Touchstone Blog Archive
Monday, October 3, 2011
Climbing on CBS's 60 Minutes
Sacramento native and long time Pipeworks climber, Alex Honnold was recently featured on 60 Minutes with Lara Logan. The show filmed Alex, a renown free soloist, climbing the Choinard-Herbert on Yosemite's Sentinel route with no rope. The 5.11 route proved to be little challenge for Alex "No Big Deal" Honnold.
Honnold at the top of the Sentinel after his ascent.
CBS posted the video online of Alex's climb.
The crew made a behind the scenes video. Of particular note, Touchstone blogger James Lucas worked as a production assistant on the film, carrying enormous loads of gear to the summit of Sentinel and "pretty much dragging Alex to the top of the climb."
60 Minutes Interviewer Lara Logan in El Portal
Additionally, CBS did an interview with the quirky Honnold. Check out the short here. Lara Logan asked Honnold a number of great questions. Check out the wild footage online.
Honnold at the top of the Sentinel after his ascent.
CBS posted the video online of Alex's climb.
The crew made a behind the scenes video. Of particular note, Touchstone blogger James Lucas worked as a production assistant on the film, carrying enormous loads of gear to the summit of Sentinel and "pretty much dragging Alex to the top of the climb."
60 Minutes Interviewer Lara Logan in El Portal
Additionally, CBS did an interview with the quirky Honnold. Check out the short here. Lara Logan asked Honnold a number of great questions. Check out the wild footage online.
Labels: 60 Minutes, Alex Honnold, James Lucas
¶ Monday, October 03, 2011 0 Comments
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Touchstone Climbers in the Limelight
Touchstone employees are some of the most motivated climbers around the bay area. From shoveling off boulder problems in the middle of Yosemite winters to driving across the country to send big wall free climbs, the Touchstone crew is stoker! A number of employees have been in the limelight recently.
Hans Florine, the Diablo Rock Gym manager, got mentioned in the National Geographic article about Yosemite for his super fast ascents of the Nose on El Capitan. He was also featured in a PowerBar ad in Outside magazine.
Touchstone's blogger and resident dirtbag climber, James Lucas made a recent trip to Zion National Park where he dispatched of Moonlight Buttress- a long 5.12d. Brittany Griffith wrote about James and their ascent of the formation at the Cleanest Line- Patagonia's blog site.
James on the 9th pitch of Moonlight Buttress (5.12d)
James's pies were also mentioned in the National Geographic article about Yosemite. He was one of the two climbers who brought "homemade apple pies" to a climber party. "First my pies are in Nat Geo. Next they'll be on the Food Network. Watch out Martha Stewart- I'm coming for you," said James.
Touchstone route setter and hipster rock star, Brian "Cuz" Hedrick made a recent ascent of the Kraken at Mortar Rock in the Berkeley hills. Wolter Byron, a bay area film maker, shot footage of the send and made a cool video. Get pysched on the local boulders and with Cuz's beta- you can fight the Kraken.
Hans Florine, the Diablo Rock Gym manager, got mentioned in the National Geographic article about Yosemite for his super fast ascents of the Nose on El Capitan. He was also featured in a PowerBar ad in Outside magazine.
Touchstone's blogger and resident dirtbag climber, James Lucas made a recent trip to Zion National Park where he dispatched of Moonlight Buttress- a long 5.12d. Brittany Griffith wrote about James and their ascent of the formation at the Cleanest Line- Patagonia's blog site.
James on the 9th pitch of Moonlight Buttress (5.12d)
James's pies were also mentioned in the National Geographic article about Yosemite. He was one of the two climbers who brought "homemade apple pies" to a climber party. "First my pies are in Nat Geo. Next they'll be on the Food Network. Watch out Martha Stewart- I'm coming for you," said James.
Touchstone route setter and hipster rock star, Brian "Cuz" Hedrick made a recent ascent of the Kraken at Mortar Rock in the Berkeley hills. Wolter Byron, a bay area film maker, shot footage of the send and made a cool video. Get pysched on the local boulders and with Cuz's beta- you can fight the Kraken.
The Kraken from ByronWolter on Vimeo.
Labels: Brian Hedrick, Hans Florine, James Lucas
¶ Tuesday, May 10, 2011 0 Comments
Monday, September 20, 2010
7th Annual Yosemite Facelift
The 7th Annual Yosemite Facelift is kicking off this week. With a series of great events like a showing of the 5th Annual Reel Rock Film Tour and slideshows by Royal Robbins, Cedar Wright, and the famous James Lucas, this year's Facelift will be off the hook!
The Yosemite Climbing Association started this program to help clean-up the park and to bring climbers together in an awesome week of great activities. At the center of the Facelift is picking up the debris that gets left behind by climbers, hikers, and other park users.
You can help out by registering at a check-in station, grabbing a trash bag, and picking up litter.
Participants must register at a check-in station in order to participate. We will provide trash bags, litter sticks and safety vests.
All volunteers receive a raffle ticket for the daily 5:00pm raffle. There are evening programs every night starting September 21st through the 26th at the East Auditorium.
Check-in stations are in the following locations;
* Yosemite Valley: In front of the Visitor Center - 8:00am to 5:00pm, 9/22-9/26
* Crane Flat: South end of Tuolumne Grove parking lot - 8:00am to 5:00pm, 9/24-9/26
* Tuolumne Meadows: Lembert Dome parking lot - 8:00am to 5:00pm, 9/24-9/26
As part of the Facelift, there will be evening entertainment at the east auditorium in Yosemite Village. At each show, beer will be provided by New Belgium Brewery, and wine will be provided by Redwood Creek. A $25 donation is requested for a signature glass that can be refilled at all the shows. Below is the schedule of events- check out that Touchstone Blogger, James Lucas will be giving a show on Friday night!
Tuesday September 21,
Brittany Griffith- First Ascent of Acopan Tepui in Venzeula
Jeff Johnson with a showing of 180 degrees South
Doors open at 7 pm
Wednesday Sept 22
Royal Robbins- 40 Years of Adventure
Kate Rutherford- My Meter of Misery
Doors open at 7 pm
Thursday Sept 23
Fifth Annual Reel Rock Film Tour
Doors open at 7 pm
Friday Sept 24
James Lucas- Yosemite's Next Top Idol
Cedar Wright- Vertical Carnival
Doors open at 7 pm
Sat Sept 25
Live Music by Dan Wilson and the Chinquapin All Stars with special Guest Jonathon McEuen
Doors open at 6 pm
Dinner Provided by DNC Parks and Resort at Yosemite Live Music by Dan Wilson and the Chinquapin All Stars
Doors open at 6 until midnight
The Yosemite Climbing Association started this program to help clean-up the park and to bring climbers together in an awesome week of great activities. At the center of the Facelift is picking up the debris that gets left behind by climbers, hikers, and other park users.
You can help out by registering at a check-in station, grabbing a trash bag, and picking up litter.
Participants must register at a check-in station in order to participate. We will provide trash bags, litter sticks and safety vests.
All volunteers receive a raffle ticket for the daily 5:00pm raffle. There are evening programs every night starting September 21st through the 26th at the East Auditorium.
Check-in stations are in the following locations;
* Yosemite Valley: In front of the Visitor Center - 8:00am to 5:00pm, 9/22-9/26
* Crane Flat: South end of Tuolumne Grove parking lot - 8:00am to 5:00pm, 9/24-9/26
* Tuolumne Meadows: Lembert Dome parking lot - 8:00am to 5:00pm, 9/24-9/26
As part of the Facelift, there will be evening entertainment at the east auditorium in Yosemite Village. At each show, beer will be provided by New Belgium Brewery, and wine will be provided by Redwood Creek. A $25 donation is requested for a signature glass that can be refilled at all the shows. Below is the schedule of events- check out that Touchstone Blogger, James Lucas will be giving a show on Friday night!
Tuesday September 21,
Brittany Griffith- First Ascent of Acopan Tepui in Venzeula
Jeff Johnson with a showing of 180 degrees South
Doors open at 7 pm
Wednesday Sept 22
Royal Robbins- 40 Years of Adventure
Kate Rutherford- My Meter of Misery
Doors open at 7 pm
Thursday Sept 23
Fifth Annual Reel Rock Film Tour
Doors open at 7 pm
Friday Sept 24
James Lucas- Yosemite's Next Top Idol
Cedar Wright- Vertical Carnival
Doors open at 7 pm
Sat Sept 25
Live Music by Dan Wilson and the Chinquapin All Stars with special Guest Jonathon McEuen
Doors open at 6 pm
Dinner Provided by DNC Parks and Resort at Yosemite Live Music by Dan Wilson and the Chinquapin All Stars
Doors open at 6 until midnight
Labels: James Lucas, Yosemite Climbing Assosciation, Yosemite Facelift
¶ Monday, September 20, 2010 0 Comments
Monday, July 26, 2010
Interview with Touchstone Blogger James Lucas
Touchstone Blogger and Bay area rock climber, James Lucas has been climbing for more than a decade. Beginning his climbing career as a self proclaimed "punter", James quickly progressed to a dirtbag rock jock when he moved from New England to Yosemite Valley. He's constantly on the road rock climbing and recently made an ascent of his first big wall free climb- the Westie Face of the Leaning Tower (5.13 A0). Oakland Manager Lyn Verinsky made a poignant observation, stating, "James would have sent his route months earlier if he had taken my advice about apple fritters being the best pre-send food. Instead he had to use hard work and tenacity." He took a moment from his "hard work" shamelessly self promoting and being a rock climbing "Spray lord" to talk to the Touchstone Blog.
What was your recent ascent of the Wesite Face, the free variation to Yosemite Valley's Leaning West Face of the Leaning Tower like?
Well, first of all- I'd like to say that I'm kind of a big deal. If you don't know who I am then you should. I recently wrote one of the Dirtbag Diaries about being Yosemite's Next Top Idol. I'm pretty much the greatest thing to ever happen to climbing. But enough about me let's talk about you. What do you think about me?
Uhh...I think you avoided the question. How did you prepare for the route?
I am not naturally gifted in the least. My tenacity makes up for my lack of talent. I spent a couple months bouldering in Bishop, sport climbed in Sonora, and then tried the route a bunch. When I couldn't send, I took a short break, hung out in Berkeley and tried really really hard to redpoint the green 12c at Ironworks. One of the banes of my existence is my inability to climb well in the gym. I went back to Toulmne Meadows, did some hard sport climbing, then headed to the Leaning Tower. The crux for me was having enough power endurance on the 5.13 pitch. The lead cave at Ironworks really helped. I'm hoping to free El Capitan soon.
How did you get your Valley nicknames?
I have two. The first one, "Peaches" was given to me by my friend Brian "Coiler" Kay. It's after James and the Giant Peach. The second one, "Big Fall James", was due to taking a 100 foot fall in Joshua Tree while free soloing on Intersection Rock. I fall a lot. I prefer "Peaches"- makes for better pies.
You spend most of your time traveling and rock climbing. Do you have some sort of dream career along those lines?
Absolutely! I want to be on the cover of Martha Stewart's Home Living. I spend a lot of time baking pies. I just made a cherry pie for the staff over at Ironworks and I'm planning on making a pie for Lyn Verinsky, the manager at Oakland. On rest days, I really really like making pie. Either the Martha Stewart thing or I would be really into winning the lottery. Then I could buy a really nice RV and park it below some rocks for a little bit and move it when I wanted. It'd be way more baller than my station wagon.
Check out more of James' writing, published and unpublished work, on his blog- Life of A Walking Monkey
What was your recent ascent of the Wesite Face, the free variation to Yosemite Valley's Leaning West Face of the Leaning Tower like?
Well, first of all- I'd like to say that I'm kind of a big deal. If you don't know who I am then you should. I recently wrote one of the Dirtbag Diaries about being Yosemite's Next Top Idol. I'm pretty much the greatest thing to ever happen to climbing. But enough about me let's talk about you. What do you think about me?
Uhh...I think you avoided the question. How did you prepare for the route?
I am not naturally gifted in the least. My tenacity makes up for my lack of talent. I spent a couple months bouldering in Bishop, sport climbed in Sonora, and then tried the route a bunch. When I couldn't send, I took a short break, hung out in Berkeley and tried really really hard to redpoint the green 12c at Ironworks. One of the banes of my existence is my inability to climb well in the gym. I went back to Toulmne Meadows, did some hard sport climbing, then headed to the Leaning Tower. The crux for me was having enough power endurance on the 5.13 pitch. The lead cave at Ironworks really helped. I'm hoping to free El Capitan soon.
How did you get your Valley nicknames?
I have two. The first one, "Peaches" was given to me by my friend Brian "Coiler" Kay. It's after James and the Giant Peach. The second one, "Big Fall James", was due to taking a 100 foot fall in Joshua Tree while free soloing on Intersection Rock. I fall a lot. I prefer "Peaches"- makes for better pies.
Tuna Town whipper from James Lucas on Vimeo.
You spend most of your time traveling and rock climbing. Do you have some sort of dream career along those lines?
Absolutely! I want to be on the cover of Martha Stewart's Home Living. I spend a lot of time baking pies. I just made a cherry pie for the staff over at Ironworks and I'm planning on making a pie for Lyn Verinsky, the manager at Oakland. On rest days, I really really like making pie. Either the Martha Stewart thing or I would be really into winning the lottery. Then I could buy a really nice RV and park it below some rocks for a little bit and move it when I wanted. It'd be way more baller than my station wagon.
Check out more of James' writing, published and unpublished work, on his blog- Life of A Walking Monkey
Labels: Big wall free climbing, dirtbag diaries, James Lucas
¶ Monday, July 26, 2010 2 Comments
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Border Country: Yosemite Climbing on Middle Cathedral
Earlier this year, Berkeley Ironworks climber and Touchstone blogger, James Lucas headed up with Katie Lambert, Luis Rivera, Hayden Kennedy, and a few other Yosemite Valley locals to attempt Border Country- a Grade V 5.12c route on the right side of Middle Cathedral. A story about the Valley scene in the past year and about the route was recently published in Rock & Ice. It's also available online.
Check out Mikey Schaefer's blog for more information about Border Country and about his adventures as a first ascentionist, a professional climbing photographer, and all around hardman.
Check out Mikey Schaefer's blog for more information about Border Country and about his adventures as a first ascentionist, a professional climbing photographer, and all around hardman.
Labels: Border Country, James Lucas, Middle Cathedral
¶ Thursday, March 18, 2010 0 Comments
