Co-Op Cleaning: Get you some soap

Greetings Co-Op Members,

Call me a sucker or call me a saint, but I've decided to try and coordinate some semblance of a cleaning schedule to keep the Co-Op tip-top and squeaky clean.  This message is to inform you about the schedule and process I intend on initiating.  If you have no interest in participating in any cleaning or cleanliness you are dismissed...go take a bath.

You're still interested?  Good for you.  You're a better person for it.  Continue on.

First: A white board calendar will be located on the north side of the gym nearest the storage area and 60 degree wall.  It will have two weeks listed out and a key (you remember geography, right?) at the bottom of cleaning activities.  If something clearly needs to be done, such as vacuuming, knock yourself out and do it.  When you're done go to the white board and note what you've done.  Put your name if it will make you feel better to get credit.  I'll give you a pat on the back and Buddha, Flying Spaghetti Monster, or your favorite deity will give you positive karma.  Resume climbing.  If you have time or want to clean something but have no idea what needs to be done consult this board to see what, if anything, has been done recently.  Choose something that hasn't been done in a while and have at it.  Mark it on the white board as mentioned above.  Resume climbing.  My goal is to have everything on the list done at least once every two weeks. 

The list includes: Vacuum Carpet
Sweep and/or Mop concrete floor
Wipe down flat surfaces (desk, exercise equipment)
Shoe organization
Storage area organization
Clean sink
Garbage/recycling
Resume climbing

ADD Summary:1)  Clean something
2)  Mark on white board (near 60 degree wall)
3)  Feel better about your existence
4)  Resume climbing 

Second: This is yet to be seen but I would like to do a thorough clean twice a year.  Maybe spring and fall.  Clean off all those dusty surfaces, clean out cubbies, last chance on the lost and found items, clean out the cobwebs.  Details on that TBA.

Third:  This is more of an informational piece but I think you should know to help you sleep easier.  Myself or Micah are going to take the hand towels home once a week and wash them.  

This is a new thing so I'm sure there should be things added or removed.  If you have questions/suggestions feel free to email me, logan.mitton@gmail.com or you can just send me inappropriate pictures at work labeled "adorable kitten, safe for work".  Gets me every time.  I guess that kind of answers the sucker or saint debate.

Look at that, I've come full circle and segued right into a conclusion.  Thank you for your time.  Let's all make the Co-Op CLEAN!...I mean, a fun and positive place to climb.

Sincerely,

Logan "put a little elbow grease soap into it" Mitton
Climbing Club since 'aught 5
Co-Op member since '11

All Member Meeting Agenda

LOCATION
Minnesota Climbing Cooperative

BONUS
Members can purchase a MNCC t-shirt for $10 (Limit one per person. Promotional rate is valid during All Member Meeting ONLY; Usually $15 for Members, $20 for Non-Members). MNCC members will also receive a FREE daypass card.

VISION (15 MIN)

FINANCIAL REPORT (10 MIN)

VOTE ON ELECTING BOARD SEATS
There are four seats up for re-election this year. The Board recommends their re-election. Anyone wishing to be put forward for consideration as a candidate should send notification via email to info@mnclimbingcoop.com by midnight April 26th.

— Elect interim seat currently held by Jake Ingman,
— Elect seat currently held by Aaron Zirbes,
— Elect seat currently held by Kris Johnson, &
— Elect seat currently held by Liz Horn.

FUTURE PROJECTS
Security Cameras / Air Conditioning / Opening South Bay Windows / Member Benefits

FUTURE EVENTS
Autumn Comp / Willow River SP Clean Up / Banning SP Climbing Access

Q & A (45 MIN)
FAQ – Answers to some of the most common questions or requests.

HOW TO GIVE FEEDBACK & SUGGESTIONS TO THE BOARD (5 MIN)
Got a question for the Board? A suggestion for improving the Co-op? Let us know!

CLIMB! (AS LONG AS YOU WANT)

CONTACT INFO
info@mnclimbingcoop.com
volunteer@mnclimbingcoop.com
915 247 6622

Best of the Midwest Bouldering Challenge

Best of the Midwest Bouldering Challenge: Beta, Beta

What

• This is the only fundraising comp the MCA hosts each year. Funds raised during the event are put towards maintaining and obtaining climbing access in Minnesota.
• This year's comp is brought to you by the Minnesota Climbers Association and the Minnesota Climbing Cooperative.

When & Where

• Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the MNCC.

Registration

• Pre-Registration by midnight March 31 is $40 (includes comp packet & t-shirt)
• Registration after March 31 is $40 (includes only comp packet)
• T-shirts $10
• stay tuned for online registration...
  

Mens Categories

• Novice (V0-V2)
• Intermediate (V4-V5)
• Advanced (V6-V8)
• Open (V8+)
• Men/Women Open have Finals

Womens Categories

• Novice (V0-V1)
• Intermediate (V2-V3)
• Advanced (V4-V5)
• Open (V6+)
• Men/Women Open have Finals

Format & Schedule

• stay tuned...

Black Bears, Americana, and a Dog Named Chili. Or How I Spent the Holidays Climbing in ArKansas

By Randy Baum

Here’s a list of a few things I learned climbing in Arkansas this winter.

1. Arkansas is the land of massive, aircraft carrier-sized Walmarts that never close and act as the hub of communities. And people ask why America has so many problems?

2. People in Arkansas love Americana, especially American flags, Confederate flags, and black bear kitsch. Again, see question posed above.

3. And, most importantly, with 60 degree temps, blue skies, no crowds, quality stone, and a relatively short commute time, Northern Arkansas should be a winter destination for any MN climber.

Significantly closer to Arkansas is my hometown of Lawrence, Kansas. Every December I make the trek back to see family and drink (mainly to drink). Lawrence is not quite Camp Four, so when I heard there would be a large Minnesota group congregating in Arkansas for some winter climbing, I jumped at the chance to escape the flatlands and go climb. Having only been home for a couple days, my Mother was not pleased. But she’s stuck in Kansas. Sucker!

I spent most of the trip route climbing with a few Co-op regulars, as well as my friend Dan and his crew. Dan has his hands full. The guy’s a lawyer, a father, a landlord, a husband, and just an all-around kick-ass dude, always one to pay a positive comment or do you a favor. I really hate the guy. He makes me look despicable.

Our group ranged wildly in terms of ages and abilities. There was Dan’s three year-old who just crushes. There was Dan, who also just crushes. And there was me. Nonetheless, being in Northern Arkansas, there were a variety of areas that featured routes and problems for the beginner to the expert. We were in a good spot. And, if the weather went bad, we could just retreat to Walmart.

We spent most of our trip doing some old fashioned mountaineering within the friendly confines of Horseshoe Canyon Ranch (HCR). (For information on bouldering in the Natural State, see Jordan Seering’s blog post). A working dude ranch, HCR sits in an idyllic valley with rolling hills bisected by a flowing stream. There are horses running freely (and shitting), goats grazing (and shitting), and ranch dogs running to and fro (Chili, a corky mix, is THE bomb dog!).

HCR offers up hundreds of routes, some of which are of New River Gorge quality. Like the New, the best routes tend to run up orange and red streaked walls of bullet hard sandstone. The crags feature state of the art stainless steel hardware, including many permadraws and super cold shuts, most of which I personally tested through constant flailing. The belay areas are great, and most of the Ranch’s best bouldering is just a minute walk from the crags. Be sure to check out these areas, each of which offers climbs from around 5.8-5.12: the Circus Wall at the North Forty, the Far East, the Roman Wall, and Tool Buttress.

We were fortunate to sample and send (not me, of course) many of the Ranch’s four-star lines. Though not officially a roped climb, the V0 highball The Donkey Show at the North Forty is a must-do, with its 30 ft of non-stop jugs. If 30 feet sounds a bit short, at fourteen draws long, the 5.9 Orange Crush at the Far East is a great substitute. Working up the grades, Comotus 5.10a at the Roman Wall and Crimp Scampi 5.10d at the North Forty are two very aesthetic lines that are not to be missed.

Some of HCR’s best lines fall in the 5.11 and 5.12 range. At 5.11b, Sonny Jim at the North Forty begins with mindless jug hauling, only to smack you with a deceptive, thought-provoking crux. A few feet away, another 11b, Big Top, will feel right at home to Willow River fans: steep, pumpy, and not a small hold on the route.

For the 5.12 climber, Lavender Eye 5.12a at the North Forty and Maximus 5.12a at the Roman Wall should also be on the ticklist. Each feature mellow beginnings to pumpy, airy finales. And, if you need more of a challenge, make your way to the Far East and hop on Supersould Sureshot, a 12c on bullet stone that packs three cryptic cruxes.

After a week, with Walmart visited and my projects ticked (but not sent, of course), my work in Arkansas ways done. I took some of the gang to KC for New Year’s. The morning after, heads pounding from too many Boulevards, we drove north and watched the temperature drop and drop. As we drove, I began to rethink my decision to head home, thinking I could maybe live the Arkansas dream and work at Walmart. Nah. Some places are best visited.

If you are considering a trip to HCR or the surrounding areas in Northern Arkansas, here is the key beta:

Location

• North Arkansas climbing areas are located south of Harrison, near the town of Jasper. From MN, the drive takes 12 hours and passes through Kansas City, Springfield, and Branson (both in Missouri) before reaching Harrison and then Jasper. Be sure to get BBQ in KC! LC’S and BB’s Lawnside are on-route!

Lodging

• Stay at the ranch! Our friend’s paid just $20 a night
• Nearby lodging is also available. We paid around $50 a night for our two bedroom rental.
• Camping is $5 a day at HCR. There are also sites available in the Buffalo National River scenic area. These are quite sought after, however, and can fill up fast.

Supplies

• Jasper (8 miles from HCR) has grocery stores and restaurants. Most agree the Ozark Café is the best bet.
• NEWTON COUNTRY IS A DRY COUNTRY. PLAN ACCORDINGLY. PACK LOTS OF SURLY!
• The HCR Trading Post sells a limited selection of climbing gear, including ropes and chalk.

Climbing Areas

• For the most comprehensive guide, buy Rock Climbing Arkansas by Cole Fennel (Fixed Pin Publishing)
• HCR is the best one-stop destination, with tons of bouldering and route climbing
• Cowell features mainly bouldering but also some steep sport climbing
• Sam’s Throne offers the highest concentration of traditional climbing; the area is also adjacent to the Valley of the Blind, which houses Arkansas’ longest sport climbs

HCR Rope Climbing

• YOU MUST REGISTER AND PAY FOR CLIMBING AT HCR. Register at the Trading Post. Climbing is $5 per day.
• Must see areas: the Circus Wall at the North Forty, the Far East, the Roman Wall, and Tool Buttress.
  
• Must do routes: Green Goblin 5.8, Comotus 5.10a, Crimp Scampi 5.10d, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades 5.11a, Sonny Jim 5.11b, Big Top 5.11b, Lavender Eye 5.12a, Supersould Sureshot 5.12c

Soft Tissue Demo at the Co-op!

Fellow Co-op member and doctor of chiropractic Dr. Chris Hanson will be providing a demonstration of his unique instrument assisted soft tissue therapy on Monday, January 16. Dr. Hanson specializes in treating overuse and athletic injuries such as ankle sprains, tendinitis of the elbows and fingers, plantar fascitis, rotator cuff injuries, scar tissue and neck and back pain. If you have any of these injuries and would like an example demonstration as well as a chance to ask questions of a chiropractor, join us on Monday, January 16 from 7-8 pm.

Additional Notes:

• Soft tissue demonstration is FREE and open to everyone.
• Dress appropriately as the area being worked on will need to be exposed.
• Each person will have 5-7 minutes of time to meet with Dr. Hanson D.C.
• Each person will be seen one at a time.
• For more information contact info@mnclimbingcoop.com

www.necommunitychiro.com

Welcome to our new interim board member Jake!

Hello members and friends,

The MNCC recently held an exhaustive global search for a new, interim board member to replace the recently departed Matt Hainley. Matt had to step away due to time demands from his day job and the soon-to-arrive little climber he and his happy wife are expecting. We greatly appreciate all the hard work he put in helping get the Co-op up and running! Don't worry, Matt will still stop in to climb when he has time and he promised to bring the new young'un along.

We are happy to announce that after interviewing several candidates Jake Ingman has agreed to step in as an interim member of the board of directors! Jake is a freelance designer living in St. Paul and you may have seen him pulling down with his crew on Wednesday nights (he's the one with the inspiring facial hair). We sat down recently to get the lowdown on what makes Jake tick;

So Jake, describe yourself, what you do, and who you are?

I freelance from my home in Saint Paul, designing and building things for the internet. I live with my wife, Anne, and our Border Collie, Judy. I enjoy coffee, beer, and meat. I'm @jingman on Twitter.

How long have you been climbing?

I started climbing at Iowa State in 2001 when they built a wall in one of the racquetball courts. When I moved to Saint Paul in 2006, I started climbing at VE with Matt, Joel, Logan, Scott, and Tokyo. Almost immediately, we called it the "Climbing Club (CC)" and made attendance mandatory two nights a week.

Why did you join the co-op?

We (the CC) were really tired of having to climb around/over kids at VE. When we heard about the co-op, and who was behind it, we were all interested in climbing at a place where would have more ownership (and influence). When early-access passes were made available (and before there was even a wall to climb on), CC met over burgers and beer, and the decision was unanimous - we would join the co-op. Zero regrets.

Your beard; awesome or awesome?

When I wake up, I have only two goals for the day:

1. Get coffee.
2. Live up to this beard.

Any climbing or personal goals for 2012?

I just want to climb as hard/strong as I can, and encourage my friends and fellow co-op members to do the same. I have far too much enthusiasm for me alone, so I like having people to cheer for. I think being a member of the board will give me more opportunities to do the same.

Ginger or Mary Ann?

Mary Ann, every time.

There you have it. Next time you see Jake introduce yourself and let him know your ideas for making the Co-op even better!

There are lots of opportunities for volunteers at the MNCC from serving on the board to setting routes to hosting open hours for the public. Send an email to volunteer@mnclimbingcoop to find out how you can help support your co-op!