Episode 97: Jay Smith – A Climber for All Seasons.

Jay Smith andhis mustache.
Jay Smith and his mustache.

On Episode 97 of the Enormocast, I sit down in a limping Mobile Studio with alpinist, and all-around climber, Jay Smith. Jay and I get through his discomfort to talk about his early climbing, his vast motivation for first ascents, rigging, and best partners. Jay may or may not have sanctioned himself Clint-Eastwood-style by revealing classified intel about Navy Seal training. Jay is more at home freezing on a Himalayan peak than talking about himself, but his personality shines through in this hour in the Mobile Studio.

Since there’s basically nothing on the internet about Jay Smith, the climber, here’s a video of Jay Smith, the Swedish Country singer.

Episode 96: Said Belhaj – All In, All the Time.

No booze, no drugs, no meat,all psyche.
No booze, no drugs, no meat, all psyche.
Said in sans kneepads in Rifle.
Said sans kneepads in Rifle.

On Episode 96 of the Enormocast, I luck out and sit down with Swedish/Moroccan/Finnish climber, Said Belhaj.

After obsessively adventuring on nearby rocks and breaking into his grade school like a ninja to train, Said found sport climbing and his fate was set. He is a seeker and finds the meditative state in climbing to be as necessary as air and food. As an accomplished musician, Said travels the world sending hard routes and blowing minds with transcendental music. All in, all the time, Said Belhaj is a climber for the ages.

 

Said’s Website.

Said Belhaj profile by Andrew Bisharat

Episode 95: Stefan Glowacz – Still on Top.

Stefan Glowacz from innocence to experience.

On Episode 95 of the Enormocast, I sit down in a slowly deteriorating studio with German climbing legend, Stefan Glowacz. Stefan informed my early climbing with his seminal book Rocks Around the World. He started as a hotshot comp climber, then a sport climber, and has gone on to establish monster alpine routes and big rock climbs around the globe. Always seeking new adventures by fair means, Stefan is nowhere near done finding new goals and pushing the envelope.

A young Stefan freesolos Katchoong in Arapiles.

A crazy-ass rig in a cave.