The Autumnal Climbing Season is upon us! The conditions at the crag keep getting better and better... but that ticking clock in the back of our heads tells us that our time is limited before winter slams the door shut on a lot of opportunities for the season. Jay and Lee reflect on this bittersweet truth and share how their outlooks on it have changed over the years. 

Plus - Jay reaches a new level of enlightenment on Technosurfing and Lee almost causes a search party. 

‘As I Walked Out One Evening’ by W. H. Auden: https://poets.org/poem/i-walked-out-one-evening

Join us over on the First Ascent Patreon! For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Kayte and Torie are back on the First Ascent mics for their second Wifecast! Today’s episode gets philosophical as Kayte and Torie talk about how climbing is a metaphor for taking risks in life. Plus, hear their takes on being their own climbers while being married to strong climbers, having grace with their bodies and minds during hormonal changes, and banishing the shame out of top roping. 

Enjoy this conversation and remember: Get out there with no expectations and slow down and smell the rock! 

Join us over on the First Ascent Patreon! For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Today Jay and Lee revisit the 2002 classic climbing film “Uncommon Ground”. The guys will go through the featured climbs one-by-one, highlighting all the ways that this film absolutely nails the spirit of New England climbing. 

This episode originated from an awesome chat on the First Ascent Patreon Discord! Do you want to be part of conversations like this? Then join us for only $5/month! You’ll get access to the First Ascent Discord, awesome bonus episodes, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Watch Uncommon Ground here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mnpK6LJVKA

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Live from Rumney, it’s The First Ascent Podcast! We got to connect with so many climbers at the awesome AAC Craggin Classic this past weekend. The winds from Hurricane Lee kept the bugs away and made for perfect weather for a weekend of climbing and community. 

We brought our recorder along with us to the crag so that we could bring you a slice of life from the Rumney climbing scene. Tune in and you just might hear yourself or your friends on the pod! 

Join us over on the First Ascent Patreon! For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Today Jay and Lee explore the rich history of climbers who have come out of New England and gone on to make their mark in the greater climbing world. The guys talk about the great waves of New England climbers; how timing, location and circumstance played into their ability to make waves; and what makes New England climbers uniquely able to push limits in other locations. 

Plus, the guys give their thoughts on the variations and standardizations occurring in elite level training, the absurdity of grading boulder routes the same when they’re so incredibly different, and a whole new splitter crack that just appeared out of nowhere at Royal Arches. 

Join us over on the First Ascent Patreon! For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Today Jay and Lee tackle your latest crop of listener questions! Tune in for their take on route names, bolting techniques, what makes a ‘boulder problem’, and more. Plus, the guys go deeper on the stewardship they believe is necessary to truly be considered a local, whether that be through man-hours or donations. 

Speaking of stewardship, if you’re local to Central New Hampshire make sure to check out www.centralnhclimbers.org to see how you can support climbing in the region. 

When you remove your harness, do you unbuckle it completely? Give us your opinion on this listener poll on Instagram at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

By joining the First Ascent Patreon for only $5 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content like this from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Today 5.15 climber and world-renowned first ascentionist Joe Kinder joins Jay and Lee on the pod! Joe has put up routes all over the globe, but his roots lay right here in New Hampshire. Hear the tale of how he broke into the New Hampshire climbing scene as a teenager in the 90s, and how that led him to becoming a part of the next wave of Rumney climbers that pushed the boundaries of what was happening there. 

Joe’s approach to climbing and route development is community oriented and humble, and he’s here to encourage you to try out any climb that calls to you - because it’s just as much for you as it is for everyone else. 

In addition to climbing, Joe has an awesome climbing inspired apparel line:  https://www.lifeofvillains.com/

By joining the First Ascent Patreon for only $5 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content like this from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

If you’ve ever wondered what we mean by ‘bonus content’ when we talk about all of the great perks you get inside the First Ascent Patreon, today’s your chance to find out! Last week, Eric Zschiesche joined us on the podcast for a great talk, and we continued on for some insider-only Patreon chat. That conversation is what you’ll hear today! 

Eric goes deeper on his thoughts about the importance of ego and attitude for climbers, weighs in on popular First Ascent topics like retrobolting, safety, and Devil’s Lake, and tells more of his classic climbing tales. 

By joining the First Ascent Patreon for only $5 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content like this from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

In addition to climbing, Eric is a fantastic landscape painter. Check out his painting and climbing here: https://www.instagram.com/ericzschiesche00/?hl=en

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Eric Zschiesche joins the pod today to share tales and wisdom from five decades of climbing. 

A longtime idol of Jay’s, Eric’s name has been scrawled across climbing history from his feats at Devil’s Lake to Zschiesche’s Corridor in North Carolina and beyond. You might even remember Mark Hudon mentioning Zschieshe’s presence a couple episodes back when he was telling the tale about his free climb of the Salathe’ Wall in 1977! Today, Eric will tell his side of that story. 

Eric shares a deep and refreshing perspective on the ways that the sport has grown up alongside him since he began climbing in the 70s. Plus, he’ll make his compelling case for why he believes that ego needs to be kept in check in order to truly enjoy life as a climber. 

The conversation doesn’t stop here! If you want to hear more stories from Eric, join our Patreon for the exclusive continued conversation! For just $5/month you’ll get access to great bonus content like this, plus route info, exclusive beta, and a Discord chat. Join us here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

In addition to climbing, Eric is a fantastic landscape painter. Check out his painting and climbing here: https://www.instagram.com/ericzschiesche00/?hl=en

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.

Today, Mike Gagnon joins Jay and Lee for some off the cuff chatter about all things climbing. Hear about their latest sends (and whippers), get updated on what’s going on at Miriam Woods, and get the guys’ takes on listener questions. 

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

You know what you want to do? You want to join our Patreon! Support the First Ascent Podcast for just $5/month and get access to great bonus content like our live talks, route info, and exclusive beta. Learn more here: https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Jay and Lee can be found at @jayknower and @xxleeweexx 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.