Like many stories that have come to define much of my life, let's go to the heart of the mostly untamed desert Southwest, where the landscape unfolds like a vast, undulating canvas. Our van, in this case a rusty old Chevy Express, rumbles down dusty highways as we chase the horizon, mostly bluegrass coming from the speakers
Our crew is, and was then, a ragtag band of misfits and dreamers, united by a shared love of rocks, waves, and the open road. We tended to collide with people on this journey like planets; impact, fireworks, drift away. It's not sad or bad, it's just how a life on the road tends to be. Intense, powerful moments of love and friendship interspersed with space and loneliness that, in my experience, sharpens the mind.

I'm ruminating on isolated deserts, where towering cliffs rise like ancient guardians of the land. If you ask some native tribes, that may be exactly what they are. With ropes coiled and gear in tow, we scale these sandstone monoliths, dancing with space on the edge of oblivion. Rock climbing has always been about the space for me. The space of the landscape that tends to accompany a good place to climb, the space under your feet and behind you when up on the wall, and the mental space to think, whether big thoughts or small.

To climb is to confront fear and doubt head-on, to push past the limits of what you thought possible, and to find strength in the face of adversity. It is a practice that demands focus, concentration, and an unwavering commitment to the task at hand. And in the process, it offers a profound sense of accomplishment and empowerment that can only be earned through struggle and perseverance.

Perhaps the greatest gift of climbing lies in its ability to connect us to the natural world in a way that few other pursuits can. To climb is to become intimately acquainted with the rocks, the trees, the wind, and the sun – to feel their presence as keenly as you feel your own heartbeat.
In a world that often feels disconnected and disenchanted, climbing offers a reprieve – a chance to escape the noise and chaos of modern life and reconnect with something greater than ourselves. It is a reminder of our place in the world, our responsibility to care for the earth, and our capacity for awe and wonder in the face of its beauty.
As climbers, we understand the importance of conservation and stewardship, for the places we climb are not just playgrounds – they are sacred spaces that must be protected and preserved for future generations. We strive to minimize our impact on the environment, to tread lightly upon the earth, and to leave no trace of our passing save for the memories etched into our souls.

Travelling by Van is an important part of the life my wife and I have built. It has provided us with freedom to explore and climb in incredible places with amazing friends. Climbing is not the only recreation we participate in, but it is certainly the activity that set us on this path, and opened our minds to the possibilities. It is my hope that more people will get to experience this lifestyle, whether in a cheap old van or a beautiful luxurious one that we may or may not have built. It is easy to get disillusioned with the state of the world, if you pay attention to the news and social media; but getting out on the open road, immersing yourself in the wonders of the natural world, is healing in a way that I find hard to articulate. I truly believe if more people had the opportunity to experience the world this way, the state of things would be different.
Anyway, this is just some thoughts I figured I'd leave here if anyone wanted to understand our story a bit better. Let me know if I should do another?
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