Episode 206: Andres Marin – El Afortunado.

On Episode 206, we get down to climbing talk and climbing stories with Andres Marin. Andres was born and grew up in the mountains of Colombia, but immigrated to the US as a young man. Ending up in Grand Junction, Colorado, Andres was quickly drawn to the climbing opportunities in his back yard. Soon, he found himself guiding Mt. Rainier over and over and over (and over) again. Finally, he wound up as a consummate guide in Ouray, Colorado and then on the North Face team. Andres has been drawn to all forms of climbing, with alpinism and ice climbing being his bread and butter. First ascents world wide dot his resume amid years of desert climbing and technical Rocky Mountain ice. Good for a laugh and a crazy story, Andres Marin is the kind of climber you want at your campfire.

Episode 205: Alexis Krauss – There’s More Than One Way to Rock.

On Episode 205 of the Enormocast, I get to go sideways from rock climbing to rock and roll with musician/climber, Alexis Krauss. Alexis is a Gunks climber, a guide, and also happens to be living one of my alternate dreams as half of the “noise rock” (Wikipedia) band, Sleigh Bells. During a tour in 2013, Alexis found climbing and was nearly instantly hooked. Placing climbing into the relentless touring and recording life was a breath of fresh air and a balancing for Alexis. But not happy just to participate, Alexis took her earlier teaching roots and applied those skills to Young Woman Who Crush. YWWC takes young woman from the city and introduces them to climbing in the gym and then outdoors. Alexis and the other mentors of YWWC have taught young woman from amazingly diverse and unexpected backgrounds not just climbing fundamentals, but the breadth of the beauty of the natural world. From rock and roll to rock climbing to teaching, Alexis takes these seemingly disparate pursuits and weaves them into a tapestry of passion, creativity, and commitment and finally, a life well-lived.

Riot Rhythm Sleigh Bells

There’s Only One Way to Rock. Wrong!

Episode 204: Favia Dubyk – Upon the Mortal Side.

On Episode 204, I connect across state lines with climber, doctor, athlete, ninja, cancer survivor, and last but not least, president of the Southern Maryland Youth Foreign Film and Cuisine Club, Favia Dubyk. Favia grew up “below the Mason-Dixon line” but ended up attending Harvard and Columbia and ended up living in Cleveland and now New Mexico. Finding climbing along the way, Favia now fancies herself a “roof boulderer” that dabbles in sport climbing. Also along the way, Favia was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma at 24 and very nearly lost her life to the disease. With the help of her then boyfriend, now husband, and a host of other friends, family members, and health professionals, Favia returned to a life of normalcy and CLIMBING. Now a pathologist in New Mexico and mom to 5 cats and a dog, Favia lives a life of seemingly unbounded energy and joy and truly lives to climb.

Favia on American Ninja Warrior