Two in a day and the Eightfold Path of Climbing

Yesterday was a great day. what started with just a couple of us heading out climbing ended up with 12 of us having a blast out at the Chicken Cave. People were pushing their limits all over the place with lots of attempts on things at peoples upper limits coming close to sends. Its was great seeing my friends all trying so hard and having such a great time testing their boundaries. And I had a great day too with a swag of onsights up to 5.11's and doing two 5.12's in a day, something I haven't done in a while! I sent 'Lily' a great, steep 5.12b on my 3rd go and making a repeat of the powerful and super steep 'White Tiger' 5.12c. So I felt great! Hopefull it's a sign of things to come this Autumn as I work at getting fitter for my mega project out at Fuli!

Amoungst all the banter at the crag we also came up with the 'Eightfold Path of Climbing', a list of 8 different aspects of climbing that we think you need to at least experience to become a solid all round climber... for those of you not familiar with what the Eightfold Path of Buddhism is that this idea is derived from looks here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path

Here they are in no particular order...

Bouldering
Traditional Climbing
Sport Climbing
Ice Climbing
Alpine Climbing
Aid Climbing
Deep Water Soloing
Big Wall Climbing

This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time and now only have Ice, Alpine and Big Wall left to do as I have done all of the others up to what I consider a reasonable level and hopefully this Winter I will be able to go on an adventure up to see my friends in Yunan Province here in China and tick of the remaining 3 styles.
But thats just my opinion of what makes a good all round climber... whats yours?

Much love!

Scorchin', sweatin', summertime good times

It's about 4am and my friend Carina gets a phone call...

Carina 'Hello?'
'Hey Carina, its JP'
'Hi'
'What are you up to?'
'Sleeping, its late, you?'
'Uh, nothing much, my apartment building is on fire'
'Oh ok, cool.... wait... what?'
'Yeah, on fire, and we cant get out, could you pop round and see whats happening outside?'

Seriously, my friends apartments went up in flames, they were trapped inside and he was a relaxed as can be about it haha. The fire got controlled and no one got hurt or lost much of anything just a few motor scooters in the foyer so it was all good in the end, but man, talk about crazy!

Things have been fun here. It's scorching hot every day (up to 38 degrees celcius) and it really feels like summer. Swimming in the river, eating watermelon at the crag. Thats right, despite the heat alot of climbing is getting done. You sweat alot and your enegry gets sapped by the sun but if you seek the shade you can still get alot done. After the steep powerful sandstone of Australia I felt a little weird on the long enduro limestone but after a few days I am back in the swing of things and have tried a few new routes that have become definite new projects for me to work on. Super psyched!!!

Heres a few pics for y'all...