First Ascent Podcast

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.

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.