the Sharp End Podcast
A podcast hosted by Ashley Saupe that aims to minimize future outdoor accidents by sharing real stories from real people. Sponsored by Rocky Talkie and supported by the American Alpine Institute. The show emphasizes the message 'Play Hard and Be Smart' to promote safety in outdoor adventures.
Episodes
Ep 129 - Altitude Illness on the Grand Teton - Kelsey Probst
In this month’s episode, I talk with Kelsey as she shares her intense experience climbing the Grand Teton in August of 2026. We discuss the lessons learned about altitude illness, honesty in team settings, and the importance of preparation and self-awareness in high-altitude mountaineering.
Make sure to sign up for the Rocky Talkie giveaway at thesharpendpodcast.com from Oct 1-14.
Drawing will
Ep 128 - On Scene during a BASE Jumping Accident - James and George
In this episode, James and George share a gripping rescue story from Thailand, highlighting the importance of teamwork, planning, and first aid skills in emergency situations. Discover how their climbing experience and quick thinking saved a BASE Jumper’s life in a challenging environment.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.
This episode is sponsored by Rocky Talkie, the American Alpine Ins
Ep 127 - Trapped by Wilderness Fires - Juliet and Amy
Ep 127 - Trapped by Wilderness Fires - Juliet and Amy
Tune into this episode to hear Juliet Evans and Amy Lu recount their harrowing experience in the North Cascades, navigating a wildfire threat during a backpacking trip. Learn about their decision-making, resourcefulness, and the importance of communication in outdoor safety.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.
This episode is sponsored
Ep 126 - Mountain Rescue in the Bugaboos - Zach Watson
In this episode of the Sharp End Podcast, Zach Watson shares a gripping story of a mountain accident in the Bugaboos, highlighting the importance of preparation, communication, and mental resilience in mountain rescue scenarios. Learn key lessons on safety gear, decision-making, and the value of strong partnerships in outdoor adventures.
Zach Watson is a technologist based in Squamish, British C
Ep 125 - The Way Out - A True Story of Survival in the Heart of the Rockies - Devon O’Neil
Ep 125 - The Way Out: A True Story of Survival in the Heart of the Rockies - Devon O'Neil
In January 2017, three families set out on a backcountry ski trip to Uncle Bud's Cabin in the heart of the Rockies outside of Salida, Colorado. What was meant to be a fun getaway turned into a desperate search when two members of the party didn’t return from a quick ski run. In this episode, we'll dive into
Ep 124 - Climbing Liberty Ridge - Lessons Learned from a Challenging Ascent - Andy & Eric
Ep 124 - Climbing Liberty Ridge: Lessons Learned from a Challenging Ascent - Andy & Eric
Discover the insights from climbing Liberty Ridge on Mount Rainier, including key lessons, mistakes to avoid, and the importance of weather awareness for climbers.
In June of 2016, climbers Andy Schriner and Eric Miller embarked on a challenging ascent of Liberty Ridge on Mount Rainier. With a mix of excite
Ep 123 - Maximizing Wilderness Preparedness - Insights from a Mountain Guide - Mark Smiley
Ep 123 - Maximizing Wilderness Preparedness - Insights from a Mountain Guide - Mark Smiley
You already know that Ashley loves wilderness medicine so much, and she always wants her listeners to be as prepared as possible in the backcountry. That's what inspired this episode. Tune in to hear Ashley interview Mark Smiley, an IFMGA Mountain Guide, who shares his expertise on outdoor safety gear, resc
Ep 122 - Surviving a Near Miss in Moonlight Basin Colorado - Garrett Vinoski
In this episode of The Sharp End Podcast, Garrett Vinoski shares his harrowing experience of a near miss during a backcountry skiing trip in Moonlight Basin on December 5th in 2023. He discusses the factors leading up to the incident, including decision-making processes, avalanche conditions, and the importance of communication and risk management in the backcountry. Garrett reflects on the emotio
Ep 121 - Pacific Crest Trail Through-Hike Tragedy - Trek For Trevor - Doug Laher
In this episode of The Sharp End Podcast, Ashley interviews the Executive director of Trek for Trevor, a charity formed in memory of his son Trevor, who tragically died while attempting to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Doug shares Trevor's story, the importance of outdoor safety, and the mission of Trek for Trevor to educate hikers about safety gear and decision-making in the wilderness. The conve
Bonus Episode- Lessons from the Slopes- An Avalanche Experience - Rob and Mark
In this episode of The Sharp End Podcast, host Ashley speaks with Rob and Mark about their harrowing experience during an avalanche incident while skiing in the Selkirks of Canada. They discuss the events leading up to the avalanche, the survival tactics employed, and the emotional and mental challenges faced during and after the incident. The conversation emphasizes the importance of safety, deci
Ep 120 - Surviving Mount Washington - Matthew and Jeremy
In this episode, Matthew and Jeremy share their harrowing experience hiking Mount Washington, detailing the challenges they faced with unpredictable weather, navigation issues, and the importance of preparation and communication in outdoor adventures. They reflect on the lessons learned from their journey, emphasizing the need for contingency plans and the bond formed through shared adversity. Yet
Bonus Episode - Wild Ice Skating Safety - Paxson Woelber
In this conversation Ashley interviews Paxson, the founder of Ermine Skate. He shares his journey into the world of Nordic skating and the unique concept of wild ice skating. They discuss the advantages of Nordic skates over traditional hockey or figure skates, safety tips and gear recommendations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on the ice.
Don't forget to sign up for the Giveaway! Ermi
Ep 119 - From Adventure to Emergency - Surviving the Sawtooths - Jeffrey Zeldin
In this episode of the Sharp End Podcast, Jeff shares his harrowing adventure in the Sawtooth Mountains, where a climbing accident left his friend Sydney with a severe knee injury. The conversation covers their initial plans for a climbing trip, the accident itself, the emergency response, and the emotional rollercoaster of waiting for rescue. Jeff reflects on the lessons learned about preparednes
Ep 118 - DIE FIGHTING - Nathan Chaszeyka
In this episode of The Sharp End podcast, Nathan shares his incredible journey as an experienced climber, detailing his long-awaited ascent of Bird Brain Boulevard, the challenges he faced during the climb, and the life-altering fall that led to a dramatic self-rescue. Nathan reflects on the importance of patience, the mental and emotional fallout of climbing accidents, and the invaluable lessons
BONUS episode - Mind and Mountain- Bridging Fitness and Mental Health - Sarah Histand
In this engaging conversation, Ashley interviews Sarah Histand, a passionate Alaskan who has dedicated her life to merging outdoor recreation with mental health support through her business, Mind and Mountain. They discuss the Ski Babes program, which focuses on cross-training for winter sports, and the importance of overcoming injuries and building confidence. Sarah shares her personal journey of
Ep 117 - Early Season Avalanche - Dominic Torro
On December 9th, 2023, Domimic triggered an avalanche in the great gulf on the North Eastern side of Mt Washington. The plan was to ski “Airplane Gully", which is one of the longer and more remote lines in the Presidentials. He ended up getting rescued and spent the next year and a half getting seven surgeries dealing with recovery after recovery. This is really the perfect episode to produce as w
Ep 116 - Early Off Piste Lesson - Gregg Kavet
What is it like to see a pair of skis on a glacier with no one around? What is it like to hear someone’s hoarse and terrified voice deep inside a crevasse screaming up at you? Gregg Kavet knows first hand. Gregg has lots of learnings from this incident in this episode. The classic objective learnings, of course, as well as how this experience shaped his parenting style with his own boys. He reflec
Ep 115 - LIVE RECORDING at eTOWN Boulder CO - Part II - Route to Resilience - Laura McGladrey
A Route to Resilience: Recognizing and Supporting Psychological Stress Injuries in Outdoor Culture A LIVE Sharp End Podcast with Responder Alliance Founder Laura McGladrey
Part 2:
The Route To Healing- Supporting Each Other & Ourselves
In the second installment of this two-part series, Laura McGladrey shares a range of practical tools for recognizing and managing stress injuries. Drawing from h
Bonus Episode - July 15 - Designed By Disaster - Danny Giovale
In this conversation, Danny Giovale shares his journey as an outdoor enthusiast and innovator, discussing his film 'Designed by Disaster' which recounts a life-altering climbing accident. He explains the development of his products, including the KTS crampon and microspikes, designed to enhance safety in non-technical terrains. The discussion emphasizes the importance of risk assessment in outdoor
Ep 114 - LIVE RECORDING at eTOWN Boulder CO - Part I - Route to Resilience - Laura McGladrey
A Route to Resilience: Recognizing and Supporting Psychological Stress Injuries in
Outdoor Culture A LIVE Sharp End Podcast with Responder Alliance Founder Laura McGladrey
Part 1: Psychological Stress Injuries in Outdoor Culture
As you all know, the guests on my show share outdoor incidents they were involved in. Many of those stories have a physical injury that takes the focus. Say, a broken a
Bonus Episode - 6:15 - "...But I Won't Fall There." - Peter Johnston
Peter Johnston is a long-time rock climber and currently resides in Portland, Oregon. After seeing years of truly poor decision making at his local crags, Peter gathered his observations and thoughts about these experiences and began writing it all down. About one year ago, the final result was "...But I Won't Fall There," released by Sharp End Publishing from Boulder, CO.
Peter believes the con
Ep 113 - Second Attempt on Temple Crag Peak - Megan and Michael
Over the past few years, Megan and Michael had their eyes set on Temple Crag Peak; a 13,000 foot peak about six miles into the backcountry of the Eastern Sierras in California. The two of them attempted it in late July of 2021, and ended up being stuck on the side of the mountain during a thunderstorm for several hours during the retreat. That’s one story… but then they went back this past summer
LIVE EVENT: Route to Resilience
ROUTE TO RESILIENCE:
Recognizing and Supporting Stress Injuries
A LIVE Sharp End Podcast Event with Responder Alliance Founder Laura McGladrey
Wed, May 28, doors at 6pm
7pm - 9:30pm MDT
eTOWN in Boulder, Colorado
$15 tickets
Beer * Wine * Raffle
Get tickets!
https://events.humanitix.com/the-sharp-end-podcast?fbclid=IwY2xjawKElu9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFQUUVadnh0emIyMnhTU3dVAR7sR3ueIkQTx_YXN2
Ep 112 - Lost In The Colorado Rockies - Liz Gergel
On June 13, 2019, Liz and her friend set out to hike the Oxford and Belford Peaks, which are 14ers in Colorado, including eleven long miles and lots of elevation gain. At one point on their hike, they got off route and lost the trail. In this episode, Liz has lots of lessons learned that she wants to share with you. Tune in to hear her whole story.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This
Ep 111 - Big Fall from Bad Comms - Manny and Tyler
In this episode, Manny and Tyler talk about an incident that happened in Fraser Valley, British Columbia while on a multi-sport adventure, which included a kayak / rafting / climbing trip in July of 2024. There were many reasons why this particular incident occurred. Manny was physically injured and Tyler ended up with a stress injury from it all. Tune in to hear them recount the scenario and what
Ep 110 - Tenacity in Pursuit - Par Linden
My guest in this month’s episode set out with a good friend to ski some specific objectives. They started from sea level and toured way up the mountain. This incident happened in Sogndal, Norway. The two of them had a steady ski tour and took the most direct route. Unfortunately, the weather changed and the higher they got, the worse the snow conditions became. This interview is one of only a hand
Ep 109 - An Interview with Caleb Merrill from the Avalanche Hour Podcast
In today’s episode, I talk with Avalanche Forecaster and Ski Guide Caleb Merrill. Caleb is also the producer and host of one of my favorite podcasts called The Avalanche Hour. In this episode, Caleb and I talk about common mistakes while recreating during the winter months, ways to stay safe this season in avalanche terrain and much more. Tune in to learn and also get hooked on another epic and ed
Ep 108 - Emergency Bivy in Chamonix - Steve van Zutphen
Steve was in an accident back in 2019 in the Chamonix range in France. He was climbing with a friend, who also works on the Chamonix Rescue Helicopter Team. They got stuck in bad weather on the way down a route and ended up having to do an emergency bivi (without bivi gear) in a rapidly dug ice cave high up on the glacier. They learned a lot from this incident. Tune in this episode to hear more.
Ep 107 - Epic on Mount Evans - Nate Oakes
Nate Oakes had an epic while climbing a multi-pitch route on Mount Evans in Colorado. He says it was a learning experience in route planning, taking responsibility for making safe decisions, speaking up when you're uncomfortable, and being more prepared for what to do when things don't go according to plan. Now, Nate is a big believer in always carrying the ‘10 Essentials’ out on adventures. Tune
Ep 106 - Solo Ground Fall - Chris Gardner
May of 2023, Chris set out to rope solo Virgin Wool (5.8 C2) in Arches National Park. The description of the first pitch read: "5.7 - sporty - no pro.” To Chris, it looked harder than a 5.7 from the ground, and he noticed a seam that he thought he could aid up, so he decided to try and aid climb the route. It didn’t go as planned and he ripped out two cams and fell 10 feet to the ground, landing o
Ep 105 - Avalanched On Mount Shasta - Tanner And Parker
In April of this year (2024), Tanner and Parker were swept down Mt. Shasta after triggering a wind stab. After a 12 hour ground rescue, they were finally off the mountain, but did sustain physical and mental injuries from the traumatic event. Tune into this episode to hear their story.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This podcast is sponsored by Rocky Talkie, ZOLEO and AmazFit.
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Ep 104 - I Believe In Helmets - Brandon Cox
In March of this year, Brandon took his wife and a visiting climber from Hungry to the Atlantis climbing area in Queen Creek Canyon near Phoenix, AZ. They were warming up on some easy routes and were all thoroughly enjoying the day. On Brandon’s second lead of the day climbing an easy 5.8, things were going fine until they weren’t.
From what Brandon later heard from his belayer, wife, and a byst
Ep 103 - Rock Strike On Mt. Shasta - Sean Oldfield
Sean Oldfield was climbing Mount Shasta this year in May when he was violently struck in the back of the head by a falling rock on his descent. Despite wearing a helmet (which saved his life), Sean ended up getting flown off the mountain in a helicopter to the hospital, where he received multiple staples in his head, a fractured skull, and a concussion. Tune in to hear the details and what he lear
Ep 102 - Heat Stroke On The R2R2R - Kirk And Fred
Kirk and Fred have been friends for a long time. They have done adventure races together in the past and know where their limits lie. During this adventure, Fred nearly lost his life to heat stroke when they were doing the Rim to Rim to Rim (R2R2R) in the Grand Canyon. Kirk and Fred talk openly about what led up to the incident and how they managed it during and after. Tune in to hear more.
This p
Ep 101 - Bit By A Rattlesnake - Julia Fiorino
This is a crazy incident where my guest was bit by a rattlesnake in June of 2022 and ended up in the hospital for 12 straight days. She was climbing at Consumnes River Gorge in Lake Tahoe and it was going to be her first time trad climbing. The crew was getting all set up near the first climb, she decided to use the “facili-trees” (if you will) before putting on her harness. She walked away from t
Ep 100 - Backcountry Ski Accident: Part Two - Taylor Rose
This is Part Two of this story sequence with Taylor Rose. If you haven’t tuned in to episode 99, stop here and go back and listen to Part One (Episode 99) where Taylor Rose shares all about the details of his accident when he broke his femur on April 2nd, 2021 backcountry skiing in Huntington Ravine in the Mount Washington area. In this episode, Taylor reflects on what he learned and how he moved
Ep 99 - Backcountry Ski Accident: Part One - Taylor Rose
Taylor Rose is a twenty-four year old guy who loves the outdoors. He was out skiing in the backcountry with some friends in Huntington Ravine on Mount Washington in 2021 when he suffered a broken femur from a long sliding fall that resulted in a rescue involving his crew and the Mount Washington Avalanche Center. Tune in to hear part one of this series.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.
Ep 98 - Dropped In Joshua Tree - Devin Farkas
Devin Farkas was instructing a ten day climbing course in Joshua Tree National Park this last January. They were on day two of this ten day course when Devin’s trip was cut short. Tune into this episode to hear why.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This podcast is sponsored by Rocky Talkie and then American Alpine Institute and supported by the American Alpine Club.
→ 10% off Rocky Tal
Ep 97 - Accident In Yosemite - Grant And David
On Fourth of July weekend, two climbing partners, Grant and David, set out to climb a 2,200 foot climb on the Northwest face of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park in California. The conditions were perfect to climb this beautiful and exposed twenty-three pitch climb. Things started out perfectly, but not everything turned out as they had planned. Tune into this episode to hear more.
This podcas
January 2024 Bonus Episode - BroadBeta
In this BONUS episode, I chat with Jeannie Wall and Catherine Coe about an idea that came to life. Jeannie is the founder of BroadBeta which aims to “embolden women through shared stories to embrace wild ideas, wild experiences, and preserve the wildness.” Tune into this bonus episode to hear more about this idea, how it came to life, and what it’s all about.
To learn more and to get involved, h
Ep 96 - Indian Creek Fall - Drew Clements
Andrew Clements was climbing in Indian Creek on October 18, 2023 with a couple of climbers he had met in the parking lot the same day. He was on a route called Gorilla, which is rated 5.10b, which was his 3rd route of the day. He was standing about 2 feet above his last piece of gear when he fell. Drew injured his hand and both of his heels. Tune into this episode to hear more.
This podcast is p
December 2023 Bonus Episode - RopeLite LLC
Douglas started this small gear company because he saw a need in the outdoor climbing and rescue community. As a member of Search and Rescue, he found he needed specific gear for specific tasks that could create efficiency within certain tasks. Tune into this episode to hear what RopeLiteLLC is, why and how it started and how this whole interview came about.
Check out his gear at www.RopeLiteLLC
Ep 95 - We Rescued A Skier Who Fell In A Crevasse On Mt Baker - Allen Taylor & Samuel Lien
In May of 2023, Allen and Samuel were out skiing Mt. Baker, a 10,781 foot active glacier-covered stratovolcano in the North Cascades of Washington when they came upon another skier who fell 35 feet down inside a crevasse after the snow bridge he was standing on collapsed. With their knowledge of rope skills and crevasse rescue, they sprung into action to rescue the stuck skier. Tune in to this epi
November 2023 Bonus Episode - The Wonders Of Wool With Lawson Glidden
Have you ever heard the phrase “Cotton Kills?” One thing that we can each do to be a responsible outdoors person is to dress appropriately for the activity and weather to minimize the risk of getting too wet and too cold which could lead to hypothermia. Today I talk with Lawson Glidden, owner of Minus33, an American company founded in New Hampshire in 2001. They have been making wool textiles for
Ep 94 - The Summit Was Closed - Michael Habicht
In April of 2023, Michael Habicht headed over to Nepal to climb the striking 6,812 meter tall mountain, Ama Dablam. As a solo climber, he was met with some unique challenges and learned a ton from his expedition. After Michael got back from this trip he made the decision not to climb 8,000 meter peaks because of the experience he shares on this episode. His reasoning has nothing to do with his tec
Ep 93 - Rope Soloing Epic - Duane Swanson
Duane Swanson was rope soloing and found himself in a situation where he got stuck on the rock wall without food or water for nine hours and then had to figure out how to descend… by himself. Tune in to this episode to hear what rope soloing is and how he managed to self rescue.
Other articles on Rope Soloing mentioned in the episode include:
https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/skills/series/
Ep 92 - Lowering Accident In City Of Rocks - Myriam Bouchard
Myriam Bouchard and her partner were at the City of Rocks having an amazing climbing trip. They were on a 5.8 climb called ‘Twist and Crawl’ and when her partner was at the anchor, he told her that he was ready to be lowered. She began lowering him when all of a sudden, the rope slipped through the belay device and he fell 20 feet down to the ground. Listen to hear the entire story and how she exp
Ep 91 - BASE Jumping Accident - Derek Demyanek
BASE jumping accidents are rarely talked about and I’ve always wondered why. Last month, Derek reached out to me to share his story regarding a BASE jumping accident that he was involved in and I was eager to hear it. He was jumping with three of his good military friends on October 25, 2014 when his lines got twisted very shortly after he jumped off the Roan Plateau in Rifle, Colorado. It was one
Ep 90 - We Survived A Lightning Storm On Wolf's Head, Cirque Of The Towers - Bryce And James
In July of 2022, one year ago, just last summer, Bryce and James took a climbing trip to the Cirque of the Towers in the Wind River Range in Wyoming. They planned on climbing the Cirque of the Towers traverse. First, they started out up the South Buttress of Pingora and had a beautiful time on the route. At the top of the climb, that’s when they would start the traverse over to Tiger Tower and the
Ep 89 - My Experience With Heat Illness - Austin Anderson
On July 30, 2022, Austin suffered a heat illness that could have cost him his life. He was climbing on the Olympic Peninsula with two of his friends. They set out to climb ‘The Brothers,’ which are the two highest mountains in that range that you can see from miles and miles away. Due to his heat illness, he ultimately pressed the SOS button to get rescued. Listen to this episode to hear what happ
BONUS Episode 001! The 90lb Rucksack - Christian Beckwith
I recently interviewed Christian Beckwith who is (among many additional pursuits) the founder of The Teton Climbers’ Coalition, co-founder of the Alpinist Magazine, founder of the non-profit SHIFT, a skilled alpinist, and most recently, creator and host of the podcast, Ninety-Pound Rucksack.
Ninety-Pound Rucksack is a podcast dedicated to retracing the journey of America’s original mountain warri
Ep 88 - Ski Mountaineering Fall On South Maroon Bell, CO - Matt Randall
Last spring in May of 2022, Matt Randall took a 1,000 foot fall from the top of South Maroon Bell, one that he undoubtedly shouldn't have survived. He was solo ski mountaineering just outside of Aspen Colorado and Matt somehow got lucky and walked away with zero injuries and one broken ski. He wants to share his experience because he believes it would be beneficial for others to hear since he’s co
Ep 87 - Hit By A Rock, North Twin Sister In The North Cascades - Amy And Katherine
On June 3, 2020, two good friends, Kat and Amy, set out to climb the North Twin Sister in the North Cascades in Washington State. They initially had a beautiful weather window so they went for it. They were having a great time when the weather started to move in, visibility got low and they decided to turn around. On the descent, Amy accidentally dislodged a microwave sized rock that tumbled down
Ep 86 - Crevasse Fall On Athabasca Glacier - Gabriella Clark
Gabs was coming down the Athabasca Glacier after spending nine days winter camping up on the Columbia Ice-Fields. Her crew had just re-supplied two days prior with another ten days worth of food/fuel, and soon after, her ski went parallel to a narrow crevasse and her pulk (a snow sled she was towing behind her) lined up with her body. She then broke through a snow bridge, falling ten meters down i
Ep 85 - Climber Rescues Base Jumper In Utah - River Barry
On November 22, 2022, just two days after Thanksgiving, River Barry was gearing up to go mountain biking in Kings Creek, Moab, Utah. Things quickly changed when all of a sudden, a base jumper crashed into the sandstone rock and was dangling ever so delicately 80-100 feet above the ground. River soon found herself in the middle of a rescue. Listen into this episode to hear what happened and what sh
Ep 84 - Lead Fall On The Sun Wall At Looking Glass Rock - Taylor Fields
On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, Taylor Fields needed to release some school stress so he chose to go rock climbing. He went out with his best friend to climb "The Odyssey" on the Sun Wall at Looking Glass Rock in North Carolina. The Odyssey is a 5 pitch traditional route that is rated 5.11- on Mountain Project. Let's just say Taylor didn't walk back to the car after this. Listen in to this episode to h
Ep 83 - My Accident On A Multi-Pitch Climb In New Hampshire - Ryan
On October 6, 2021, Ryan and his climbing partner headed out to climb at a crag in North Conway, New Hampshire called Whitehorse Ledge. This climbing area is known for runout slab climbing. They had their eyes set on a nine pitch trad route rated 5.9. They loaded up their climbing racks and went for it. On pitch five of the climb, Ryan slipped. Listen to this episode to hear more.
This podcast i
Ep 82 - Impaled On Mt Rainier - Aavron
Aavron was on Mt Rainier when he slipped and fell, pulling his climbing partner down a slippery slope with him. During the fall, he was impaled by his ice ax. The surgeons said that packing the wound with snow saved his life. Using that resource was life or death to Aavron. By packing snow in his open chest wound, he was able to see his two boys and girlfriend again. Listen into this episode to he
Ep 81 - One Thousand Foot Slide Down Mount Baldy - Andrew
Andrew has been sport climbing for around 10 years and wanted to get some alpine/mountaineering experience under his belt. He did a handful of mountaineering climbs leading up to this particular climb (one being Mt Whitney) and then he and his climbing partner set their eyes on Mount Baldy (aka Mount San Antonio), the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains in California, sitting at 10,064 feet.
Ep 80 - A Different Perspective On Last Month's Oval Peak Incident - Enji Cooper
In today’s episode, I talk with Enji Cooper about what happened on Oval Peak with Glenn Block on the 8,800-foot mountain in the North Cascades of Washington state. This episode is a follow up from last month’s episode number 79. (Make sure to listen to episode 79 before listening to this one!) There were many questions that listeners had about some of the finer details of Glenn’s account. Tune in
Ep 79 - Oval Peak Misery - Glenn Block
Glenn Block and his friend Enji set out to climb Oval Peak, an 8,800-foot mountain in the North Cascades of Washington state. At the time, Glenn was a novice hiker and admits he didn’t fully understand what he was getting himself into. As a result, he has many learnings from this experience. Being prepared and prepping for a hike like this is extremely important. What I admire about Glenn is that
Ep 78 - Rescued Off Kit Carson Peak - Rachel Pisula
Rachel Pisula set out on July 29, 2020 on a pretty nice, mostly sunny day in Colorado to climb two fourteeners in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains about 3 hours from her home in Golden, Colorado. By this point in the summer, Rachel thinks she already hiked ten fourteeners with her dog, Emmett. She was feeling strong and confident. Her objective on this particular day was to climb Challenger Point a
Ep 77 - I Witnessed A Free Solo Fall - Clara Leonard
Clara was climbing at a local crag in Tennessee called King’s Bluff where she witnessed a free solo accident & was heavily involved in the rescue. The climber was out alone on a weekday, and her and her partner were the only other people at the crag. The climber that fell was climbing on an unestablished route and ended up being rescued via boat on the Cumberland River. A pretty interesting story
Ep 76 - LIVE w/ Arc'teryx Athlete Adam Campbell
On January 10th, 2020 Adam Campbell and his wife, Laura Kosakoski were skiing with their friend Kevin in the Mount Hector area of Banff National Park. Laura skied first, Kevin followed, as Adam approached the slope, he triggered a size 2.5 avalanche that pushed Laura into a terrain trap and buried her with over 12 feet of snow. Although Adam and Kevin were able to get to her, she never regained c
Ep 75 - Bad Fall, Broken Face - Joe Lovin
Tune in to episode 75 of the Sharp End Podcast to hear Joe Lovin share his story about a climbing fall he took in Clear Creek Canyon outside of Denver, Colorado. He talks about what went wrong and the important lessons he learned from his fall.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.
Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie and the American Alpine Club.
--> 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at www.r
Episode 75 - Teaser Clip
Bad fall, Broken face (Ep. 75)
Tune in to episode 75 of the Sharp End Podcast to hear Joe Lovin share his story about a climbing fall he took in Clear Creek Canyon outside of Denver, Colorado. He talks about what went wrong and the important lessons he learned from his fall.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.
Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie and the American Alpine Club.
--> 10%
Ep 74 - Buried By Ken Wylie
In this episode, Ken Wylie, author of the book “Buried,” recounts the horrific accident of La Traviata in Revelstoke, British Columbia. On January 20, 2003, thirteen people were caught in an avalanche while ascending the La Traviata West Couloir. Seven people died.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.
Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie and the American Alpine Club.
--> 10% off Rocky T
Ep 73 - An Unplanned Bivy At 13,000 Feet - Christian
Mount Emerson is located in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California. It’s the 116th highest mountain in California. Christian and a friend set out to climb it and ended up spending an extremely cold and uncomfortable night out on the mountain side at 13,000 feet. Listen in to hear Christian’s learning from the unplanned bivvy.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.
Episode sponsors include R
Ep 72 - Pulling Pieces In California - Kyle Broxterman
Kyle Broxterman was consistently climbing strong. He was stoked on pushing himself physically and to continue to push the grades. Kyle and a couple of friends went out to a new crag on Donner Summit outside of Lake Tahoe, California. It was a beautiful day, they climbed a few routes and then Kyle decided to attempt to onsite a slightly overhanging, lightening bolt crack. Listen in to hear why Kyle
Ep 68 - Caught In A Storm On The Second Pitch - Ed
In late July 2016, Ed and three other climbers in his group were caught in a sudden storm on top of 180 foot, two pitch climb called ”Waves" in the Black Hills behind Rushmore. With estimated 50 mph winds, a dangerous plunging temperature, and golf-ball-sized hail, getting off the climb was a test of experience, concentration, and teamwork. Listen to the end of this episode to hear Desert Mountain
Ep 71 - Getting Rescued in Zion National Park - Aaron and Ian Davis
Aaron and Ian are a father / son climbing team. Aaron is a teacher and Ian is a student and they both had summer break off. In June of 2021, they decided to take advantage of their summer break and head to Zion National Park, a climbing destination they try and go to at least once a year. Listen in to episode 71 to hear what went wrong and how they were rescued off this multi-pitch climb.
This p
Ep 70 - Learning How to Multi-Pitch, Gone Wrong - Nick Tollison
Nick, owner of Beta, wanted to learn how to multi pitch climb. He’d been climbing in a local indoor gym on a pretty regular basis for about three years. He went out with his climbing partner and someone they recently met who said he’d teach them how to multi-pitch climb. The three of them went out to Clarks Canyon to learn the basics. This is where the trip goes south. Listen into this episode to
Ep 69 - Cut Ropes In El Potrero Mexico - Foster Denney
Foster and his two best friends were in the sport multi pitch climbing paradise that is El Potrero Chico in north eastern Mexico. It was their fourth visit to that climbing area and they had their eyes on a 15 pitch climb called ‘Devotion 5.11d.’ It’s a lesser known climb that is notorious for being a bit run out, hard for the grade, and chossy. Listen in to this episode to hear Foster’s account o
Ep 67 - Finding Her Edge On Ellingwood Ridge - Tori
On June 26th, 2021, Tori and a few of her friends were feeling strong and decided to climb Ellingwood Ridge on La Plata in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness in Colorado. The weather was forecasting classic Rocky Mountain afternoon thunderstorms so they got an early start. Knowing that this route was well in their ability level, they decided to go light and fast. Tune in to episode 67 to hear Tori te
Ep 66 - Broken Neck On Mt Rae
Four friends set off to climb Mount Rae. A 4.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Kananaskis Improvement in Alberta, Canada that features a beautiful forest setting and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. On the descent, one women slipped and fell and wasn’t able to self arrest in the snow. Ultimately, she pressed the SOS on her Garmin InReach and what ens
Ep 65 - Stormed off Mount Bierstadt, a Colorado Fourteener - Matt and Trevor
Matt and Trevor had plenty of experience hiking 14ers in Colorado, so when Matt's Dad was in Colorado visiting they decided to take him up Mt. Bierstadt so he could check off his first 14er to celebrate turning 70. On May 8, 2021 the group was nearing the top when weather changed dramatically from what the forecast had informed them of earlier. They suddenly found themselves (along with another gr
Ep 64 - Strathcona Park Heli Rescue - Jes Scott and Erica Ellefsen
Jes Scott and Erica Ellefsen set out to travel 80km from Mt. Washington to Flower Ridge over eight days. Their goal was to climb eight of Strathcona Park’s tallest and most remote mountains. Strathcona Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, and the largest on Vancouver Island. They wanted a trip that was physically demanding but less scary than their usual mount
Ep 63 - Epic On Mt Whitney - Jean and Ken
Jean and Ken summited Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental US, on what they thought would be their last day of the trip. On the summit they were caught in a severe snow and lightning storm. Using their ice axes, they began to descend via the north face in full self-arrest position.
Ken fell 800 feet down the mountain while Jean, not knowing his fate, continued down slowly and metho
Ep 62 - Institutional Near Misses - Steve Smith
Near-misses are greatly under-reported in general, yet they are plentiful. What leads them to be under-reported? Joel Reid, the Washington Program Director at the Northwest Outward Bound School and Steve Smith, from Experiential Consulting, chat with Ashley about why near-misses matter and the importance of reporting near misses in an institutional setting. You don’t want to miss this informative
A CONVERSATION: February Survey Results
We put together a survey in early February so we could get to know our listeners better. We want to know who you are and what you think of the show. Over 400 people filled out this survey and we gathered some good information. Listen in as Dustin from Podboarder and Ashley talk about the results and read some of the comments from fans.
By filling out the February survey, you entered to win 1 of
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