Miscellaneous | Seven Summits

Back on the Maine Coast

by Brandon Chalk | Jul 15, 2015 | Miscellaneous, Rock Climbing, Sawyer

We always look forward to our week back in Maine. The Oelberger Residence is located on the St. George River about 20 minutes from the city of Rockland. Its so relaxing and we always enjoy our time with Ken & Dianne in their element on the coast of Maine. They are officially true “Mainers” now. Its always a full travel day (14 hours or so) from our house to the Oelberger’s house, but I feel its always fun taking the hour long flight from Boston to Owl’s Head on the 8-seater Cape Air Cessna.

About to board the Cessna in Boston

Kristine’s sister, Carrie, was also there with her family (Thomas, Teo, & Kai) visiting from Minneapolis. It was essentially one big Oelberger reunion. Our good friends Kate & Chris Danforth (with kids Harper & Afton in tow) from Burlington, VT (who vacation on the coast of Maine at Squirrel Island all summer) even came and stayed with us for 24 hours overnight. It was a houseful, but so fun. My sister, Logan, and her husband Ransome came up to visit for a few hours from Booth Bay Harbor as they were in-state for a wedding in Portland. It was a treat to have them visit us at the Oelberger Residence. Lots of activities were abundant each day including getting out on the boat(s), a few good trail runs (one great one with Chris Danforth on the local hiking trails), setting up a rope in a tree in the front yard (to show Thomas how to ascend a rope to trim/take down a large Mulberry Tree in Minneapolis yard), an afternoon of rock climbing for Kristine & myself at Barrett’s Cove Cliff, and numerous other fun events.

Left to right: Kate, Harper, Kristine, Afton, me, Chris, & Thomas

Teo & Carrie helping Thomas with the ropework in the Oelberger’s front yard

My sister, Logan, brother-in-law, Ransome, and us

Logan & Sawyer

Thomas practicing his jumaring

The view from the Oelberger’s front deck of Thomas dangling from the oak tree above the St. George River

Who needs baby toys when you have climbing gear?

Sawyer did not like the life vest

Down by the water

Chris & Sawyer

There was a lot of stimulation for Sawyer all week with all of the kiddos

Kristine & I had coordinated borrowing a full rack of climbing gear and rope(s) from the nicest gentleman, Bruce Gerard, who lives in Appleton (40 minutes away from Ken & Dianne) and had done landscape work for the Oelbergers in the past. Bruce had done a lot of climbing around the US and in New England. He is a veteran of the local climbing scene especially around Rockland, Camden, & Rockport and is essentially a “guidebook” himself. He was so generous to lend us his gear and we so enjoyed visiting he and his wife at his home on 20 acres for a good hour or so. I hope we can climb with Bruce on a future visit. All Kristine & I had to bring from Colorado were our harnesses, shoes, a helmet, and a few slings/biners/quickdraws. Bruce indeed saved us a lot of hastle with transporting a lot of gear across the county. So, the Oelbergers with Carrie & Thomas were so nice to watch Sawyer for 5+ hours while Kristine & I went and had some time to ourselves scoping out a new climbing area (to us) at Barrett’s Cove Cliff about 40 minutes away. It was a great afternoon just the two of us. We climbed a 260′ two-pitch route called Charlotte’s Crack (5.7 R), which was apparently one of the classic climbs of the area. It was a lot of fun. I couldn’t have led it without Bruce’s “Camden Rack” – lots of small TCUs, micro-nuts, and “east coast” gear. Very different from our splitter cracks out here where you maybe need 8-10 cams of the same size.

Me leading away on the 1st pitch of Charlotte’s Crack

Fun face climbing with decent protection

I tagged a 2nd (blue) rope for our rappels

Me on the 2nd portion of the 1st pitch

140′ up you reach a large ledge called “Broadway” and a 2-bolt anchor

me on Broadway with Barrett’s Cove behind

At Broadway ledge

We then transitioned to another 2-bolt anchor 15′ to our left on Broadway and I saddled up and began climbing up the enjoyable 2nd pitch of Charlotte’s Crack. The 2nd pitch was 120′ of 5.7 climbing up to two large trees which provided a suitable anchor from which I belayed Kristine up.

Me beginning the lead of the upper pitch of Charlotte’s Crack

There was a nice little off-width section, which was fun

Upper pitch of Charlotte’s Crack

Kristine topping out

Really pretty views from the top of the cliff

We then moved 15′ back to the left to find the rappel anchors and set up the double rope rap.

Setting up the 1st double rope rappel

Happy to be out just the two of us

Rapping down to Broadway

Upon reaching the ground after two double rope raps, we decided to hike around and find this other climbing area called The Verticals where several fun 5.9-5.10 sport routes existed. After scrambling up a gully and a stream bed we found two climbs on our right and just decided to climb these. I have no idea what they are, but the challenging climb was all good fun and gave me a bit of a pump. We felt like we needed to get back to Sawyer and while Kristine packed up the gear and coiled the ropes, I ran up the stream bed and found the top anchors for the climbs on The Verticals. They looked very cool. Next time for sure.

Kristine hiking out. A climber (in a pink shirt) can be seen way up on the 2nd pitch of Charlotte’s Crack

Route outline of Charlotte’s Crack as seen from Barrett’s Cove: red is 1st pitch, blue is Broadway, & green is 2nd pitch

Barrett’s Cove Cliff from Barrett’s Cove parking area

We met a nice climbing guide and owner of Northern Vertical named Ryan Howes at the base of Charlotte’s Crack with a client and he recommended we check our the Ocean Lookout crag with its variety of crack climbs. Looking forward to that hopefully on our next visit! A few more of our favorite pics throughout the week are as follows:

Me and S down by the water in front of the Oelberger’s home

The Chalks

Sawyer, Teo, me, & Carrie

Kristine took these gorgeous sunset pics looking over Ken & Dianne’s motorboat and the St. George River

Very peaceful

Cousins (Left to right: Teo, Kai, Sawyer)

Laughing babies

Sawyer’s 4th of July attire

Taking the Oelberger motorboat out for a spin

Seals sunbathing on the rocks

And, Sawyer tried her 1st Maine lobster! The first of many…

Until next time, Maine!

Kristine Earns her Masters Degree

by Brandon Chalk | May 27, 2015 | Miscellaneous, Rock Climbing

Well, amidst completing the 7 Summits, have a full time job at Red Sandstone Elementary School in Vail, being pregnant, raising our 7-1/2 month old daughter, and doing countless other climbs and adventures, Kristine managed to close out her multi-year graduate school endeavor and earn her Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder’s School of Education. To say it is a relief that the classes and papers is finally over is likely the understatement of the year, but it is just all so very impressive Kristine pulled this off with everything else going on in her life. However, I’m not surprised. Not one bit 🙂 Anyway, Ken & Dianne made the journey out to Colorado to see their granddaughter and watch Kristine walk and receive her diploma on a very rainy graduation Friday in Boulder.

The graduate!

Sawyer catching up on the program itinerary with Dianne

All the Masters and PhD candidates in the auditorium

Kristine receiving her diploma

Dianne and myself took turns hanging with Sawyer in the lobby during the 2 hour ceremony, but overall Sawyer did extremely well. Had only the weather been better we could have all enjoyed the outdoor reception, but we made the most of it inside with fun pictures of the graduates and family.

In the lobby

The graduate & Sawyer

The three of us

The Oelbergers

So proud of Kristine!

Sawyer was ready to go and the weather was only getting worse, so we all loaded up the Oelberger’s rental van and headed back up the hill in a torrential downpour for 2 hours. With the Oelbergers in town, obviously they want to spend time with their granddaughter, so the next day Kristine, Kona, Rainier, & myself headed west to Grand Junction and Colorado National Monument to do some climbing just the 4 of us like old times. The weather was horrible all over the state and even all around us in Fruita to the north and Escalante Canyon to the south, but somehow we escaped any precipitation in Monument Canyon all day long though we could see it in every direction. It was a good day.

Kristine on the lengthy 110′ 5.10a route called Wide Load

Close-up of Kristine jamming

Kristine in the offwidth portion of Wide Load

Me & the dogs

Stormy weather all around

Me leading the fun layback 5.8+ route called Left Dihedral

Me leading the fun lieback 5.8+ route called Left Dihedral

Kristine honing her layback skills

Me at the chains after leading long 120′ Luhr’s Route (Right Dihedral), which goes at 5.9 or so

Kristine climbing the crux face climbing portion of Luhr’s Route in Monument Canyon

Good to be out together

The following day (Sunday) was Mother’s Day and we had an amazing brunch at the Wolcott Yacht Club. I had not eaten brunch there in 7-8 years, and boy was it awesome. I think we all wish we could go there every weekend for brunch.

At brunch

Outside the Yacht Club

One more of the Oelbergers

All in all, a great weekend celebrating Kristine both as a graduate and as a mother. A husband can’t be any more proud of his wife than myself!

Sawyer Adventures

by Brandon Chalk | Apr 8, 2015 | Miscellaneous, Rock Climbing, Sawyer

The past few weekends have afforded Kristine & myself some wonderful adventuring with little Sawyer as well as Rainie and Kona. While we might not be going out on all day outings either climbing or hiking/skiing peaks these days, these are the most valuable times where you really enjoy showing your children the beautiful outdoors and introducing them to your passions. So, from swiss bobbing to Cordillera’s nordic course pulk sledding to Escalante Canyon rock climbing to backpacking up our local Red & White Mountain, Sawyer has done it all these past few weeks and I think, for the most part, enjoyed herself. Obviously, there are the tougher, stressful times during these outings, but we believe it will all make Sawyer a bit stronger in the long run (hopefully). We sure enjoyed being with her.

My 1st swiss bob

Hanging with my dog, Rainie

Wolcott Upper Tier climbing:

Hanging with Dad

Me finishing the lead of one of our favorites - The Guru Crack (5.9)

Dad finishing the lead of one of our favorites – The Guru Crack (5.9)

Mom at the crux on The Guru Crack

Rainie standing guard while Sawyer sleeps at the Upper Tier

Rainie standing guard while I sleep at the Upper Tier

Kristine & Sawyer at the Sunset Wall of the Upper Tier

Mom & Sawyer at the Sunset Wall of the Upper Tier

Red & White Mtn & Cordillera Pulk Sledding:

We hiked up to our favorite car camping spot on Red & White

A beauty day

In the pulk, Julbo glasses on, ready to roll

Dad pulling me around the couple mile course

The downhill was exciting

All the ladies

Escalante Canyon, Colorado:

It was a hot & sunny day in this remote canyon. Too hot for me (Sawyer) to take a nap, which made for a shorter day for all of us. However, we got a few climbs in and look forward to another trip to this area

Jesse working the tough 100' trad climb called Unknown Awkward at the Cabin Wall. While reported 5.9+, the consensus was that the climb was in the 5.11 range. We agree

Jesse working the tough 100′ trad climb called Unknown Awkward at the Cabin Wall. While reported 5.9+, the consensus on Mountain Project was that the climb was in the 5.11 range. We agree 🙂

Mom on Unknown Flake (5.9)

Mom higher on Unknown Flake

Me leading up TH Crack (5.8)

Jesse high on the fun TH Crack

Back at home

Able to sit up now

I do like to grin and silently laugh 🙂

1st time in the backpack (6 miles RT and 2,000′ up Red & White Mountain to the base of the bald spot):

Ready to rock with Dad

At the T-junction on the Red & White Mtn road (FS 779). This was our turnaround point

My CO hat and matching Julbos

Heading down on yet another beautiful day

The backpack was a success!

Easter 2015:

We went over to a friend’s home for brunch

Sitting up and playing in my Easter attire

The fam

With Dad

Happy

Sportswomen of Colorado

by Brandon Chalk | Mar 16, 2015 | 7 Summits News, Miscellaneous

I first heard about this great organization called Sportswomen of Colorado a few years ago when our friend Christy Mahon from Aspen won an award for her ski-mountaineering accomplishments when she became the first female to ski all of Colorado’s 14ers. The primary goal of Sportswomen of Colorado is to promote women’s athletics by recognizing those exceptional achievements by very talented and wonderful women. It is the first community-based organization in the nation to do so. I always thought it would be fun to nominate Kristine for her 7 Summits quest, but at the time we were a few years off. Then, when we finally completed the 7 Summits in December 2014, I didn’t waste any time in the spring of 2015 to get the nomination rolling. Most of the awards really honor team-oriented high school athletics whether volleyball, track, swimming, or skiing. There are a few special awards for other fields of sports such as triathalons and, yes, mountaineering. And, then, the big award each year is THE Colorado Sportswoman of the Year, which the organization announces at the end of each year’s banquet. Last year, Vail Valley local Mikaela Shiffrin won the Sportswoman award for her professional ski racing accomplishments in 2013. Ironically, Mikaela was Kristine’s former art student at Vail Mountain School when Kristine taught there. After receiving wonderfully-written letters of recommendations by our great friends and supporters Rob Casserley and Diana Scherr, I submitted the entire nomination to the organization and the wait was on. Finally, just this past January we heard Kristine was to receive the special award for Dedication in Mountaineering for her 7 Summits accomplishment. We were all beyond thrilled! After all, I like to think of myself as Kristine’s biggest fan and I just wanted her to be recognized. Its not every day a woman (or for that matter an American woman) climbs the 7 Summits. In fact, as of now, I still only believe 20 or so American women have climbed the 7 Summits and Kristine is the first from Colorado.

The 2015 Sportswomen of Colorado awards banquet at the Denver Marriot Tech Center

So, we headed down to the Denver Marriot Tech Center on Sunday afternoon, March 8, to attend the very nicely done awards banquet. Only, we made one big mistake – driving to Denver on a Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, we never have to deal with skier traffic (and hopefully never will), but we hit it smack on. Good friends (Ben Conners & Brian Miller) have told us, “No one can tell you what skier traffic is, you have to experience it for yourself”. Well, we did. And, man, its awful. Nevertheless, we arrived at the banquet just a tad late for the dinner itself though we missed the hour long cocktail party. It was a fun evening, a great dinner & dessert, and really impressive to hear of all the award winners and their just plain awesome accomplishments. We were talking about how several of these high school women will likely be Olympians soon enough. The keynote speaker was Kate Fagan of ESPN fame. They had pictures circulating on the big screens throughout the dinner and we loved seeing the ones I submitted of Kristine ski-mountaineering in Antarctica and on the summit of Everest. Finally, Kristine was called on stage to receive the Dedication Award during which the announcers made a very nice introduction of Kristine, her accomplishment, and her teaching accomplishments here in the Vail Valley. I scooted near the back and took what pictures I could though the photographer at the front obviously got the goods. I was very proud.

Kristine receiving her Dedication Award from Kate Fagan

There she is

Kristine on the big screen

The finale of the banquet was the announcement of this year’s Colorado Sportswoman and, not suprisingly, Mikaela won it again for her gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Hard to complete with a gold medal, we thought. I do wonder if adventure-type hobbies such as mountaineering, climbing, etc will ever compete with those spotlight media-hyped sports. Probably not. But, maybe that’s a good thing. Rob Casserley put it best when he said in his letter of recommendation for Kristine: “Mountaineering is not a sport replete with gold medals, cheering crowds, or podiums.” How very true. Anyway, it was nice to hear that the Sportswoman award would be kept local for one more year. Congratulations to Mikaela. We both wish we could have seen her, but she was in Europe for ski racing and could not attend. Though, she had a nice little video addressing the awards banquet crowd and thanked the organization for the award. We both have wondered if she’d remember Kristine as her art teacher.

We made a quick exit and arrived back home in Edwards around 11pm to find a sleeping Sawyer and Diana Scherr’s sweet 10 year old daughter, Piper, in the bed next to Sawyer’s crib. Diana & Piper had relieved good buddies J & Megan of baby duties halfway through the evening. We chatted with Diana for awhile and just thanked her (& Piper) so much for watching Sawyer. It was such a huge help. We got some really good friends, that’s for sure. We actually never took a picture of Kristine & myself at the banquet, so Diana was nice enough to take one of us in our living room with Kristine wearing her Dedication award medal.

Back at home

Congratulations again, Kristine. Not only does your 7 Summits accomplishment deserve recognition and accolades, but all of your accomplishments throughout life deserve admiration and celebration. You will always be all of our Sportswoman of Colorado. Special thanks again to Diana & Rob for their outstanding letters of recommendation. You guys are really good friends. To nominate someone or learn more about Sportswomen of Colorado, check the organization out at http://sportswomenofcolorado.org/.

TN Pass Cookhouse & Monument Canyon

by Brandon Chalk | Jan 28, 2015 | Miscellaneous, Rock Climbing

For Kristine’s birthday, the Chalks visited the wonderful Tennessee Pass Cookhouse at Ski Cooper again but it was our first time with Sawyer. Its always a plus to go on a nice, sunny day for the views and so the dogs can hang outside the yurt while we dine inside. We have always gone for lunches at the Cookhouse for the views, but I hear the dinners are awesome as well albeit more pricey. Reservations are required for either lunch or dinner. More info on the Cookhouse can be found here. Sawyer did great on the brief mile walk to the yurt at about 10,800′ and she had a ball inside always scoping out the scene and her surroundings. It was a nice afternoon.

Me & Sawyer on the Cookhouse’s front deck

Homestake Peak (13,209′) across the valley which we climbed and skied almost exactly a year go. Kristine was pregnant with Sawyer at the time, though we didn’t know it yet

Taking in the scene

Love the big wood stove inside the yurt behind us

Sawyer observing her surroundings

Mom & daughter

We think Sawyer is figuring out what her hands and fists are and that maybe they are hers? 🙂

On the Cookhouse deck after lunch

Mt. Elbert from the Cookhouse

The Tennessee Pass Cookhouse

Back at home relaxing on the couch

And, with that, I got to throw a few climbing pics in here. Last week I received an email from my buddy Ryan Masters to join he and his girlfriend Stephanie in Grand Junction for some warm crack climbing. I mean “you had me at hello!”. So, I drove down to Colorado National Monument for the day on Sunday and had a wonderful time in the warm high desert sun on the awesome sandstone with Ryan & Stephanie. Was great to see Ryan again and catch up on all things mountain-related.

Ryan leading Dihedral 1 - Left Dihedral (5.8+), an awesome 90' route

Ryan leading Dihedral 1 – Left Dihedral (5.8+), an awesome 90′ crack route

Ryan at the crux almost to the anchors. There is a second pitch to this route which goes at 5.12 or so

Me leading Luhr’s Route – Right Dihedral (5.9), a 120′ really fun mixed route involving some technical face climbing past 3 bolts into an awesome arcing dihedral. Photo by Ryan

Stephanie in the dihedral of Luhr’s Route

I then led this rather slabby, tough, and runout sport climb next to Luhr's Route called Circle, Square, & theTriangle (5.10a). Ryan then led it after me as seen here

I then led this rather slabby, tough, and runout sport climb next to Luhr’s Route called Circle, Square, & the Triangle (5.10a). Ryan then led it after me and did an awesome job as seen here. I believe its much easier & safer for taller climbers (in terms of clipping the bolts)

Ryan higher on Circle, Square, & the Triangle

Me leading the pretty cool 120′ dihedral called Wide Load (5.10a). Photo by Ryan

Me in the off-width portion of Wide Load, which I climbed much better than my last 5.10a off-width at Tiara Rado. Photo by Ryan

Stephanie at the crux of Wide Load – an overhanging hand jam into insecure finger jams

Me leading our 5th and final route of the day called Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire (5.9). This was a very stiff 5.9 in our opinion and I’ve heard the face climbing at the bolts is more like 5.10. Photo by Ryan

Ryan climbing the initial fun 30′ of arcing finger crack before the face climbing on Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire

Beautiful Monument Canyon. It was a nice day

Happy 12th, Rainie!

by Brandon Chalk | Jan 12, 2015 | Miscellaneous

I guess its only natural that we start aging from the instant we are born, but its just not fair that our loving & loved canine companions age so much faster than us. My first love, Rainier, turned 12 years old yesterday (January 11) and while part of me gets sad knowing she is in the latter portion of her life expectancy, I am very fortunate, grateful, and happy to have been a part of her amazing life thus far and to have had her be such an important part of my life. I have always loved her unconditionally and have thought many times I would be willing to trade my life for hers. I go would through and do anything to save and protect her. You know you love something so much when you love that something more than yourself. We have been on countless adventures, hikes, and climbs together and have made so many unforgettable memories. She is such a special gal, the sweetest thing I know, and has been my best friend since I picked her up at 7-1/2 weeks old in Charlotte, NC in 2003. I cannot imagine my life without her. I hope she feels the same. While she is of course slowing down and getting more aches and pains, she is still such a trooper and is able to hike very well. We have all been so fortunate Rainie has been such a healthy dog her whole life. Except for a malignant tumor over a year ago, which was completely removed and excised, she continues to amaze me and many others in her abilities & energy for being 84 years old in human years. I have so many photos of our adventures over the years, but here are a few blasts from the past:

Rainie on Lavender Col after climbing Mt. Sneffels in July 2004

La Plata Peak summit (August 2004)

Rainie coming down the class 3 summit pitch on Wetterhorn Peak in 2004

Mt. Harvard summit (August 2005)

Tent-bound on a winter attempt of Challenger & Kit Carson Peaks in 2006

A friendly Kristine & Brandon with a young Rainier on the summit of Huron Peak in November 2006

Rainie with a young Kona

Me & Rainier on the summit of Blanca Peak (Memorial Day weekend 2007)

Me & Rainier on the summit of Mt. Wilson with El Diente behind (September 2007)

Me & Rainier on the summit of Mt. Wilson with El Diente behind (Labor Day weekend 2007)

Wilson Peak summit (Labor Day weekend 2007)

Me & Rainie on top of San Luis Pk, my final Colorado14er, in August 2008

Me & Rainie on top of San Luis Peak, my final Colorado 14er, in August 2008

Her namesake

Crestone Peak summit in July 2009

She likes her beer

Rainie & Kristine at Lake Powell in August 2009

Rainie ready to climb Pyramid Peak in August 2009

Rainie & I descending from Pyramid Peak’s summit. Photo by Caleb Wray

Mt. Yale’s east ridge climb in winter of 2010

Rainier makes a high-speed descent of the steep north face of Crystal Peak (April 2010)

Photoshoot

A 2011 Covergirl. Cover photo by Joel Gratz

Rainie taking a rest on climbing Mt. Antero, Kristine’s final Colorado 14er in August 2011. Photo by Joel Gratz

Summit of the Spider, Gore Range, with Rainie in July 2012

An old favorite – Uneva Peak summit in the Gores

Summit of Wheeler Peak, New Mexico in May 2014

So, last night, as I believe one of Rainie’s favorite activities nowadays (other than having a tennis ball in her mouth) is swiss bob sledding down a ski mountain in my lap, we hiked up Arrowhead at a nice, enjoyable Rainie pace and cruised down perfect corduroy for 1,800′ in less than 10 minutes. Not to toot our own horn, but we have pretty much perfected the human/70 lb dog swiss bob sled down a ski mountain together. She absolutely loves it. She wouldn’t think of walking/running down on her own. She just circles around me waiting for me to say I’m ready for her in my lap. It was a perfect birthday outing.

Rainie & I atop Arrowhead for the nth time before our birthday swiss bob run. This was also a great outing to try and forget the Broncos’s horrible loss to the Colts an hour earlier. However, I still love my new Broncos beanie cap thanke to Ken & Dianne

Maybe a year or so ago, Joel Gratz took this iphone quality video showing Rainie & I pushing off from the top of Arrowhead on our swiss bob. While the video is dark and somewhat grainy, I think it does show Rainie’s comfort & enjoyment. I hope to borrow J’s GoPro soon enough and video the entire bob run down the mountain.