It's "Plastic Pulling" Season

My plans for the winter and early Spring

It’s colder than a toilet seat made of brass on the shady part of an iceberg in Albany. Something like 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

I spent the last two weeks vacationing in California with family, where I ate, drank, surfed, and rode bikes. There was no rock climbing. And that was by design.

Every winter, I take a complete break from climbing to rest my body. While it always feels good to rest, I pay for it when I eventually get back to climbing. This year, it was last night.

I Started My Winter Training Program

The Long Beach Marina, Southern California

My skin hurts, and my shoulders and forearms are sore. Looking back, I am appalled by how the session went. I fell on 5.10. Later, during my cooldown, I fell on what was supposed to be 5.7 because I was so utterly pumped.

Nonetheless, it was great to be back. I am feeling motivated and excited for my training this year. I am following a “Proven Plan” curated by The Power Company.

My plan consists of:

• 3 weeks of Strength and Stamina work to build a solid base on which to stack more specific qualities that I’ll need for hard sport routes.

• 1 Deload Week, which is a low-volume week designed to allow for some recovery and adaptation.

• 3 weeks of Power and Endurance are two qualities that will be hugely important for my goals.

• 1 Deload Week.

• 3 weeks of Power Endurance, the ability to do lots of hard moves in a row.

• 1 Final Deload Week.

Besides getting stronger, I am looking forward to spending more time socializing in the gym. Staying in touch with friends is a necessary part of my mental health plan during these Northeast winters. It’s also probably the time of the year when Whitney and I get to climb the most together.

Looking Toward the Spring

Whitney in San Clemente, California

This winter, I am lucky to be motivated by an upcoming climbing trip in the Spring. In April, I’ll be spending a week climbing in Nevada at the Red Rock National Conservation Area.

There are a few motivations for the trip.

1. It’ll be my birthday present to myself. One of my best friends, Joe, will climb and help celebrate with me. If I am lucky, another best friend, Drake, will also be there at the end.

2. The trip will help prepare me for my rock exam. There’s a chance Red Rock will be the venue for my final rock guide examination in 2026. So, any additional time I can spend exploring the terrain will benefit me in the long run.

3. It’s a work trip. Knowing I would be there for fun anyway, I shared my plans with some clients. Two interested parties want to climb with me before and after my trip with Joe. If everything goes as planned, I’ll guest-guide with Mountain Skills Rock Guides.

Full disclosure: Things may drop off a little bit with the Rope and Stone Newsletter during the winter. I may not be publishing three times a month like I usually do. Thanks for sticking with me.

What about you? Have you ever climbed in Red Rock?