Sep 3, 2012

We Are On Our Way!

By the time you're reading this message we are probably sitting in an airplane somewhere between Amsterdam and Hong Kong. We're very excited that the Trip Has Begun and we promise to keep you posted on our adventures (if the The Great Chinese Firewall permits us).

Aug 30, 2012

New climbing gear arrived!

The mail today brought a much anticipated package: our new climbing gear from our sponsor DMM has finally arrived, just before we're heading to China! DMM is well-known for it's excellent craftsmanship in making the safest and lightest carabiners and they are one of the few companies who have not off-shored their production factory to the Far East.
Because of their weight, DMM climbing equipment is often used by trad climbers. Considering we're going to have to carry it for the next 10 months we're very glad to have joined the DMM team! DMM sent us quick draws consisting of the Alpha Trad and Spectre 2 biners with a 18cm dyneema sling, two Renegade harnesses and some Belay Masters and Screwgates. 
Here are some iPhone photos taken from our roof terrace overlooking the centre of Amsterdam. It's a really cool view up there, but i'm looking forward to waking up with a nice mountain view on the other side of the globe :)


IPhone 20120822 2

IPhone 20120821 13

Jul 8, 2012

Climbing 9A made easy

Remember the days when "sticky rubber" was invented? All of a sudden those seemingly impossible friction walls were climbed by climbers wearing Boreal Fire or PE shoes. Climbing technology kept on improving every year, quick draws and ropes became lighter, training methods were improved... and now there is the ultimate technologic advancement to conquer the last unclimbed vertical walls!

Participating in a challenge for the American Air Force where the objective was to create innovative climbing equipment to get people over a 90 foot vertical concrete face, the Utah State Univerisity was the clear winner with "The Personnel Vacuum Assisted Climber!". 

I wonder when this apparatus will be small enough to take with you on the rocks :-).








(from: Hightech Edge)

May 31, 2012

Short visit to Font


Beginning of april we took off for a few days of bouldering on the beautiful stones of Fontainebleau. It has been quite some time since the last time we visited the forest and it was a joy to be back! We visited Gorges d'Apremont, Franchard Cuisiniere, Petite Bois and Restant du Long Rocher but both of us were not in the best of shape so no big numbers were crushed. The weather was perfect and we met up with quite some friends, Font is a very social experience!




Robert-Jan in Egoïste, Gorges d'Apremont

Sandra in 20 blue, Gorges d'Apremont

Focus on the crux..., Gorges d'Apremont

Marcel in Clin d'Oeil, Gorges d'Apremont

Arnold in Big Jim, Petite Bois


Apr 4, 2012

Tenerife Night Climbing

A few weeks ago we hooked up with the guys from Team Rasclat to go bouldering in Tenerife. Here are some photos of our Bouldering at Night session. 


The overhanging cliffs of Arico












Jan 10, 2012

Climbing photo wins climbing wine

The Dutch rock climbing and boulder magazine BLOK (Bl.ad o.ver k.limmen) runs a photo competition on their website. Sandra decided to send in one of the photos of our spring 2011 Kalymnos trip, and guess what.. we won two bottles of "Climbing Shiraz" :).



The winning photo, featured on their website and in the BLOK magazine, shows me climbing Kerveros 7a in sector Spartacus, a very aesthetic route with lots of stalactite features and a marvelous view.


Climbing in Kalymnos

Nov 28, 2011

Twelve years have past since i entered a 'serious' climbing competition, so when i read about the Dutch seniors national climbing competition NK Veteranen, i thought it would be fun to enter. And guess what, i won 1st price! :) The results are listed on the site of Mountain Network, organizer of the event. It was a lot of fun, especially since we came home with two 1st prices... Sandra's age group only had one participant :). Unfortunately we won't be there in 2012, by that time we'll be pulling some rock somewhere deep into rural China.



Oct 24, 2011

Planning a trip around the world


We want to go on a trip around the world, visiting 5 continents. But where to go when? To make it a little more visual (i am a photographer) I made 12 pieces of paper with the months, and 5 pieces of paper with the areas. :-)
This is what I came up with!

May 25, 2011

Kalymnos Climbing Festival 2011

During our stay at Kalymnos the annual Kalymnos Climbing Festival took place from 18th - 22nd May. Pro-climbers Patxi Usobiaga and Nicolas Favresse were invited to give video presentations. Nico's talk on Vertical sailing Greenland was both inspiring and hilarious, it's a pleasure to meet climbers who don't take themselves too seriously. On the 21st a boulder competition was held in the harbour of Pothia, below you can see some photos (© Nikolaos Smalios) of the finals which were won by Alexander Hille.


Alexander Hille
Marcel Heemskerk

Loukas Dourdourekas