First Ascent Podcast

Jay & Lee
  • 5.0 (85)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
First Ascent Podcast

Jay and Lee have been friends for 20 years, and they've been chatting about climbing pretty much the whole time, be it in person, via text, or on social media. Now they take their witty conversation to the next frontier: a podcast. Join them as they discuss current events and trends in climbing, their recent climbing adventures, and whatever else that comes up. It's basically like crag spray, but recorded!

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Innovations of Ice Climbing Gear with Charlie Faust of Beartooth Alpine Equipment

    If you’re an ice climbing gearhead, then you’ve probably heard about the new picks by Beartooth Alpine Equipment. Cofounder Charlie Faust joins the pod today to tell us all about them. He’ll share how Beartooth Alpine came to be, how their picks differ from other brands on the market, the role gear advancement has played in changing the sport of ice climbing, and his personal pick sharpening tips. Plus, we’ll get philosophical in a talk about the light and dark motivations that lead peop...

    56 min

  2. NOV 13

    Finding Your Footing After a Health Challenge with James Schroeder

    James Schroeder (aka Fudd) is back on the pod today to talk about his recent health journey with a severe heart arrhythmia. He’ll share how the health issue came to light, the surgical processes he went through to correct the issue, what the recovery process has been like for him, and how it has changed his perspective on life, fitness, and climbing. Plus, Fudd and Jay reminisce about an epic ice climb, and the unforgettable rock prank Fudd played on Jay. Join us over on the First ...

    36 min

  3. NOV 6

    Listener Questions - The Ice & Mixed Climbing Edition with Brian O’Leary

    Ice climbing season is just around the corner! Today, avid ice and mixed climber Brian O’Leary is on the pod to answer your ice, mixed and dry tooling questions. We’ll talk about the best ways to train for ice and mixed climbing, how the design of the tools you use will affect your performance, Brian’s thoughts on the need for more dry tooling routes, where to dry tool year round, and our thoughts on route grading. Brian is the co-founder of Forecast Climbing Equipment. Learn more a...

    49 min

  4. OCT 30

    A Climber Running for Office—State Senate Candidate Rusty Talbot

    Rusty Talbot, candidate for NH Senate District 1, joins me on the pod today for a discussion about public service - both in the state house and at the crag. Rusty is an avid climber, the owner of the North Country Climbing Center in Lisbon, NH, a firefighter, and a search and rescue leader. Today, Rusty shares how climbing informs his approach to politics, what inspired him to run for state senate, where he stands in regards to issues facing New Hampshire’s outdoor recreation scene, and ...

    53 min

  5. OCT 23

    An Update on Merriam Woods/Russell Crag with Chris Vaughan and Mike Gagnon of CNHCA

    Today Chris Vaughan and Mike Gagnon join me on the pod to discuss the latest developments at Merriam Woods and Russell Crag! We’ll talk about the history and future of Merriam Woods, how the development of a parking lot will majorly improve access, some of the best routes at the crag (for all skill levels!), the land management challenges in the area, the importance of community support to keep the crag accessible and thriving, and how you can get involved through The Central New Hampshi...

    53 min

  6. OCT 16

    Climbing Mainiac with Dylan Connole

    Dylan Connole, a longtime climber and tech rep for Trango Climbing, joins me on the pod today to talk about climbing Mainiac, a mythical 5.13d in the far reaches of northern Maine. Dylan shares some history about the climb before detailing his own experience climbing it in September (complete with some invaluable beta). Plus, he’ll share what it’s like to work in the climbing industry and how he made the transition from climber to working at the center of the industry. Check out Dyl...

    51 min

  7. OCT 9

    24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell with Nadya Vorotnikova and Sean Vallefuoco

    Nadya Vorotnikova and Sean Vallefuoco are on the pod today to discuss their incredible performance at Horseshoe Hell, a grueling 24-hour climbing competition in Arkansas! They’ll share how the event works, the challenges that can arise when climbing for 24 hours straight, the importance of community support during the event, and the strategies they employed to achieve some really impressive performance metrics. Learn more about Horseshoe Hell here. Follow Nadya on Instagram @na...

    49 min

  8. OCT 2

    Bolt Talk with Brian O’Leary

    Brian O’Leary of Forecast Climbing Equipment reached out with some questions about glue in bolts, so we’re gonna chat about it on the pod! We’ll talk about the benefits and challenges of glue in bolts vs. mechanical bolts, how the trend in bolting has moved towards glue ins in recent years, our thoughts on red tags, and the projects we’re excited about tackling this fall. Plus, Brian will tell us about the new tools coming to the Forecast Climbing lineup! Disclaimer: The inform...

    51 min
See All (111)

5
out of 5
85 Ratings

About

Jay and Lee have been friends for 20 years, and they've been chatting about climbing pretty much the whole time, be it in person, via text, or on social media. Now they take their witty conversation to the next frontier: a podcast. Join them as they discuss current events and trends in climbing, their recent climbing adventures, and whatever else that comes up. It's basically like crag spray, but recorded!

Information

  • Creator
    Jay & Lee
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 First Ascent Podcast
  • Show Website
    First Ascent Podcast

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