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LAX Spring 2018 Bouldering League Finals Video

LAX Spring 2018 Bouldering League Finals Video

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The highlight reel from Sender One LAX's first Bouldering League Finals! Spring Bouldering League had a phenomenal turnout with
amazing climbers, boulder routes, and vendors. Congratulations to our first ever champions of the LAX Bouldering League!

🎥: @kidbotic

Our Sending Community

Our Sending Community

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Words and photos by Melody Yuan

Ever had that moment while you’re climbing and you reach the crux and hear someone yell, “Yeah! Come on,” or “you’ve got this!”

Given how inclusive and supportive our climbing community is, it’s not out of the ordinary for a small gallery to form, and encouraging comments to grow louder as you grit your teeth up the wall. Some may even spray some beta such as, “match your feet,” or “raise your right foot to that hold by your hip!”

Whether you appreciate them or not, this is the nature of our climbing culture. The level of support and positive feedback helps to motivate me and push past my existing limits to stick the next move. While some climbers may find this level of verbal encouragement distracting and/or stressful, would climbing be the same without our sending communities?

When I first started climbing, I used to cringe when I noticed that people were watching or when they started vocalizing their support. I wasn’t used to it and I didn’t like the attention. Perhaps this was simply due to my self-esteem as a novice climber, but I felt pressured to send and embarrassed if I couldn’t.

Today, however, I am reassured and motivated by words of encouragement. Sure,it could be because I’m climbing stronger now or I’ve simply accepted the fact that I’ll never look as graceful as Margo Hayes while attempting a crux. But I attribute this change to the fact that I’ve gotten to know my sending community. Some of them are now my closest friends who have watched me climb from the very beginning, and we’ve established a bond in which I trust their words (and catch!) while I am on the wall.

 

What’s the Etiquette?

There is no guideline or real etiquette when it comes to giving verbal support. While I am a climber who now appreciates positive affirmation and encouragement during tough climbs, there are others who prefer quietude while scaling the wall. The initial urge of seeing a climber attempt a hard move may be to encourage them, but be sure not to overstep if you feel like they aren’t comfortable with the all the cheering and beta spray.

I once spoke to a climber who said that the term, “you can do it,” puts an immense amount of pressure on her as she climbs the wall. “What if I can’t do it? It just makes me feel like less of a climber when I come down,” she said.  

There are some climbers who also believe that beta spraying defeats the purpose of climbing. An older climber once told me that the only way to improve technique is to reflect on how you could have climbed differently. Beta for some, are only welcomed when asked for. If not, it might be best to keep your beta to yourself and instead, give cues that might help the climber make the connection on their own.

Most climbers can probably express politely that they’d rather not receive verbal encouragement, but body language is also a big indicator to whether or not they appreciate your words. You may have good intentions, but take a second to decipher whether or not the climber needs to hear what you have to say.

Sending Community

Whether it’s the friends who spot you, your belay partner, or the people who watch you climb, the sending community is a supportive and positive one. They are there to help protect you and motivate you to send your projects.

There’s no denying the feeling of satisfaction of sending, and the amplification of that feeling when the community congratulates you on the accomplishment. So I’ll take this moment to thank all those who have patiently belayed or spotted me, and to the many words of encouragement, fist bumps, high fives and hugs that we’ve shared along the way.

Bring Thanksgiving Outdoors with These 3 Easy Recipes Using Leftovers!

Bring Thanksgiving Outdoors with These 3 Easy Recipes Using Leftovers!

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Without a doubt, you'll likely have a ton of leftovers when Thanksgiving has come and gone-and that's something to be thankful for. Why? Well, your meals this holiday weekend at the crag doesn't have to be power bars and oatmeal. Using leftovers as ingredients, you can put together simple, delicious meals that pack up easily for your long days climbing in the outdoors. To prove it, we've teamed up with Michelle Park of the Out of Thyme blog to provide you with 3 recipes easy enough for the culinary-illiterate! Michelle, take it away!

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Out of Thyme Logo

 

I’ll be honest. My Thanksgiving leftover fix of choice is as follows: a ciabatta roll spread with garlic aioli and filled with unholy proportions of stuffing, turkey, cranberry and gravy. It doesn’t travel well, and the only activity it inspires after its consumption is a nice, long nap.

This is usually fine by me, but I liked the challenge of repurposing the same leftovers in a more versatile way. These three recipes transform almost every part of Thanksgiving dinner into a tasty and portable snack, perfect for refueling all throughout your big day outdoors.

pumpkin cranberry oat bars copy

1. Pumpkin puree + cranberry sauce =
Pumpkin and Cranberry Oat Bars 

Yield: 24 bars | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes

Don’t you hate it when a recipe calls for less than a can of something? Cheer up and use that pesky leftover pumpkin puree in these tasty bars—they’re vegan and gluten-free, too!

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup coconut or olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup cranberry sauce

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Grind the oats into a flour in a blender or food processor. Measure out 2 1/2 cups of the oat flour into a large bowl and add the baking powder and baking soda. Stir to combine.

Combine the pumpkin, sugar, oil, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, cloves, nutmeg, 1/4 cup of the cranberry sauce and 1/4 cup water in another large bowl and whisk to combine. Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.

Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread out into an even layer. Dollop the remaining 1/2 cup cranberry sauce over the top and use a butter knife to draw vertical and horizontal lines through the dollops, creating a marbleized effect. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 25 minutes.

 

potato and turkey croquettes2. Mashed potato + turkey + gravy =
Potato and Turkey Croquettes
Yield: About 15 croquettes | Prep Time:  10 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour

I’ve been eating and testing Thanksgiving recipes all week, and I still voluntarily ate two of these. They’re that good. They hold together surprisingly well due to their slightly flattened shape, so they’ll still be in one piece until you decide to eat them.

  • 3 cups mashed potatoes
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cooked turkey meat, finely shredded or chopped
  • 1/4 cup gravy or cranberry sauce
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Put the mashed potatoes and 1/2 cup of the flour in a large bowl and stir to combine. Combine the turkey meat with the gravy or cranberry sauce in a medium bowl. Season the turkey mixture with salt and pepper. Whisk the eggs in a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Place the panko breadcrumbs in another shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Roll 2 tablespoons of the mashed potatoes into a ball, then flatten it slightly into a disc. Place 1 teaspoon of the turkey filling in the center and carefully pinch the surrounding potato around it to enclose the filling. Roll it back into a ball and flatten it slightly into a disc again. Set it aside on a plate and repeat with the rest of the potato and turkey filling. If the potato mixture starts to get too wet, stir up to 1/4 cup more flour into it.

Set the plate of croquettes in the freezer for at least 5 minutes to firm up. Dip a croquette into the egg, letting the excess drip off, then into the panko so that it's completely covered. Repeat with the remaining croquettes.

Arrange the croquettes on the prepared baking sheet, spray generously with nonstick cooking spray and bake for 20 minutes. Take them out, gently flip each one over and generously spray the other side with more cooking spray. Return to the oven and bake until the tops are golden brown, about 15 minutes more.

stuffing frittata bites

3. Stuffing + herbs =
Stuffing Frittata Muffins
Yield: 12 frittata muffins | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes

These cute little frittatas were by far the easiest and, in my opinion, the tastiest recipe of the bunch, and I love that it manages to use up some leftover herbs, too.

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1/2 milk (or 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup water)
  • 1/2 cup chopped herbs
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1 heaping cup of stuffing, broken into small pieces

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk the eggs, milk, herbs, a heavy pinch of salt and some pepper in a small pitcher. Distribute the stuffing among the 12 muffin cups and fill each one 3/4 of the way with the egg mixture.

Bake until the eggs are completely set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.

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Michelle studied Classic Culinary Arts at the French Culinary Institute in SoHo and worked at the prestigious Betony in Midtown (New York). She is a chef, writer, and freelance recipe tester currently working as an editorial intern at the Food Network. Follow her on Instagram @outofthyme

SENDER SPOTLIGHT: Grace Wang on the John Muir Trail

SENDER SPOTLIGHT: Grace Wang on the John Muir Trail

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Here on the blog, it's our goal to showcase our community and all the rad things you're all doing. If you're interested in sharing your adventures, send an email to [email protected].


These days, a lot of us are making the roughly 200+ mile drive from SoCal to Bishop. We've all complained about the drive once or twice, but imagine walking the entire way. For many of us weekend adventurers, it's likely that the furthest we'll trek with packs on is from the car to the crag-and back to the car (then at Black Sheep Coffee Roasters resting our weary legs, espresso in hand). Not so for Grace Wang, a regular at Sender One, who has hiked all 210.4 miles of the legendary John Muir Trail.

The Trail winds along the Sierra Nevada mountain range and features California's grandest natural offerings beginning with Yosemite Valley as its northernmost terminus. From there, backpackers will wind down Devil's Postpile National Monument, on through Thousand Island Lake. Then it's through the King's Canyon and Sequoia National Parks before finally ending up at Mt. Whitney in the Sierras.

Grace, an REI employee, celebrated her arrival in Mt. Whitney back in August. So now that she's well rested, we spoke to her in the hopes that we weary-legged coffee-sippers might one day be inspired to put down the mug and pursue the same!

GW-Gallery02
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Hi Grace, let's start by having you tell us a bit about yourself!

Let’s see, I was born and raised in Orange County, grew up wishing I could be a boy scout so I could do cool adventure-y things someday. I’m happy to say that I am now doing cool adventure-y things like climbing and backpacking, and am fortunate enough to have a job at REI that allows me to talk to people about all the latest and greatest outdoor toys! I am also simultaneously pursuing a career in physical therapy and enjoying geeking out about body movement/ mechanics, and rehab.

What made you want to tackle the JMT?

As a kid, my family often visited Yosemite, but only camped or stayed in a cabin. One day, I went into the gift shop and saw a JMT poster, and decided that I wanted to hike the whole thing someday. I wanted to experience the most amazing parts of the Sierras on foot rather than through a car window, and I wanted to see what my body was capable of doing, hiking-wise.

As an REI employee, did you feel particularly prepared for the task?

I definitely think that being a REI employee helped me accrue the proper equipment for the trip. Being around gear all the time and getting to talk about it helped me have a good understanding of what I would need to safely and successfully enjoy the trip. Talking to coworkers and customers that had experience with the trail also helped me figure out how I needed to be prepared for the trip.

How did you decide what to pack? Is there anything you left out?

I poured over blogs, books, and magazines when compiling my list of things to pack. From recalling and documenting my previous backpacking experiences, I had a good idea of what equipment worked for me personally, and what didn’t by the time planning for this trip came around. I also did a trial backpacking trip with the gear and clothing I was going to bring with me, just to make sure things were working well. In doing that, I quickly eliminated things I thought I would need.

Treks along the John Muir Trail require careful preparation and every ounce of weight matters. Grace's pack had a starting weight of only 25.4 lbs., without water. 

What's that one thing you realized you forgot. I know you have one...or three?

Haha. I actually don’t think I forgot anything. I checked over my stuff a million times before I left. I should have probably brought some vaseline for my nose (see below).

When the food ran out, at what point did you decide to eat your friends? If not, what was the hardest part of the adventure?

I should have eaten my friend while they were fresh, day 1 or 2, but by day 5 they were a bit too rank to eat. But really, not having enough food was definitely a real problem. I made a fancy spreadsheet detailing out what I food needed to bring, but I didn’t anticipate being THAT hungry. I resigned myself to rationing out just enough calories to finish up the trail. Also I had awesome friends and met amazing strangers-turned-friends who were incredibly generous at times! At the end of the trip, I lost about 9 pounds--which is a lot for me. Next time, I’m bringing sticks of lard.

Were there any moments you thought you might die?

Many. Just kidding, not that dramatic. But I did have a problem with my nose bleeding like crazy on many occasions. The air was so dry during the whole trip that my nose decided to let loose and bleed a bunch of times--sometimes for several hours. That was fun. Thank goodness I brought a lot of toilet paper with me for nose plugs.

What was the best part of your trip?

One of my favorite moments of the trip happen to be my birthday. It actually had been an exhausting and difficult day for me personally, and some circumstances leading up to that point made me I feel as though I might not finish the trail. But at the end of that day, with the support of my friends, we made it to our planned destination. I found myself sitting around a campfire among friends, enjoying a freshly steam-baked molten chocolate cupcake from a mix that one of my friends had been lugging around for the past 100 miles. I felt like the luckiest and most blessed person alive that night. Chocolate, friends, and fire are a good combination.

GW-Gallery07For the lay-person, what should you know before attempting the trail?

Fitness-wise, you can never truly prepare your body to hike that many days consecutively, but you can prevent injury by strengthening muscles around joints, improving your cardio, and getting proper footwear (hiking the whole trail in Chacos is a bad idea) and a decent pack. Also, test your gear out before you go and make sure it works for you--just because it worked for someone else doesn’t mean it will definitely work for you.

Biggest take-away?

A quote from John Muir puts it best, “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.” - The Yosemite (1912)

Grace-JMT 1

Photos courtesy of Grace Wang

 

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