one year later

well, it's been almost exactly a year since i moved here to nyc, and a lot has happened. maybe you've read some of my more EMO posts, and are asking yourself now, will jonah wax poetic once more? well, my dear reader, i ask you a simple question: is it a day ending in y?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT - new york city is surrounded by boulders, boulders everywhere, good boulders! i have had such an amazing time this past year going to places i would have otherwise never visited, and have had so many cool moments out there in nature, with my pals and alone.

i am drawn to city climbing culture - in my opinion, city climbers have to work harder, pay more money, and commit more time to do the same things those with easy access get to do! and i think that's badass. a real highlight of this past year has definitely been climbing at gp81.

gp81, simply put, is just fucking awesome - it is a community space that every city needs. a gym that will get you strong, a place for likeminded people to hang out, and a place that i truly look forward to going to every single day. i've met so many new, amazing people, at gp, and am so grateful to have found this awesome spot.

gp81
gp81 in all its glory at movie night

jordan, keene, devon, noah, hunter, vyom, leane, jason... the list goes on and on! i've been more psyched on climbing this year than ever before. and in many ways, i think i'm finally starting to understand what i want to give to climbing, and city culture as a whole.

but anyways, this post is mostly intended to be a list of the boulders i've done since i got here, because as far as the outdoors go, this has been my best year ever! so here are my boulders sent, not in order:

boulders did

i'm proud to have lots of mods on here... building out that pyramid, you know. anyways, nomadland: siiiiick boulder! i did not have a v11 experience, i'm still chasing that dragon. but what i had was much more valuable - a mental breakthrough!

i did the stand with jordan fairly quickly, but had to go back to do the full line alone. and the first time i topped it out, i did the stupid scary crack topout, which is dumb! anyways, because i was alone, i had to do a direct top out, which did turn out to be easier, but i had nooooo clue what to do

so imagine my surprise when i get up there on my SECOND GO OF THE DAY! now or never, right? i was fuckin scared man, but i was able to compose myself and get it done. almost cried. teared up on the way home. i decided to go for it anyways, and i'm really psyched i didn't bail. the old me would have.

me stickin da crux
me stickin da crimper on nomadland stand

in the car, driving up, i listened to this song by toe, and i had a feeling i was going to do it. no anxiety, none of that. i just knew. so without even setting up the camera, i played the song and did it! siiick!

i'm probably forgetting some boulders, but i have come along way as a climber, and i'm stoked to see what the fall season has in store for me. i think i can get diesel done - now THAT is v-fuckin-11 man!

jordan monch
jordan moooonchin a baconeggancheez
fam eating
joes fam eatin

from the top

"from the top" - oh boy what a video. this was a super fun one to work on. this originally started as a much longer video, based entirely on us building The Kitchen in Scott's basement. that video was originally called "corporation", with that jack white song, where he goes who's with me!!!

the footage for this video was shot over the course of a year, just like quality over opinion. we finished the last bit of filming over 2 weeks in colorado, doing mega days: work day jobs until 5 pm, climb until 9 pm, edit/animate until 1-2am. for 2 weeks straight! i don't know how we made it.

it may seem kinda silly, but this video means a ton to me. the video means less than the experience making it - but isn't that how it always is with me? i'm really proud of jack and lily for getting their voice to shine in this one, and am looking forward to making many more ppl videos soon.

here's the jist, everyone: i'm not here to make the same hypesick climbing videos you've seen over and over again. as LCD Soundsystem puts it, "maybe i don't do hits". what i do do (lol), is make the most sincere, most personal, most honest climbing movies you've ever freaking seen. that's a fact.

there were a lot of ups and downs during this making of this one. i thought i was falling in love but really was just tripping over my feet. i was falling in love though; deeper in love with movement and deeper in love with the people i've got to keep me grounded. thanks everyone, see you in the next.

collected images from the top

Pic 1

me totally rocking in the sun, trying not to think too hard about the boulder or a certain girl on my mind

Pic 2

us in the lab, tired hungry and very over this

Pic 3

she's got lightning ya'll!

Pic 4

jhack breakin it down for mr director

Pic 5

what a cool shirt, too bad its ekscloosive

more coming soon...

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