SpeaKout

Red River Gorge

gebieker — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:10:00 +0000

Got back last night from our 4 day trip to Red River Gorge, Kentucky. For those of you who don’t know (and I didn’t) the Red is located pretty much in the middle of nowhere in eastern Kentucky, near a little town called Slade. Slade is a seasonal town which from the looks of it relies heavily on the “zip-line” and senior citizen community of the United States to keep it a float. The surrounding climate and terrain are eerily similar to that of the Ozarks. In fact when we woke up the first morning we all swore we were in Ponca. Not that that is bad at all since Ponca is beautiful country. Anyways we stayed at the famous Miguel’s Pizza (Campground and restaurant) which has been there since the late 70′s i believe. I can tell you right now that it still draws the same weekend warriors and dirt-baggers that it did then. Every single day we were there easily half of the United States were represented via license plates. It was amazing. People from all walks of life come from all over the country (and world) to spend 2$ a night to camp and enjoy the company, food and spirit of Miguel’s. Miguel himself was still there.We had the pleasure of is company during a late night camp fire.

On to the good stuff, the climbing. Well I may not be an “avid” sport climber (I am a pad-person) but I can tell you the Red has some of the best rock anywhere. The first day we all agreed that we climbed (and onsighted) the most beautiful 10c we had ever climbed. 80 feet tall, all types of climbing, a bouldery start through a few mantels and to top it off the last 20 feet or so feet was an over hanging plate fest (My favorite). Thrilling! From then on everyday failed to disappoint. We climbed the hardest 10a of our lives and Alex walked away with an impressive two 11a onsights (Respect). The last day we projected a 12a in The Zoo near Roadside and let me tell you what, amazing! and actually not too far out of reach. Maybe i will tag her in May. I can only hope…

All in all it was a great time, great climbing, great atmosphere and great people (most of whom were confined to my tent). I cant wait to take a trip back there in May with the Outdoor Connection Center. Who knows maybe I will be back there before then… All that I do know after this is that beer may not be the best recovery drink, the Red is the shit and it’s time to train.

Ride The Hill: A Bike Friendly University

gebieker — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:10:28 +0000

Dear Administration,

I am writing you this letter to inform you of a movement that your students, staff, and faculty have begun. It is a movement whose common goal is to work together to provide a safer, more accessible campus. This movement is called “Ride The Hill”. Its purpose is to illustrate to you that there is a problem and that it can be fixed.

“Ride The Hill” is the brainchild of a few outdoor students and staff during a thirteen hour road trip from San Antonio to Fayetteville. Their thinking; we need a way to demonstrate to the current administration that students and staff use bicycle transportation as a viable form of commuting, that there is no infrastructure or policy in place (currently) to accommodate cyclists like us and that should be fixed for the benefit of students, facility, staff and the University itself.

What our plan is and why you should care: Our plan is to bring together the cycling community at the University of Arkansas to share with them education and instruction on proper riding techniques and safety. To get enough people excited to ride their bikes to school and dismiss the notion that it’s too hard or too scary to ride The Hill. With this well organized and planned movement a lot of support and attention will likely follow. For students at the University we will hold “sessions” throughout the spring semester between the library and the union. They will be promoted by free shirts (if you ride there), fun people along with education on cycling transportation itself and what you can do to help our movement. These “sessions” will culminate into a large event which will be held at the end of the spring semester. This will give us our base, our support, and our numbers but unfortunately without support from the administration nothing will get done, no trails, no infrastructure. Why should they care? Well for starters the University of Arkansas sticks out like a sore thumb to cyclists from surrounding community. Fayetteville has spent lots of money recently on the Skull Creek trail systems and has been certified as a “Bike Friendly Community” by The League of American Bicyclists. This not only encourages people to ride there bikes and be healthy but also shows that Fayetteville cares about sustainability, going green, and the local economy. The university would be smart to follow suit not only for the image of a bicycle friendly establishment or for sustainability reasons but to draw in and retain incoming freshman. More students mean more money and that’s something the Administration does care about. Alas though our goal is not to fight the administration but to join them. We will create a committee of students and staff from places all over the university including: FYE, Sustainability Council, Special Events, the Outdoor Connection Center and the Transportation Department (just to name a few). This committee will work hand in hand with the students on the ground collecting data and educating as well as communicating directly with the administration to achieve our end goal, a “Master Plan” for bicycling and pedestrians on campus. This plan if approved by the administration and passed by the student populous would require the University to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians when making any decisions on the future of our campus. Which as of right now, the administration has not addressed.

Whether you are a student, staff or facility member it should be pretty obvious that something needs to be done to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians on campus. If on the other hand you don’t think so, next time you are outside between classes on campus please just take a look around.

I am.

gebieker — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:29:00 +0000

Dear Friend,
I am, You are, and It is. For we exist. We are because we react, we feel, and we have. Nothing more. It is this mere existence this thought that you and I have now that makes us here. But this is not all. To exist is not necessary to being. Being like a human is. Being like we are. For animals exist yet none of me believes that an animal exists in the same manner as you and I. So what is important is what has and what will become. Not just that we are, but that we have been and we will be. We know this because we think and We’ve thought. It is existence and time, both. Not one nor the other. An animal is here, now. We are everything else.

Fall Break here we come!!!

gebieker — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:27:56 +0000

And were off! Headed to to central Colorado tonight just south of Aspen. The Aspen (trees) are supposedly turning right now so it should be beautiful. After we get to the trail head traveling straight through we are gonna hike to just below Capitol Peak and camp near Crystal Lake (pictures below). Saturday we go for the summit. Don’t know what to expect because the last trip report on 14ers.com was for the 2nd of October so hopefully it will be a blast. Wish us luck on our “misadventures”.

http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=11130&parmpeak=Capitol+Peak&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Include (Check out this link for more info and pictures!)

Prepping for Fall Break: Captiol Peak, CO

gebieker — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Just got packed up for capitol peak. Got a new Mountain Hardware rain jacket yesterday and some windstopper gloves. I think all i need now is some bottom layers for my legs and i will be good to go. I might be over packing but it is my first time in the Rockies in October so i would rather be safe than sorry. Just getting strong i suppose. The OCC guys Eric, Nik and Cody are meeting me at 15:00 today so that we can get our food situation worked out. Here are some shots of of the peak we hope to bag and of the gear i put together.

oh, you know!

gebieker — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:09:21 +0000

So my man Eric Smith of the OCC and Fayetteville Fixed took some great pictures of his ride today. Wish mine would have been built already damn it! I missed out on the action. Until next time.

Saturday

gebieker — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:19:48 +0000

So, its Saturday already.. Gonna be busy here on out. Trips, weddings, LDTs, meetings, essays, the list goes on and on. But all that said I did get a great week of climbing in. Sent my first 5.11 sport route and sent my first V8 boulder problem out at the Beauty School boulders yesterday. Went out and had an awesome day of climbing with Clay, Alex and Tanner. Kudos to everyone for a great day of crushing as well as Alex for getting “The Cup” as well.

Also got my carbon fiber fork and headset in today in the mail. Time to start putting the Track bike together. Only four more parts and she is riding again. On a side note those of you who haven’t got into the Battlefield 3 Beta I strongly encourage purchasing it. Amazing.

Why…

gebieker — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:51:55 +0000

This is why we get outside.

Charlie Does Surf!

gebieker — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:15:58 +0000

Sent my first 5.11 today. “Charlie don’t surf” Lincoln Lake, AR. Rated initially as a 5.11c but in the guidebook listed as a 5.11a. Though I do wish it was a 5.11c I am still super excited! Also lost a quick draw on “hung in the fence” 5.11b, so the first person out there could get a free draw. Super excited. Should be bouldering harder than ever. Until next time.

BF3

gebieker — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:19:03 +0000

Battlefield 3 Beta just released. My life is now over.