of binge eating and collapsing into a food coma, exercise be damned. Here in beautiful Telluride, Colo., this time of year is what’s known as the “off-season.” It’s halfway between summer and winter, and thus bears

rock climbing

Rock Climbing Helps Control Emotions

Catherine O’Brien According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for individuals between the ages of 15-44. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) IV, MDD is characterize by depressed mood or loss of interest and /or pleasure in daily activities for more

colorado-fourteeners

Staying Safe On Colorado’s Fourteeners

Hank Shell It was a dry and frost-hewn August morning when I rose in the dark to snatch my roommate’s blender from the kitchen counter, absconding with it to the basement where I could floor that little motor with impunity – I had a pretty serious breakfast smoothie habit at the time. Still do. The

your first pull-up

Pull-Up Power! – The Road to Your First Pull-Up

By Hank Shell   Real talk: I tend to get ahead of myself when writing these articles. Whether it’s climbing the deserts of Utah or bouldering in the mountains of southwest Colorado, I just get so plum excited to share these experiences with you all that, occasionally, I forget all about the fundamentals. Most of

Clippin’ bolts – Sport Climbing in Colorado

Hank Shell The arena of rock climbing in Colorado has long been hotbed of debate and jocular friction, one where seasoned climbers champion their chosen discipline and, at times, spite those others that don’t meet their ideal vision of the sport. This schism can be especially stark between traditional climbing purists and hard-charging sport climbers.

Crack Climbing

“Creekin’” – An Intro to Crack Climbing

Hank Shell “Creekin’” – An Intro to Crack Climbing The Canyonlands of Southeastern Utah have long captivated the imaginations of those fortunate enough to visit. The Martian-like geography, a vast system of tiered canyons and sheer sandstone walls roiling upward into towering mesas, can seem like a barren wasteland to those gazing down from the

Beat Back the Fall Doldrums with Bouldering

Beat Back the Fall Doldrums with Bouldering

Hank Shell Beat Back the Fall Doldrums with Bouldering Fall in the Rocky Mountains can signal a bit of a lull for many outdoor enthusiasts. Aside from the radiance of turning Aspens, infrequent but fleeting snows and chilly temperatures leave us in a bit of limbo – not enough snow to ski, and not enough