No. 16 - 2012 Year in Pictures

By - Bill Urbanski

2012 provided yet another year of adventure and travel and amazing experiences with great friends, old and new... and I have the pictures to prove it:

24. July - Kayaking returned to my life in a big way with excursions on the Francis E. Walter Dam, the Susquehanna River, and more.

23. October - Friends John, Jill, and Dave proudly join the ranks of fellow marathon completers, at Scranton's Steamtown Marathon.

22. November - Return to Joshua Tree N.P. for JTreeTweetUp 4. With Patrick on belay on a 5.9 sport climb called Sexy Grandma.

21. June - Car roof surfing with brother Steve on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

20. May - Busking on the streets of Scranton during a First Friday event.

19. February - With veteran marathoners Rob and Traci at South Carolina's Myrtle Beach Marathon. Rob's finish earned him his first trip to Boston.

18. June - Departing Mt. Hood Oregon. A week-long blizzard scuttled our summit bid. Nothing but blue skies on the day we had to leave.

17. June - Posing with fellow 48-Completers at the Highpointer Convention, Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon.

16. August - Deep water free soloing - a new summer time passion.

15. April - With the family, toasting the 75th Anniversary of Urbanski Farms.

14. July - Climbing "The Nose" - following 4th of July fireworks on the Mall in D.C.

13. June - Sunrise summit of Hawkeye Point, highest point in Iowa, with Patrick. Most challenging part of our climb was trying to stay awake on the all-night drive to get there.

12. March - St. Patrick's Day gig at Fiddler's Green. Performing as the Whiskey Rebels with Rich.

11. August - Slack Lining above the Library in Mocanoqua.  My newest passion (aka, newest way to hurt myself).

10. September - training for The Dangler, a 5.10a classic at the Gunks, using my homemade climbing gym / fireplace.

9. June - Smith Rock State Park, Oregon - 3 days of sport climbing in nature's Disneyland.

8.  June - On the approach to Mt. Shasta, California, gazing in awe at all its 10,000 feet of prominence. 

7. June - the iconic Monkey Face, 5.7 A0, at Smith Rock in Oregon. We ran out of time on our bid to send this classic, but look closely for other climbers about to enter the mouth.

 6. August - Cliff jumping - the perfect way to cool off on a sweltering summer day.

5. October - Urban climbing.  Thanks David for the opportunity, and Patrick for the photo.

4. June - Smith Rock climbing crew - a great day with friends old and new.

3. November - First fire. 3-year project complete. It has been a back-breaking labor of love.

2. October - sending The Dangler, 5.10a, at the Gunks in New York. I think the black and white really captures the moment. Thanks Jason for the photo.

1. June - Atop the 14,179 foot summit of Mt. Shasta, California with Patrick.

Many thanks to Patrick Gensel, David Weaver, Jason Gebauer and others for the photos, and for sharing many of these amazing adventures with me.

No. 15 - 2011 Year in Pictures

- by Bill Urbanski

January seems to have passed in the blink of an eye and we are well into 2012.  But I did not want to leave 2011 behind without one last look at the year that was - in pictures:

24. August - with Patrick, David and Maraya in Yellowstone N.P. after our bid to climb the Grand Teton. Patrick's Suzuki Grand Vitara served us well on a cross country grand adventure.

23. April - covering President Jimmy Carter during the "Plains (GA) helping Plains (PA)" event.

22. April - Yosemite Tweetup. The nightly campfire with a great group of climbing friends.

 21. August - with Jim Whittaker, 1st American to summit Everest, at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, Utah.

20. September - Rock Monster in Grand Junction, Colorado.

 19. September - From the summit of Independence Monument, Grand Junction, Colorado. My first desert tower.

18. November - Foo Fighters show in Philly. Best rock band on the planet.

17. May - Stonebridge Vineyard expansion. Planting Reisling at Urbanski Farms with my uncle.

16. August - On the set of Martin Bowsfield. My first movie role - with Cinematographer Jake Danna Stevens and Director Jon YonKondy.

15. July - Passing of the flag to John Mitchler after hosting the Highpointer's Konvention in Ohio.

14. May - Rock climbing at New River Gorge, West Virginia during the Rendezvous.

13. November - "Mullen" show (U2 tribute). Pat Flynn and John Smith at their best.

12. October - Chimney/Climbing Wall project at the farm continues. A labor of love.

11. April - Entering Yosemite with Liz and Patrick for the climbing tweetup.

10. August/September - Farm flooding. Hurricane Irene and T.S. Lee devastate farm and cause evacuation of Wyoming Valley.

 9. August - Return to the Summit of Devils Tower, Wyoming. Clear skies this time.

8. February - Sap buckets heading to the sugar bush at the beginning of a record year of maple syrup production at Urbanski Farms.

7. August - Sturgis, South Dakota Motorcycle Rally. A "must do" on life's checklist.

6. August - Climbing party (with Patrick, Maraya and David) after summit bid of the Grand Teton.

5. January - Atop the summit block. Winter ascent of Mt. Marcy, New York's highest peak.

4. August - Rock climbing in Fremont Canyon, Wyoming, above the North Platte River.

3. July - Bouldering at Rock City, Kansas in 110 degree heat.

2. August - 13,000 feet on the Grand Teton in Wyoming.

1. September - Leading the final pitch on Independence Monument, Grand Junction, Colorado.

 Bring on 2012...

No. 11 - American Mountaineering Museum

- by Bill Urbanski

Patrick Gensel under the Iconic Arch on Washington Ave.

      When many people think of Golden Colorado, they instantly associate it with Coors beer.  The brewing company was established by German immigrant Adolph Coors in 1873, and today, the facility in Golden is the largest single brewery facility in the world. 

Bill with Adolph Coors

        I first visited Golden on my way to climb Mt. Elbert, Colorado’s highest mountain.  A steady rain caused a one-day delay in my climbing plans, so I needed to find a way to kill some time.  I did as many tourists do – I took the tour of the Coors Brewery.  I spent the night with friends and when the weather cleared, I climbed the next day.

      Last August, I once again found myself in metro Denver with some time to kill, as I waited on a late afternoon flight back east after climbing Devils Tower.  I returned to Golden, but this time I discovered a tourist gem, much more worth my time than some silly brewery tour.  I paid a visit to the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum. 

Main Exhibit Hall as Viewed From Above

       The museum opened in 2008 and, as its website proudly informs, is the “first and only museum in the United States dedicated to the heroism, technology, culture and spirit of mountaineering.”  It is named for Brad Washburn, a pioneer and legend in the field of mountaineering and cartography.  Washburn also served as director of the Boston Museum of Science for more than forty years.

Patrick Examining the Portaledge Display

      As you enter the museum’s main hall, be sure to watch your step.  A mock up of a glacial crevasse must be crossed.  Once you’re safely across, you will find exhibits on climbing gear, mountaineering history, mountain climate and culture, and much, much more.

  

      The centerpiece exhibit is a scale model of Everest, constructed in 1990 under the watchful eye of Mr. Washburn himself.

Mount Everest Scale Model

       Nearby the model of Everest is an interactive touch-screen exhibit.  Touch a region of the world, and pictures and descriptions of mountains will be displayed.

      This exhibit is a particular and personal source of pride for me, as photographs I have taken during my travels are actually a part of it.  A visitor can touch an icon for US state highpoints, and find on several states the attribution, “photo by Bill Urbanski.”  

Two of My Photographs on Display in the Museum

        Also housed in the same building is the American Alpine Club library.  It is one of the world’s largest libraries dedicated to mountaineering research and education, with over 20,000 books and video in its circulation.  I can say from personal experience, the staff is dedicated, knowledgeable and friendly. 

Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum

      So if you find yourself in the Denver area and you have some time to kill, drive on over to Golden, but skip the brewery tour.  Instead, spend an hour or two or three exploring the true gem of the city – the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum.  You will not be disappointed.