Naked Rehab

My friend Colin Simon just back from a 2 month trip from Europe, I'm 3 months out of shape, were both psyched. Climbing rehabilitation in Eldorado Canyon. I followed the first two pitches of this route a few years ago when I first started climbing, but didn't finish the route.

I started us off by leading the first pitch of T2, a 5.8d R pitch, into The Naked Edge. The fall temps numbed my hands, and I was officially pumped. "Wow, this feel great."  

Colin and I swapped leads, and I managed to send all but the last pitch. My forearm muscles screamed as I tryed to get out a stuck cam out. I yelled in frustration because I blew it.
Wow, it feels great to climb again. I am so lucky to live this life.



Tomorrow afternoon I'm headed to the American Alpine Club library to work on applying for the mountain fellowship grant. Rad!

Indian Creek Photoblog

I'm gripped for time, EMT school, training for patagonia, work, and trying to fit in photo/video is rough to say the least. I'm very excited to share my latest video with you. Stay tuned.

10.04.11

A dormant and seemingly lifeless psyche has been looming over me for the last month. The bland, colorless routine and increasing daily dose of anxiety nearly left me paralyzed. I couldn't climb, I couldn't study, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think. "I'm such a fuck up." 

Waves of insecurity and doubt filled my head with an ocean of noise.

Something has to drastically change. I've got to get out of here. In my life, I do everything I possibly can to make a dream come true. It sounds clichet, but I dare you to try it.

Something shifted. I feel like I've synchronized my body and mind. A revitalized sense of determination has given me the motivation and energy to save myself from drowning.

January 4th I fly into Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is where I will take a 1,800 mile bus ride to my first destination, El Chalten. The small mountain village in Patagonia is where I'll spend my first month in South America. This is me, learning to live.

Solo in the flatirons.

September 21st

I love being able to capture quick snapshots in my life. It's very difficult when I feel as if there is nothing to say...

In the making...

The drawing in the short video test was an attempt to sketch the Fitzroy Range in Patagonia.

As a white kid born into suburbia, I've never been out of  the United States. A late night conversation with my roommate Brando revolved around the monumental fact that "we need to start taking out lives more seriously..."

I will be traveling, climbing, and filming in Argentina and Chile for the first 3-4 months of 2012.

Greg Mionske photo

9.7.11

Last weekend I went to visit my friend up in Wyoming so she could teach me a few things about taking photos. She's crazy tallented, her website and blog are absolutely worth checking out. It's crazy to me how her friends could make a total stranger feel so welcome.

Becca Skinner photo

 Becca Skinner photo

CU Alpine - Fall '11 Video

Time lapse via gorillapod.

A big thanks to all of my friends who were equally as psyched to climb as I was to film them. I'm very thankful to be involved in an awesome, young climbing community.


This is the fist video I ever made, climbing El Capitan last March with Colin Simon.



Watching this video makes me a bit sick to my stomach. It reminds me of how terribly nervous I was before we committed to the 4 day, 3000 foot adventure.

It's absolutely crazy how much has happened in my life since then, good and bad.


Hand drawn arts and crafts for new vibes:

August 25th

I've been working on putting together a video for the CU Alpine Club. Today was the second day of shooting, and I feel that it is going very well. I'm having a hard time visualizing exactly what I want everything too look like, but that's part of the fun. 

I have very encouraging friends and climbing partners that have been helping me out with this. Here are some photos from earlier today in Eldo.  

 David Alexander on C'est La Vie

 Phil Lauffenburger on Interceptor

A few hours of solid climbing was only to be interrupted by my work schedule, a dinner shift at the restaurant I work at. I started working as a server at The Olive Garden a few weeks ago. For me, it was a big step in becoming more responsible.
Ugh... that's a terrible word. Not to worry though, it was a bit necessary for me to bend the truth about my availability so I will still have the weekends off to climb.

You can check out my recent pictures on Flickr in high res.

Ocean of Noise

Yes! I'm still alive! I'm doing my best to resurrect my blog. I apologize for the lack of words lately. I've been keeping myself busy learning to do all this photo and video stuff. 

My mind has been very cluttered. So much that it's almost too write about. Capturing my life with a camera seems to cause everything to make more sense. 

Colin Simon on Country Club Crack

Boulder clouds

 Upper Dream Canyon

My brother, Jordan Lempe with his glow in the dark painted t-shirt

Colin Simon on Empire of the Fenceless

 blogspot... sometimes you make my pictures pixilated

Will Buckner on Country Club Crack

 Chris Parenteau on Elanor

I'm starting to get the hang of the new camera gear.





Everything in my life seems hard. I feel that self improvement is best learned through challenges, success or failure. Dealing with this day after day is honestly tiring.

More later..

August 10th

I'm writing to you from a beautiful cabin in Fairplay, Colorado. I'm up here with some friends for the weekend, and it has been rejuvenating to say the least.

Bright night long shutter up in the Flatirons.

I moved back to Boulder last week, and started working as a server at The Olive Garden. I couldn't care less what job I was able to find, I just needed something to occupy my time.

If you couldn't tell, I haven't been climbing a ton. I always feel guilty when I'm not constantly killing myself, trying to perform better. I'm not going to push it, and only climb when it feels right. That's what it's all about anyways.. there's no point to climbing if you're not enjoying it.

I spent my last month back in Denver climbing on the weekends, hanging out with my best friends, and making videos. I recently purchased a real camera, and I can't express how excited I am to start using it!

Once I get the swing of things, I whill hopefully be bringing you some pretty cool footage.

Here is a test video, enjoy!

The Prow, Washington's Column, June 8-9

I almost forgot that we did this route! Colin and I picked up Greg Howland to send the shit out of this route! We climbed this in 'gangster style'. Two double portaledges, enough food for 8 people, and a super chill route.

I'm just going to have a photo trip report for this one. I finally got photoshop again, so I could edit the photos properly. 

Flying pig from the guys ahead of us on Reanimator.

6am... SUN! The best way to wake up in Yosemite.