DRAWN: The Climbing Adventures of an Artist

In 2009, climber and artist Jeremy Collins found himself stuck in a cave under Fitz Roy in Patagonia, waiting for the weather to clear enough to give him a shot at the climbing to the summit. While there, he came up with the inspiration to travel in four directions from his home, and climb new routes that had never been done before. He was looking for a new challenge, something to inspire him. Over the next four years, that vision took him to the jungles of Venezuela, the border of China and Mongolia, into Northern Canada, and the Yosemite Valley.  As he went, he collected very personal stories from those journeys, and he filled five sketchbooks with art inspired by those adventures.

Now, Jeremy has published the art from those sketchbooks in a wonderful new tome that is available from Mountaineers Books. He is also about to close a Kickstarter campaign that has earned him enough funds to produce a film of this adventures as well. The campaign still has three days to go until it is done, and while the minimum goal has been met, extra funds will go to improving production.

The story is a very inspiring one, showing us how we can pursue our dreams and go after our goals. Life is an adventure, and this little book, and film, are a testament to how to pursue those adventures. The video below offers a glimpse of what Jeremy has in mind. Looks great!

Video: Escape - Why We Climb

Here's a beautiful and inspiring short film that I think you'll love. It's entitled Escape and it features a rock climber who shares his thoughts on why he loves to climb. It isn't for glory or recognition. It is to escape the trapping of daily life, and find some time to commune with nature. The cinematography on this 4+ minute video is stunning, and I'm sure there is a little something that we can all relate to here.

Escape from Nikolic Nikola on Vimeo.

Video: Climbers Discover Massive Cave System In Colombia

Here's an interesting video that I came across over at the Adventure Journal. It tells the tale of Gabriel Rubiano Groot and a team of climbers and slackliners, who have discovered an massive new cave system hidden in the Colombian mountains. The problem is, the cave is located near the town of Florián, which has long been part of the drug trade. It's a fascinating story that makes you wonder what other hidden gems are out there, just waiting to be found.

Justification for Wanderlust: Gabo's Story from Where?Next on Vimeo.

Video: Ice Climbing An Ice Cave At Helmcken Falls, British Columbia

Spring may be officially here, but we're still finding out about some of the great winter adventures that have taken place in the past few months. Case in point, this great video that features climber Tim Emmett taking on an incredible looking climb in an ice cave located at Helmcken Falls, British Columbia. It is definitely an amazing sight to behold. Great footage of some impressive climbing for sure.

Video: Seasons In Flight - Climbing In El Salto, Mexico

This short film is an 11-minute documentary on El Salto, Mexico, one of the best spots in the country for rock climbing. It is beautifully shot and reveals just how amazing this destination is for climbers.

Seasons in Flight : The Sound of the First Season from Ulric Rousseau on Vimeo.

Video: Border Country - Climbing In The Tian Shan Mountains

Last summer, mountaineers Mike Libecki, Ethan Pringle, and Liv Sansoz traveled to a very remote region of the world located along the border of China and Kyrgyzstan to climb a new route in the Tian Shan Mountains. The short video below captures some of their experiences there, and gives us a glimpse of what this rugged, largely unexplored, wilderness looks like. A place where adventure still beckons from around every corner.

Border Country from Mountain Hardwear on Vimeo.

Video: Paint It Black

The short video that I have shared below is an incredibly powerful look at the dedication and determination that climbers often bring to their projects. It features Ian Dory, who set out to climb a V15 route in Colorado known as Paint It Black. Little did he know that finishing that route would become his obsession, taking two years to complete. The film shows viewers his frustration along the way, and ultimately the satisfaction of having completed this difficult problem. Beautiful images and good storytelling are highlights of the clip.

Ian Dory's STRONG from Mind Frame Cinema on Vimeo.

Video: Dancing On The Maiden

Here's something we really haven't seen before. The video below shows a "fabric dancer" plying her craft on The Maiden, a peak located in the Flatiron Mountains near Boulder, Colorado. The amount of strength, grace and confidence that she displays is simply amazing, considering the only thing keeping her up are those thin pieces of cloth and her own incredible athleticism. This is beautiful to behold, and I'm guessing we'll see more videos like this in the future. Amazing.

Maiden Light from Craig Muderlak on Vimeo.

Video: Into The Light - Episode 4: Aftermath

It turns out, the third video of the Into the Light series that I posted a few days ago wasn't the final clip after all. Earlier today, I received word of this fourth video, which features climbing legends Chris Sharma and Stefan Glowacz reflecting on their accomplishment of climbing the longest cave ceiling in the world. After spending two weeks climbing in a dark cave, in the middle of a hot, dry desert, what did they do to refresh themselves? Go deep-water soloing of course!

Video: Into The Light Episode 3 - Climbing A Cave In Oman With Chris Sharma And Stefan Glowacz

Today we have the third, and final, episode of the Into the Light series, which features legendary climbers Chris Sharma and Stefan Glowacz taking on a secret project in Oman. It turns out the two men were working a route inside the Majlis al Jinn cave, which gave them the chance to traverse the longest cave roof in the world, which took 13 pitches to complete. Quite an impressive project to say the least. Watch the video below to see them do what they do best. Great stuff.

Video: Attempt To Succeed In Patagonia

Here's a short climbing film that has a little of everything, including beautiful settings, a good story of adversity, and some fantastic shots of climbers doing their thing. It was filmed on the Argentine side of Patagonia in December of 2012 and January, 2013. It features climbers Tim De Dobbeleer and Sam Van Brempt, who struggled to top out on anything in the region, until finally climbing both Cerro Torre by the Ragni route and Fitz Roy's Franco Argentina. Excellent and inspiring stuff.

Patagonia: Attempt To Succeed from Sam Van Brempt on Vimeo.

Video: A Day In The Life Of Alex Honnold

We all know Alex Honnold is a busy guy. After all, he is often off climbing some of the most difficult routes in the world. But what is a typical day like for Alex? Check out the video below to get a sense of how he fills his days. You'll also get a sense of his dedication to the sport as he sands the callouses from his fingertips in order to get ready to climb.

Video: Impossible Invitation On El Cap

We've seen some good climbing videos of late and you can add this one to the mix. It features climber Kevin Jorgenson, who is working on climbing a new, very difficult route on El Capitan in Yosemite. This project has been an ongoing one for several years, but progress continues to be made. What makes this a great clip to watch is the subtle nature of the climbing on display. You'll get some great shots of Kevin working the wall, and you'll see just how small the hand and foot holds that is is working with are. Impressive and scary stuff.

Impossible Invitation from adidas Outdoor on Vimeo.

Video: Into The Light - Episode 2: Climbing In Oman With Chris Sharma and Stefan Glowacz

Yesterday I posted the first in a new series of climbing videos that will take us on an expedition with Chris Sharma and Stefan Glowacz as they attempt a unique new route in a secret location. Today, we learn that they are climbing in the Hadschar Mountains of Oman, although other details on the project are still being kept secret. We'll have to wait for the third – and final – installment of the series for all to be revealed.

Into the light – Episode 2 from world of freesports on Vimeo.

Video: Into The Light - Going On A Secret Climb With Chris Sharma And Stefan Glowacz

Two legends of rock climbing, Stefan Glowacz and Chris Sharma, have teamed up on a secret project that is the subject of a new series of climbing videos. The first of those videos can be found below. All we know about their route is that it is big, totally unique, and isn't likely to be repeated any time soon – if ever. We'll have to just watch the videos to see how it all unfolds, but it sounds like it should be something pretty special.

Into the light – Episode 1 from world of freesports on Vimeo.

Video: Rolihlahla - The First Ascent Of A New Route In South Africa

Climbing videos don't get much more beautiful than this one. It features rock climber Sasha Diguilian as she puts up the first ascent of a new route in Waterval Boven, South Africa. The five minute short film looks great in terms of both the climbing and the setting. Inspiring stuff for a mid-week adventure.

Rolihlahla from 3 Strings on Vimeo.

Video: Alex Honnold Free Solo of El Sendero Luminoso - Full Video

Last Friday I posted a teaser video of Alex Honnold making the first free solo ascent of a 5.12 rated big wall in Mexico called El Sendero Luminoso. That short clip was enough to make most of us get an adrenaline rush just by watching it, but the full video, which you'll find below, will really get your heart pumping. Honnold once again shows why he is the best business. Crazy stuff that is best left to someone with his talents.

All-Female Team To Make First Descents, Investigate Climate Change In Greenland

An all female team of pro skiers will embark on a sailing voyage from Iceland to Greenland in March in  search of first descents and to record the impact of climate change on the region. The team, which will consist of Meghan Kelly, Nat Segal, McKenna Peterson, Pip Hunt and Martha Hunt, will depart on March 26 from Ísafjörður, Iceland on an expedition that is expected to last until April 19. Their adventure will be documented on the Shifting Ice + Changing Tides website.

The ladies, who are working with both the I AM PRO SNOW and Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation organizations, will first travel to the southwest coast of Greenland where they'll climb several peaks and make the first ski descents of those mountains. Along the way, they'll also collect valuable data that will help us to understand how climate change is having impact on that fragile coastline and to Greenland as a whole.

Prior to departing, the team has organized a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo in the hopes of raising some money to help support the project. The expedition will be documented by adventurer photographer Andy Bardon, so that the entire story can be told upon their return.

This looks like a great project for a number of reasons. Obviously we enjoy adventure in all of its forms here at the Adventure Blog, and this looks like it should be a good one. The emphasis on climate change should not be under rated either however, and since this is an all-female team, perhaps it will also encourage more young ladies to get out there and chase their adventurous dreams as well.

The video below helps to explain more.

Shifting Ice & Changing Tides from Andy Bardon on Vimeo.

The North Face And The American Alpine Club Launch 'Live Your Dream' Grant

Earlier in the week the North Face and the American Alpine Club announced that they were joining forces to launch a new annual grant program that will help aspiring adventurers make their dreams a reality.

The new program is called the Live Your Dream Grant and it will be offering a grand total of $20,000 in aid to help climbers achieve their goals. The grants will range in value from $200 to $1000 to assist in getting their expeditions off the ground. Keeping in mind that this program isn't meant to fund expeditions to the Himalaya, but instead encourage regular outdoor enthusiasts to push their own boundaries.

The application period is already open and will run through March 1. The application process varies slight depending on which region of the U.S. you are living in, so for complete details visit the official grant page.

If you have a personal project you'd like to see come to fruition, and could use a little cash to make it a reality, be sure to fill out the application. Who knows, perhaps the North Face and the AAC will help you out. Good luck!

Update: Just as a point of clarification, the Live Your Dream grant has been around for a couple of years, but this is the first year that the AAC has worked with the North Face on the project.


Live Your Dream: Smith Rock, OR from kevin ziechmann on Vimeo.

Video: Alex Honnold Make First Free Solo Of 5.12 Big Wall In Mexico

Alex Honnold continues to redefine what is possible in terms of free soloing big walls. In January, he traveled to Mexico to take on El Sendero Luminoso, a tough route rated as a 5.12 in terms of difficulty. In typical Honnold fashion, he completed the first ascent and the video below gives us a glimpse of him working the wall. As usual, he looks impressive doing it.