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Episode 194: Dru Mack – Getting Out of His Own Way.

On Episode 194, I sit down in Denver, Colorado with Louisville, KY native and Red River Gorge climber, Dru Mack. Dru is a youngish climber and coach who dropped roots in the Red as a kid, and now uses the base he gained there to tick hard sport pitches and boulders worldwide. At an early age, Dru experienced therapy for clinical anxiety, and he now can bring that experience to bear coaching kids not just in climbing, but finding their way in the complicated world of adolescence. Also, Dru is one of those seemingly rare climbers with a love of a ball sport, namely basketball, and apparently he has some actual skill? He uses the inspiration from that sport to drive his goals in climbing.

Dru in the Red

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Episode 193: George Lowe III – A Fortunate Man.

On Episode 193, I sit down with American alpine legend, George Lowe. George grew up in Ogden, Utah, among an extended family of climbers, skiers, river runners that included his equally legendary cousin, Jeff. A self-described dork, George found a home among the small counter culture of climbing and began using his problem solving skills on the granite of the Wasatch and the Tetons at a fairly early age. Decades later at 75, Lowe’s resumé rivals any American mountaineer with winter ascents in the Tetons, first ascents of many “last great problem” type routes throughout the Canadian Rockies and Alaska and finally the Himalayas. Despite his maniacal effort to downplay his achievements, this episode solidifies what we already know: George Lowe is one of the best to ever climb – and also may or may not have helped with denuclearization.

Slideshow images courtesy of Michael Kennedy.

  • George Lowe and Michael Kennedy, Foraker.
  • George Lowe on Foraker.
  • George Lowe on Foraker.
  • George Lowe on the crux of the Infinite Spur, Mt Foraker.
  • Foraker.
  • George and Jeff Lowe, 1977
  • George, Michael, Jeff, 1977.
  • Mt Hunter.
  • Mt Hunter.
  • Goerge, Jim Donini, and Jeff below the North Ridge ofLatok

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Episode 192: Jenny Fischer – Love and Logic.

On Episode 192 of the Enormocast, I sit down in the Access Fund offices late night with Jenny Fischer. Jenny grew up and lived in the small city of Port Huron, Michigan until she was 30. Then she blew up her rather preordained life and lit out after a dream she’d had since she was a littler girl: explore and climb in the Great American West. Being a somewhat late in life climber, Jenny made up for lost time by diving in with everything she had and cutting her teeth with big whippers and scary near misses until coming up for air and mellowing out a bit before her luck ran out. Now, Jenny has created a life around climbing and just set out on a world tour.

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