http://fiveten.com/ http://fiveten.com/images/stories/NewBox_black.png http://fiveten.com/ http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/13654-coming-up-for-air-chris-sinatra http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/13654-coming-up-for-air-chris-sinatra After weeks on the road calling parking lots home and sleeping in a space the size of a double-wide coffin I’ve returned to civilized society. For the first time in 6 years I made it home in time to join my family for Thanksgiving. In between the alternating rounds of voracious food annihilation and family banter I took some time to reflect on where the last few months of 2012 have taken me. ]]> Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:07:00 -0500 13654 2012-11-27 http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_p1020037-copy-1354039636.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_imgp2553-copy-1354039638.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_scan-2-copy-1354039639.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_scan-1-copy-1354039639.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_scan-13-copy-1354039639.jpg http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/13084-joes-valley-wrap-up-chris-sinatra http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/13084-joes-valley-wrap-up-chris-sinatra Joe's Valley is one of the most gym-like areas I've ever visited. While the problems can vary widely from boulder to boulder, most share a common theme- long moves between generally positive holds on an otherwise blank sea of gorgeous sandstone. In this way, Joe's lends itself to a very dynamic style of climbing. Luckily for me, this is one of the forms of climbing that I'm least accustomed to, at least outdoors. My first week in Joe's was an abrupt adjustment, especially after my past month on the very static, precise granite of Bishop.... ]]> Wed, 23 May 2012 00:48:00 -0400 13084 2012-05-23 http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_521425-10101107419529213-3201918-60454499-372249947-n-1337734099.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_051812-joes-wrap-up-1337734099.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_533341-440972255915423-400460629966586-1745695-1777284552-n-1337734099.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_545890-3774421435528-1126577758-33677672-895239862-n-1337734099.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_149715-440972949248687-400460629966586-1745704-230436617-n-1337734099.jpg http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/12849-spring-in-bishop-chris-sinatra http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/12849-spring-in-bishop-chris-sinatra Following Hueco, Bryan Boyko and I made our way out to Bishop to take advantage of the awesome Spring conditions in the Buttermilks.  My goal for the trip was to climb The Swarm as well as the Mandala Sit, both clocking in at V14.  While neither ended up going down, I had an excellent time ticking off a grip of other Buttermilks classics. ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:29:00 -0400 12849 2012-04-13 http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_tumblr-m1u1jjbpew1r7m3ubo1-500-1334348962.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_562479-10100962164990473-3201918-59871352-1020568505-n-1334348963.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_img-0611-1334348963.JPG http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_040912-bishop-wrap-up-1334348964.jpg http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/12709-chris-sinatras-hueco-wrap-up http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/12709-chris-sinatras-hueco-wrap-up I was initially struck by the beauty of the area, an oasis in the deserts of greater El Paso, as much as the fun, gymnastic style of movement. This area put my foot trickery to the test, forcing me to expand my heel-toe cam skills like never before. Hueco was everything I had hoped it would be and more, which is a lot to say considering I’ve been hearing about this place for over a decade. With Hueco as my first stop I’m feeling stronger than ever and with sends of my first and second V13s behind me my... ]]> Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:51:00 -0500 12709 2012-03-07 http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_img-4792-1331146281.JPG http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_img-4864-1331146282.JPG http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_img-4900-1331146284.JPG http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/12703-chris-sinatra-sends-crown-of-aragorn-v13-chris-sinatra http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/12703-chris-sinatra-sends-crown-of-aragorn-v13-chris-sinatra Latching the ear, my body listed dangerously to the left, my foot miraculously finding its berth on the long, thin edge. With a split grip that was far from ideal, I struggled to readjust and salvage the attempt. It crossed my mind to abandon this go, but this was my first time sticking the crux move from the start and I was not going to give up without a fight. Swapping feet and latching the next crimp, then transitioning into the beginning sequence of Better Eat Your Wheaties, the send was anything but a given. It would be a... ]]> Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:45:00 -0500 12703 2012-03-06 http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_img-4955-resize-1331063115.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_img-4957-resize-1331063117.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_img-4958-resize-1331063118.jpg http://fiveten.com/images/stories/jreviews/_img-4966-resize-1331063120.jpg