EPC (6)- Parting Shots & Thoughts

A local crusher exhausted after working Big Blue (5.13b)

After three weeks somewhere, it begins to feel like home.  The faces are familiar, and we have a routine: sun, wake, coffee, friends, walk to crag, climb, walk back, smile, cook, sleep.  I’m back in Boulder, in the loving arms of my girlfriend Amy.  She asked what I missed when I was in Mexico, and my list was surprisingly small: Amy, couch, good coffee.  El Potrero Chico is designed for visiting climbers and has almost everything one would need, without all the excess.

• EPC is affordable: our camping/ facilities fee was $5 a night and it included a kitchen, bathrooms, a pool, wifi and more.  The close restaurants had meals for about $5-$8, and cheaper food could be had.
• EPC is safe: The locals are friendly and crime is pretty low in this area of Mexico.  There is some loose rock, but it really wasn’t an issue.  I didn’t knock off any rocks the whole time.
• EPC is fun:  The rock is good, the weather is typically good, and everyone was cool.
• You should go.

Andrew exploring The Crystal Cave AKA an old abandon mine

Prior to starting my trip, I wanted to make a lot of videos while down there (a la Vertical Carnival style).  This didn’t work out for a couple of reasons:

• It’s hard.  Damn, I have so much respect for those guys making beautiful videos of the places they visit. I knew I couldn’t get the results I wanted without making that my main objective.
• It interferes.   Some days I took the camera out, some days I didn’t, making a point to just experience without seeing through a lens.  Filming or taking photos also changes your surroundings and interactions (think MTV’s The Real World, or any number of other “reality” shows).
  

  Gary working Bottom Feeder (5.12d). This heart-break climb has one really hard move towards the top.

The more I photograph, the more I realize many great photos are planned.  Lights, timing, having the model/climber climb a route multiple times, etc.  I love the “honesty” of unplanned photos, but to get consistent results, I need to be organized and have climbers willing to work together for a final product.  I’m getting better at this everyday.  Here are a couple related articles you may find interesting:

Rock and Ice interviews leading photographers

Chase Jarvis Discusses “making sausage”

Josh enjoying an evening pitch at Mota Wall

The Super Select gallery of El Potrero Chico photos is up (click a photo above or here).