Gossip Column

Here on the Chicks Climbing Gossip Report you can catch up on all of the great gossip (articles, videos, and other assorted cool stuff) we talked about over the past week at Chicks Climbing. Are you still climbing ice or are you getting on the rock already in this crazy winter? I’m headed up to climb some sweet Canadian ice this week, so there will NOT be a Gossip Report next Monday – sorry!

We are getting psyched for some rock climbing and will kick off the season with a return to our regular stomping ground of Red Rock, Nevada for a 3-day intensive clinic March 22 – 25, with an optional multi-pitch day: March 26^th. Then, we have a VERY special treat for our Chicks alumnae – an Indian Creek Alumnae Invitational which includes three days of intensive crack climbing clinics April 27-30, with an optional multi-pitch day May 1. Hurry to sign up for this one though, space is very limited!

Last week on the blog I wrote a piece on what I learned at Chicks this year – largely it’s about managing expectations and how my progression with climbing is ALL in the attitude. If you missed it, you can check it out here.

We also posted a gear review of the Columbia Sportswear long sleeved mid-weight striped base layer that Jenn Carter wrote after testing it at Chicks. Find out what she thought of the piece here.

Finally, we had a new blog from the Climbing Chef who confessed her true feelings about Yosemite climbing, along with a plan of attack so she can overcome some of those obstacles. It was a great post that you can check out here.

We are also launching a new “Chicks Chat” section to the website – for climbing ladies to connect and talk all things climbing – you can check it out here!

Last week was busy, because we also set up our Chicks Climbing boards on Pinterest! Are you on it too? Hit us up with your link so we can follow all of our fellow climber Chicks! You can find us here: http://pinterest.com/chicksclimbing/

Did we miss any cool stuff this week?  Let us know if you’ve got a link to some climbing-related goodies so we can share with everyone else!

Climbing
- Rad! Dalia Ojeda redpoints the 5.14c Mind Control in Oliana: http://ht.ly/98yEq  http://ht.ly/98yFI
- This is AWESOME. Ines Papert gives her first-hand account of her recent ascent of Illuminati M11+, WI6 http://ht.ly/9aLSw
- Girly Guide Dawn Glanc was No. 1 for the ladies in the mixed climbing comp at the 2012 Teva winter games! http://ht.ly/93Qh1 – Wise words from Sasha DiGiulian (@sashadigiulian) on managing expectations in climbing:  http://ht.ly/94tIr
- Do guides get scared? Why are women’s climbing programs important? Great interview with Sarah Hueniken thanks to Katie at Adventure Inspired: http://ht.ly/95k1v
- Why do you think there aren’t more females making first ascents? http://ht.ly/97poo
-  GREAT video of Sterling Rope (@SterlingRope) athlete Monique Forestier on the “Tom et je Ris” (8b+/5.14a):  http://ht.ly/92Tva
-  Majka Burhardt (@majkaburhardt) on what it means to climb: http://bit.ly/AwwKDB
- Spray ice climbing – how interested are you in giving it a shot? Report from Raph Salwinski at Helmcken Falls: http://ht.ly/96ZNd
- Come for Chicks (March 22-26), stay for the Red Rock Rendezvous! http://tinyurl.com/7y3ptxr
- Naked Ice Climber Warned Not to Do It Again: http://tinyurl.com/7u7xhzd
- Katie bouldering on Leatherface! Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, Jasper, AR http://ht.ly/92JfM
- Burly! Jesse Mattner nabs the second ascent of Silver Surfer, an M9 near Redstone, Co.  http://fb.me/B8Mkyexr
- Lots of bouldering going on in Hueco – see what’s going down thanks to the Climbing Narc (@climbingnarc): Busy Times In Hueco http://bit.ly/A2c7ff
- Great angles, makes you feel like you’re climbing along at the Teva Winter Mountain Games: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-PqdicZF8Y
- Nice post from a new climber. “The 3 Questions That Hold Me Back”: http://wp.me/p1N5lq-av
- Some great selections in the Splitter Choss (@splitterchoss) Friday Five: http://ht.ly/98zhA
-  We’re feeling the psych for Climb on Sister (@ClimbOnSister) who sent her project, Spittin’ Venom (V9) today! Video from trying it last year. http://ht.ly/99nIT
- What has Ouray Ice Fest winner Emily Harrington been up to since then? Check it out:  http://ht.ly/9aNzd

News
- Take Climbing’s 5-minute cover study and help your favorite climbing org earn a $500 donation: https://aimmedia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9oc0ujTnC1mWtxi&mode=facebookclimbing
- Dawn Glanc in the AAI (@AlpineInstitute) weekly news roundup among lots of other stories:  http://ht.ly/977zv
- Climber Injured in 50-foot Fall in Joshua Tree: http://tinyurl.com/7go5dl6

Training & Nutrition
- Train smart – core training for climbers – new at Climb Strong: http://ht.ly/92Pnq
- Although she admits to a love-hate relationship with training, here’s Climb On Sister’s (@ClimbOnSister) tips for training for climbing: http://ht.ly/93Tfo
- Tips for avoiding finger injuries for folks new to climbing from Gif (@rockclimberlife): http://ht.ly/98MHf

Gear
- How to Sharpen and Maintain your Ice Screws: http://tinyurl.com/7vdegrg
- Gear review of the So iLL (@soillholds) Blister Board from Gif (@rockclimberlife): http://ht.ly/93TPG Trip Reports
- Nice photo essay from AAI (@AlpineInstitute) of a SW Colorado classic ice climb: Ames Ice Hose: http://ht.ly/92GMK
- Some pretty sweet looking sport climbing in Thailand, or at least that’s how it looks in Whitney’s (@Whitneyio) video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OU_z713xJmg
- Soloing “The Prow” http://wednesdaysrocks.blogspot.com/2012/02/soloing-prow.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Inspiration
- Channeling fear & frustration into focus http://ht.ly/93QOs
- Check out these gorgeous ice shots from http://alpineexposures.com- how can you not be psyched to ice climb after seeing these?!?! http://www.alpineexposures.com/blogs/chamonix-conditions/5544012-ice-ice-baby
- Highlights from Sara’s hut trip http://RightSizedLife.com & a reminder that work is love, from Brendan (@semi_rad): http://ht.ly/976rz
- Really touching post on remembering a loved one, lost to cancer: http://www.prana.com/blog/2012/02/17/remembrance/
- Tiny girl in Aleya’s rock climbing class just fist jammed the 37 ft hand crack on the slab wall – how cool! http://ow.ly/i/t1dw

Fun Stuff
- Wow, Marmot (@marmotpro) gave Chicks a sweet spot on their homepage! Check out the bottom right-hand corner! http://ht.ly/94uN5
- So it looks like there’s a Men of Routesetting beefcake calendar out there:  http://tinyurl.com/6p9eb3o

If you have a blog entry that you think would be of interest to the women of Chicks Climbing please let us know! We love getting contributed content from other women – anything from trip reports, nutrition and training tips, to videos. We want to share your resources with the community – much like we do with the Gossip Report and are more than happy to re-publish and share links on behalf of the women’s climbing community! This week’s Gossip Report is brought to you by our sponsors at Columbia Sportswear! Thank you, Columbia for your support of our programs!

Tags: Columbia, Columbia Sportswear

This entry was posted on Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 12:11 pm and is filed under Read the Gossip. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.