Ice and mixed climber extraordinaire Pat Cooke is back on the pod to help us usher in a new season of ice climbing! Jay had the pleasure of joining Pat on a mixed climb of Fafnir on Cannon Cliff recently and today they’re here to talk all about the experience. 

The guys talk about how gear can make all the difference in an ice climb, the mantras and mental exercises they use in challenging moments, and the ephemeral nature of making plans for the winter season.

Plus! We finally get an ice climber to share his ice climbing goals! 

For a great intro to ice climbing, check out our first episode with Pat Cooke.  

Follow along with First Ascent on Instagram at  @firstascentpod. 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.

Our good buddy Jeremy Ballou is on the pod today! Jeremy is a long time friend of the pod who has never shied away from correcting us on our many mistakes. He is also the namesake of Jeremy’s Wall in Miriam Woods. 

Jeremy adds his candid hot takes to a new crop of listener questions, airs his grievances with the climbing world, and generally reminds us that we’re full of sh*t. 

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 we’re joined by Vance White! Vance has put up over a hundred routes in the Lander area, is the author of “Lander Rock: Rock Climbs of Central Wyoming”, and is simply one of the nicest climbers in the land.  

Our chat with Vance today covers bolting philosophy, the importance of generational mentorship, music at the crag, developing routes with an inclusive mindset and more! 

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

Learn more about the Central New Hampshire Climbers Association here! https://www.centralnhclimbers.org/

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.

Thanksgiving is upon us, and we have so much to be grateful for in the climbing world. From our partners to our health, our gear, experiences and everything in between, we’re breaking down the things that mean the most to us in this incredible activity that we all share. 

One thing we’re so grateful for is our amazing First Ascent Patreon community! Join us! For only $5-$10 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.

Lee’s in Vegas, baby! So, there’s no better time to talk about how the Las Vegas climbing scene has absolutely exploded in the last decade. Lee shares what he’s been up to, and then the guys list some of their favorite things about the area. 

Plus, they explore how different the western mindset is when it comes to long approaches, and what we lose in New Hampshire when we’re unwilling to make a long approach to a crag. 

Join us over on the First Ascent Patreon! For only $5-$10 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.

Russ Clune joins Jay and Lee on the pod today to chat about his new book ‘The Lifer: Climbing Adventures in The Gunks and Beyond’. 

Russ is one of the best traveled climbers in the history of our sport. He has climbed and put up routes on every continent other than Antarctica, and he has the stories to prove it. Today he’ll share about his free solo of Supercrack, how he came to travel so extensively for climbing in a time before the internet, his close friendship with Wolfgang Güllich and so much more. 

Order your copy of “The Lifer: Climbing Adventures in The Gunks and Beyond” here: https://www.diangelopublications.com/shop/p/the-lifer

Join us over on the First Ascent Patreon! For only $5-$10 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.

Josh Garrison joins Jay and Lee on the pod today to talk about his awesome free solo linkup on Cannon Cliff that he completed in less than 3 hours. He’ll walk you step-by-step through the entire experience, and share his thoughts on the less than enjoyable feedback he received when posting about it online. 

Then, Jay and Lee will share their stories of Cold War to celebrate listener Ian Grant’s ascent of the classic climb. 

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.

Accomplished mixed climber Zac St. Jules is on the show today to help us get ready for the upcoming winter season! Zac shares more about Forecast Equipment’s awesome tool, The Nor*Easter, and helps us answer listener questions about when to throw in the towel (or not) on a project and what is necessary in order to become a well rounded climber. 

Check out Forecast Equipment here: https://www.forecastequipment.com/

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.

It’s time for another round of listener questions! Today, Jay and Lee tackle how to achieve the elusive work/life/climbing balance, the Central New Hampshire Climbers Association, chossineering, the new LCO in town and traveling internationally to climb vs staying in the states. 

Plus, hear about Josh Garrison’s solo speed enchainment at Franconia Notch, and the dust up it caused online. 

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

Learn more about the Central New Hampshire Climbers Association here! https://www.centralnhclimbers.org/

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.

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.