Author: Chris Kalous

Owner, operator, guru, yogi of enormocast.
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Enormocast 290: Hayden Jamieson -Through the Valley of Darkness

Photos: TL, B Ian Dzlienski, TR Hayden Jamieson Collection
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On Episode 290 of the Enormocast, I sit down in a cool, dark hotel room on a bright and HOT day in Lander, WY with bigwall climber, Hayden Jamieson. Hayden and I both slumped into our chairs after escaping the 100 degree day outside and tried to gather ourselves for the interview, and that’s when Hayden began the tale that you hear on the show: Pakistan, protruding bones, blood, pain, anguish and heroism from his partners. Underneath this harrowing tale are obvious questions to contemplate: why climb? why go back? how do we honor those who do not come back from the mountains? And to cap it off, we end with Hayden’s comeback in Cochamó. Check your knot for this one, and try not to drive off the road.

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Enormocast 289: Smith Curry – A Climber Boy Can Survive

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On Episode 289 of the Enormocast, I connect to Nashville, TN to talk to climber and musician Smith Curry. Smith is one of the busiest session players in Music City on dobro and pedal steel. He also happens to be a veteran climber with big walls, first ascents, and alpine gnar under his harness-belt. Smith was introduced to climbing as a kid on a trip to Yosemite when Wayne Merry gave him a lesson at the Church Bowl. Then the next 15 years saw Smith on two paths: climbing and music. Music edged ahead as an obsession after he saw a young Jerry Douglas on Dobro. Then Smith ended up in Nashville and a 30 year career which lead him to play on over 20k songs, record for or with over 200 signed musicians including Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. All the while, Smith snuck in his climbing with ascents from Canada to Peru, Yosemite, the Southeast and everywhere in between. Smith is still on a session recording hot streak with the current Hot 100 #1, The Bar Song (Tipsy), and his climbing is still going strong.

Smith’s Website

T- Swift with Smith

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Enormocast 288: Don McGrath – The Vertical Mind Returns

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On Episode 288 of the Enormocast, I reunite with Don McGrath, the author of the book Vertical Mind. Don appeared nearly a decade ago on the podcast, and his book on the mindset of climbing has never left the conversion. Don has spent the last 10 years learning even more about overcoming the hurdles our brains set up for us on the wall. He’s helped thousands of climbers make steps to improve their climbing and their enjoyment of climbing. Now in his 60s, Don is also learning what it takes to perform as you age and stay in the mix. Overall, a fun and enlightening conversion with an OG training guru.

The Vertical Mind Show

The Vertical Mind Podcast

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