An update…and what’s to come.

After completing this site (my thesis for my multimedia master’s degree) and having walked in front of a large crowd to receive my second college degree, climbing never left my thoughts. A few people asked if I’d continue the upkeep of the site by adding new media and I was quick to say ‘Heck yeah!’

Obviously, I haven’t. But, I haven’t stopped shooting climbing. If you’d like to see some of the latest shots I’ve taken out at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Jasper, click over here. The real change in my lack of shooting climbing hasn’t been for my lack of interest…it’s been for my deepening interest in participating in the sport myself. After completing my degree in January, I dipped into my second/equal love of mountain biking for a handful of months.

This kept me pretty physically content until a few of my friends began to understand my growing love for climbing. It happened in a whirlwind but soon we were making trips to the Little Rock Climbing Center after work at least a day a week and once summer hit were making trips to Dardanelle Rock, Fountain Red, Strawberry Bluffs and of course Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. Where was my camera? I was pretty derelict in my duties as a photographer (I’ve yet to figure out the balance of a full climbing pack with a full DSLR kit as well) but I did manage a few expertly snapped cell phone photos:

Dustin on Cotton Candy-Horseshoe Canyon Ranch.

LRCC’s 10th Anniversary

My second redpoint: Summer Rain at HCR.

Dustin on Le Beak at Fountain Red.

Another shot of Le Beak–Fountain Red.

Just to put some things into perspective:
April 2012: I decide on my master’s thesis subject (rock climbing in Arkansas) after making acquaintance with a few climbers that go to the university I work at (Arkansas Tech). My mentor/professor on this project insisted that I take on a subject that I know nothing about–I knew I loved the outdoors, biking and hiking so this seemed like something I definitely wouldn’t hate.
September 2012: spectating/filming 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell 2012.
December 2012: completed thesis project and graduated.
January 2012-late June 2012: lots of mountain biking and some climbing/gym climbing.
Early July 2012: first lead climb at Dardanelle Rock (“The 5.7”)
August 2012: lots of top roping, bouldering and a couple more leads/redpoints.
September 2013: volunteering on the crag team/photographing at 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell 2013. (lots of photos from this to come) PHOTOS OF 2013 24HHH HERE

October 2013: Start training for 24 Hour of Horseshoe Hell 2014.

…am I crazy? Probably.
Next September I plan on taking a bite out of 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell from the perspective of a competitor. In light of this, I’m going to construct a non-negiotable training plan/nutrition plan and document my progress on this blog.

Between working full time as the university photographer at Arkansas Tech, balancing my personal photo shoots and my other hobbies/home life, this will prove a bit of a challenge. I hope that through the blog that I’ll be able to hold myself accountable for my own success.

To read on to day one, start here.