Saturday, March 24, 2012

Leaving for Germany!



The last few weeks Julie and I have been visiting with family and friends in Columbus, Ohio.  The time spent in Ohio was a stressful few weeks trying to figure EVERYTHING out.  There were a lot of phone calls made, lots of dinners with friends and family, getting the dogs and snakes situated in there new homes until we return, and last we had to think about what to take and not to take.  With all that going on the time flew! 

Maliki, the best dog a person could have!

Gus-Gus loving the sun in Bishop!  Photo: Ethan Pringle
Spike, the Chinese Rat Snake

Jaya when she was a baby, Irian Jaya Carpet Python

Snakey (aka Snowflake), Snow Cornsnake

Mini Snakey (aka Fireball) Albino Cornsnake

Our pets will be missed and we can not wait to return :)  

Our last 2 days in the states have been spent wondering/getting lost in Washington DC.  The museums here are HUGE and full of everything one could imagine.  It is nice to remember our past and where we came from.  I just wish we had more time here.  It is impossible to see what you want in just 2 days.  My advice to anyone planning a trip is to give yourself at least a week, that way you will be able to see maybe half of what you want.  I also suggest coming in the spring during the Cherry Blossom blooms. 

Walking through a park full of Cherry Blossoms

Lincoln Memorial

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More Cherry Blossoms! 



After dropping and slightly breaking the camera!!!!!!


NOW OFF TO GERMANY TOMORROW AT 6PM!!!!!!!  BYE BYE AMERICA


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Last week in Vail




Once Julie and I were done in Vegas and Bishop we had to head back to Vail to finish some things up before our drive to Columbus.  We were fortunate to stay at the Hied's home for this week since we are officially homeless at the moment.  The Heid's are an amazing family and I feel honored to have met and spent time with them.  They are a very active family, climbing, skiing/racing and biking.  They are extremely talented at everything they do.  I will miss them ALOT!  Our last days in Vail were spent meeting up with as many people as we could and saying our good byes.  Saying good bye to people you have become close to is a hard thing to do.  Julie and I made friends that we will have for life! Its good knowing that we will be back through Vail soon after we move back to the states.  I stopped in to the gym that I had coached in for the last year or so to see all the kids and see how they were all doing.  It was amazing to me at how excited they were to see me, especially after a year of being farted on!  AT LEAST THEY DON'T SMELL!!!!!!!!  We will miss everyone in Vail tremendously! As you will be able to see in the pictures the Vail crew threw us a few going away parties!  Enjoy!  Can't wait to return and visit!!!!!!! 



























Sunday, March 11, 2012

A month in Bishop/Vegas

All the girls at Courtney's Bachlorette party
Annika on PORKSHOP!  Red Rocks
Amy Hartman on Brian's project, Buttermilks
Annika Hied on Heavenly Path Happy Boulders
One of the many perfect sun sets in Bishop!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

My first ever blog post!!!!!


Gus-Gus and Maliki will be missed for this new Adventure!


As of right now, Julie and I are in Vail CO.  The last few days in Vail have been amazing, but it's hard saying good bye.  We are starting our trek back east to Ohio to spend our remaining weeks with family and friends before we fly over to Germany for the next 12 to 18 months!  Germany is going to be an experience, one that I can't wait to enjoy.  We are definitely looking forward to the history, museums, climbing, and the all-around culture.

Annika in Shelf, climbing team trip
Adam and Annika at Shelf Rd

























Spending the last few days in Vail has been wonderful! It's hard knowing that we will not be back this way for quite some time.  During the last 18 months of living in Vail I have met a lot of great people that I will miss tremendously.  Living here I was able to pick up a few small jobs here and there, mainly painting and coaching.  Painting is painting; the thing about painting in Vail is that you get to see and work on the nicest, most beautiful homes in the area!  There is an absurd amount of money here-too bad I'll never be a billionaire!  Coaching, the other job I picked up here, was one of the most fulfilling jobs I have ever had.  These kids were like little sponges, absorbing the advice the coaches gave them.  In the year that I was working with them I noticed a huge jump in ability, skill level and confidence on the walls in the gym.  A lot of the younger kids were really into exploring the competition scene.  This is a scene I have never really enjoyed for myself, but for these kids I could see they loved competing.  This year we had one kid (Ethan) make it all the way to nationals!  It's pretty impressive to me when the kids from Vail make it that far in the competitions.  The gym these kids train in is not the greatest facility as far as climbing goes (it's pretty tiny), but the coaching these kids receive and the desire to do well is what makes them the climbers they have become.  The climbing community in Vail is amazing and I am going to miss everyone more than they can imagine.


Aiden chillin on my shoulders
Amalia Crushing in Shelf Rd



















I wish I could have spent time with all the kids outside on real rock, my true passion.  There were a few of the older kids who spent the summer going to Rifle 3 to 4 and even 5 days a week.  Their confidence on the rock the first time out was kind of what I expected--tentative, holding back a bit.  But, by the end of the summer these two were crushing!  Logan, who turned 16 this summer, excelled on the rock in Rifle after learning how to move his body on that style of climbing.  He went from sending 5.12+ a few years ago to doing his first 13a and then a month later doing his first 14a!  The kid is a monster on the rock and it will not surprise me if we see him grace the covers of all the mags and web sites in the future!  Annika, who just turned 15, absolutely loves being out on the rock.  The first days out in Rifle were huge learning days for her.  She would hold back and not go for moves when the bolt would be at her waist.  After a few weeks of talking with her and giving her advice she was doing the 11s on the Project Wall (which we all know those things are HARD!).  The progress of these two was just astounding and I am super proud of their efforts in every aspects of their lives. 

Logan trying Finger Hut in Joe's Valley
Logan sending Resident Evil in Joe's Valley



















The drive back to Ohio is going to be a long one this time.  Julie and I are driving both of our cars there, so that means no switching up driving time and napping.  It will all be worth it though to spend some time with the family and all of our friends that we haven't been able to see for a while.  One of the first things I want to do when we pull into Columbus is head to the climbing gym, Vertical Adventures.  If it was not for this facility I would not be in the position I am today.  The owners, Alexis and Carrie Roccos, gave me the opportunity to set routes and boulder problems in the gym at an early age.  Doing this gave me a membership to the gym and I spent 5 to 6 days a week there setting and climbing.  Over the years Vertical Adventures has been expanding and trying to fulfill every member's needs.  I have to say thank you to Alexis and Carrie for everything they have done for me.  THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Vertical Adventures!
The other thing I am looking forward to is visiting my best friend Jeremy Petrovich.  Jeremy is an amazing guy!  I first met him when I was 15. He was this little Asian crusher who just popped up out of nowhere.  We spent just about every day in the gym climbing, and spent our weekends in the Red River Gorge (RRG).  Jeremy excelled quickly on the rock and was soon sending every route he touched.  In 2005 Jeremy was in an unfortunate car accident leaving him in a coma.  He is still living with his mother in Columbus and I make sure to see him every time I am there.

Germany!!!!  Julie received a job offer as a contract worker with the military in Landshtul, Germany.  This is a one year contract with possible extension.  We have a few friends who live in Germany and after talking with them this past fall it seemed like something Julie and I would consider if the right opportunity popped up.  This job opportunity arose and we couldn't turn it down-well, Julie couldn't turn it down :)   I'm excited to try and learn a new language, something I have always wanted to do but have honestly been too lazy to pursue.  German isn't the first language I thought I would learn but living there I feel I should make an effort.  As far as climbing in and around Germany, we will be semi-close to a lot of different areas.  Fontainebleau will be around a four hour drive. This is an area I have dreamed of visiting-I never considered it would be possible to live near such a climbing destination.  There is so much within a 4 hours drive. I can't wait to talk about all the different areas in the future, so stay tuned!  :)