So the day before the actual competition started we decided to calm our nerves and take a trip out to the world’s largest pool along the Chilean coastline. It was by far one of the coolest things I've ever seen, it is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, has 115-ft deep end and holds 66 million gallons of water! It was off season so no one was really at the resort and we basically hustled our way into the pool convincing the managers to let us swim in the pool and have some fun. The most amazing...

Let's just start out by saying that this week is awesome. I am now officially the owner of a DSLR camera. I bought myself a Canon 60D, so now I won't have to ask my step-dad for his camera or be stuck with just my cell phone. This is actually the same camera my step-dad has, so I'm familiar with all its buttons and knobs. Now all I need is a trip to officially christen my camera.Some more fantastic news. University of Colorado at Boulder accepted me!!! This is my number one choice of college, so I am pretty...

Since I got back from the USA the time has flown by. October was a month of daydreaming that we had started our trip to the RRG a month later as I witnessed, from afar, just what the cutting edge climbers can do with lots of time and lots of good conditions. Back here in Scotland I have been busy and ill in about equal doses. Though the schedule all involves climbing, it is amazing how little climbing it leaves you time for yourself. The playful fun of coaching the TCA Glasgow Youth...

The last of my 3-part trip to Asia, my friends and I decided to go to one of my favorite places on the planet. Ton Sai, Thailand. I've been here a few times before and I couldn't turn down the opportunity to hang out on the beach, eat Thai food, climb, and of course jump off this pretty little cliff with the best view ever and a landing area right on the beach. This little beach feels like an island, while it's officially just part of a peninsula, it is only accessible by boat and there are no cars,...

I finally got the chance to go back to Red River Gorge in October. My first trip at the Red was in my worst shape ever! Now this time I made sure to be in the best shape possible. With a few hard lines in mind and my top shape after training for the Atlanta world cup, I was pretty confident I would crush!! Little did I know, all that hard work for the Opening of our new gym in September and all of my non-stop training was a little much for my body! I could feel...

2012-11-06 17.20.42The last attempt day for Punks in The Gym was descent. I had some high hopes and perhaps even some unreasonable expectations when it came to sending that route. However; after the initial disappointment of feeling of failure I came to realize that what I gained from my experience on Punks was more valuable than if I would have just sent it.2012-11-07 17.51.01I am not a mental climber yet… the head game that is required to accomplish these kinds of routes is something that can only come with lots of experience and lots of failures. Especially when it...