Tom Slater – Shuteye Ridge: Finding Heaven

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2014 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

Directions: From Highway 101 at Santa Rosa go west on Highway 12 to Stony Point Road Exit. Go straight from the middle lane at the light onto Occidental Road. The Round Table Pizza is on the right just down the road.

Shuteye Ridge is an emerging climbing area in the western Sierra that offers some of the most unique granite in the range. Protected for years by its proximity to Yosemite Valley, this often over-looked area has been seeing a lot of attention by more and more climbers in the last decade. With now nearly 1,000 routes, Shuteye has blossomed into a destination area of its own, fulfilling Royal Robbin’s prophesy that he made back in 1974.

Tom Slater, who began climbing in 1988 at Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, has documented many of the first ascents going on there. He has been climbing in the Southern Yosemite area since 1996 and has dedicated the last six years to Shuteye Ridge alone to focus on first ascents and photography. Some first ascent stand outs are the 1,000 foot line “Afternoon Nap 5.7” on Big Sleep, the 700’ long “Crossing the Milky Way 5.8” on the Milky Way Wall, “Playing with Matches 5.9” on the Sundial, and the classic “Supernova 5.10c” on Milky Way Wall.

A photographer and freelance writer, Tom has published dozens of photos and articles about Shuteye Ridge in Rock and Ice magazine, Climbing magazine, and Sierra Heritage. He has also written several guidebooks for various climbing areas in California including California Central Coast Climbs: San Luis Obispo, California Road Trip: Northern California Climbers Guide (co-author Chris Summit), and Tollhouse Rock (co-author Dwight Kroll) among others. Tom’s slide show presentation will showcase the climbing at Shuteye Ridge. He will share some of the history behind the ascents, climbers, and areas of Shuteye Ridge. He will also have many of his guidebooks available for sale at discount prices. His website is www.slatervision.com

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Chris Summit – New Bay Area Bouldering and Forgotten Rocks of the North Bay

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

The Rock Ice & Mountain Club is pleased to have Chris Summit return and give us another awesome slideshow presentation on what he’s been up to in the last few years. If you follow his blog at http://summitorplummet.blogspot.com then you’ve seen a sample of his latest adventures. But here is a chance to see what is new in Bay Area bouldering and learn of some of the forgotten rocks of the North Bay. Chris’ stoke for climbing is contagious and his presentation is sure to get you out on our local rocks.

Chris has been rock climbing for 25 years and teaching climbing for over 20 years. He has discovered a lot of previously unknown rocks around his hometown in Santa Rosa, CA and has done first ascents of some of the best and toughest climbs in the North Bay Area. Chris is a guidebook author for Supertopo, a product tester for Outdoor Gearlab, a climbing instructor at the Airport Health Club in Santa Rosa and a personal trainer.

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Silke Fleischer and Eric Converse – 1600km and 10 Passes: Cycling the Breathtaking Route des Grandes Alpes

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2014 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

An interactive presentation by Silke Fleischer and Eric Converse about touring from Switzerland to Nice, France with custom folding bicycles.

20 mile downhills, Tour de France climbs and stunning scenery. The spectacular Route des Grandes Alpes is a dream for every cyclist and offers a large variety of route options for unsupported touring trips combined with many hiking, mountaineering and rock climbing opportunities. Join our interactive presentation of our 2013 tour and get a unique insight into cycling from Bern in Switzerland, to the Mediterranean city of Nice in France – a trip of 1,600km over 10 passes and 60,000 feet of ascent. We’ll provide insider tips and tricks on route planning, room booking, local culture, food and more.

Walk away with impressions of magnificent mountains and thrilling rides through narrow gorges as well as starting points for planning your Europe tour. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages, difficulties and rewards of this unique form of travel. There will be time for questions, test riding a special Bike Friday touring folding bike and checking out gear.

This inspiring presentation is brought to you by Eric and Silke have cycled through Europe 4 times. Their remote small business gives them the freedom to work from anywhere in the world and explore exciting cycling and hiking routes each summer.

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Harrison Hood – Travels With Harrison

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2014 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

Rock Ice & Mountain Club founder, Harrison Hood, is a climbing instructor and itinerant dirt bag. He is an active climber and has been since 1987. His love for the sport has brought him to numerous climbing destinations. He is actively involved in the climbing community and volunteers for the American Alpine Club, the American Himalayan Foundation and the Yosemite based Facelift an annual park wide clean up organization.

Over the years Harrison has been fortunate enough to travel the globe in pursuit of peaks to climb. Please join him as he takes us on his adventures to various countries like Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Europe, South America, Africa and of course the good ol’ USA. We’ll visit familiar peaks like McKinley, Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, Aspiring, Aconcogua, Elbrus, and rock climbing areas like Smith Rock, Yosemite, Moab, Joshua Tree and the Eastern Sierra.

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Chris Jones – Climbing Fitz Roy 1968

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2014 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

Chris Jones is a climbing icon. From pioneering new routes in England and Wales, to an early British ascent of the Walker Spur of the Grandes Jorasses, to climbing many long routes in Yosemite, the Sierra Nevada, the Canadian Rockies, Peru and Patagonia, Chris has about done it all. Steve Roper was to write: “His awesome routes in Canada are considered classics to this day.” In 1975 Chris’ “Climbing in North America” was published to wide acclaim. Today, Chris rock climbs as often as his schedule permits. He is a lot slower than he was, but he enjoys the challenge, the outdoors and the companionship just the same.

While San Francisco raved through the summer of love, three rock climbers, a skier and a filmmaker struck out on their own journey. The goal was the ascent of the iconic Cerro Fitz Roy in Patagonia, Chile. This six-month excursion resulted in the formation of a groundbreaking movie and several innovative companies (Patagonia, The North Face, Esprit) and the participants’ lifelong commitment to the environment.

Chris’ book features rare, once-thought-lost photos of the 1968 first ascent of the California Route on Cerro Fitz Roy, the third ascent of the mountain. With accompanying retrospective essays. Climbing Fitz Roy,1968, presents photo documentation of the climb, places it in the social and climbing context of the times, and reflects how this momentous trip influenced the lives of those involved, and in a greater context, the lives of so many others.

Chris will read excerpts from his recently published book, Climbing Fitz Roy 1968 and show the movie “Fitz Roy First Ascent of the Southwest Buttress”. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

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Doug Robinson – The Alchemy of Action

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2014 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

Why do people climb mountains? Because it gets us high! Doug’s long-awaited book, The Alchemy of Action, offers a fresh – even shocking – explanation of why people climb mountains, by delving into the brain chemistry behind climber’s euphoria. The intriguing story behind why we are so much more than “adrenaline junkies” leads deep into the psyches of all adventure athletes as they push toward the ragged edge of human potential and return with shimmering new awareness from a heady brew of hormonal cocktail that includes the surprising ingredients of home-made organic psychedelic compounds.

Doug Robinson is a professional mountaineer known internationally for his climbing, guiding and ski mountaineering, as well as his poetic writings about the mountains and why we climb them. Closely identified with California’s High Sierra, Doug has been called “The Modern John Muir.” We are honored to have Doug back to give a presentation to our club.

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Tahoe Adventure Film Festival Road Tour 2014 – January 10 @ The Mystic Theatre, Petaluma

Sonoma County’s Rock Ice & Mountain Club welcomes Todd Offenbacher and the Tahoe Adventure Film Festival Road Tour on January 10, 2014 at the Mystic Theater in Petaluma.

PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA – The Rock Ice & Mountain Club is pleased to host the Tahoe Adventure Film Festival at the historic Mystic Theatre. Designed to capture the intensity and passion of adventure, the Tahoe Adventure Film Festival is a perfect summary of California’s outdoor culture. The festival’s eight short films will showcase segments from the best skiing, rock climbing, skate boarding, surfing, cycling, snow boarding, and BASE jumping films of the year.

The show begins the minute the doors open at 6:30 p.m. Dramatic action photos by Tahoe’s Keoki Flagg from, Tahoe, Antarctica, and Alaska flashes on the big screen while music pumps up the crowd. The main event begins at 7:30 p.m. Many of the segments are special edits including previews of films that have not been released. During intermission and after the event we’ll be giving away gear and prizes from our sponsors. The party continues after the event at neighboring McNears Saloon.

“This is one night to see the progression in the best action and adventure sports films of the year and learn about new developing sports,” says Todd Offenbacher, founder and event host, world adventurer and popular host for Outside Television. “We put together a line-up of the best films from around the world and showcase them in one night of energy, excitement and fun that appeals to all audiences.”

This year marks the second annual North Bay stop of the Tahoe Adventure Film Festival Road Tour event at the historic Mystic Theatre in downtown Petaluma. Proceeds support Sonoma County’s Rock Ice & Mountain Club. Advance ticket purchases are encouraged and are $15.

Tickets can be purchased in person at Sonoma Outfitters in Santa Rosa (cash only) and at the Mystic Theatre ticket office, by calling 707-765-2121 or at www.mystictheatre.com. For more information visit www.LakeTahoeFilmFestival.com.

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Amy Ness and Myles Moser – Battling the Big Ones

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2014 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

Amy Ness and Myles Moser are residents of Lone Pine, CA. Living in Lone Pine provides access to the largest mountain in the lower 48 states, Mt. Whitney, along with numerous other peaks in the vicinity. Although they each climbed separately before they met, it was their union in this playground of granite that inspired the fury of first ascents beginning about 4 years ago. Living in a little 1950’s turquoise trailer in the high dessert below Lone Pine Peak offers an inspiring panorama of rock to chose from. Amy teaches in the local schools, attempting to get kids interested in the outdoors while Myles prepares burgers for the hoards of hungry climbers and hikers at the Whitney Portal Store.

Battling the Big Ones…it’s not only what they do, but what they live for. From they own backyard of the Eastern Sierra and the numerous granite walls that soar over 14,000 ft. to the far southern reaches of Chile, in the Parque Nacional del Torres del Paine, they are always searching for the biggest, baddest climbs this world has to offer.

This climbing duo’s presentation will begin with their recent expedition to Patagonia where they spent 3 months living in the park and establishing a new route on the east face of Torre Norte. Then, they will disclose their unfinished project on Torre Central and the epic journey they have endured with it, thus far. Finally, they will bring it all home to the Sierra…both new and classic routes on Keeler Needle, Day Needle, Lone Pine Peak, and many more. Amy and Myles are sponsored by Trango and you can follow their adventures on their Roaming Banditos blog –

http://www.roamingbanditos.blogspot.com

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Kevin Jorgeson – The Impossible Wall

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

Kevin Jorgeson is a Santa Rosa local, who started climbing at Vertex Climbing Center in Santa Rosa at the age of 14, and has become one of the most elite and well rounded climbers in the nation. His climbing accomplishments are numerous, but the most profound are his first ascents of hard and scary highball boulders. For the past 5 years, Kevin has been working to free “the hardest wall never climbed,” The Dawn Wall on Yosemite’s El Capitan.

They say it’s about the process, not the destination. That the sweet isn’t as sweet without the bitter. They’re not wrong, but it’s a lot easier to believe it when you have already arrived. Kevin’s slideshow won’t be about the Dawn Wall, Yosemite, or even Kevin for that matter. It will be about what it’s like to fail for five years in a row and to keep pushing when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. It will be about what it feels like to watch life milestones pass by while your project stands as stubbornly as ever.

Fresh off the Dawn Wall and in the middle of the season, Kevin will be joining the Rock Ice & Mountain Club for a glimpse into his perspective on something we all share: the process of a project. Kevin is sponsored by Adidas Outdoor, Five Ten, Black Diamond, Sterling Rope, Asana and Bolle. For more information about Kevin and his Pro Climbers International organization, check out these links:

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Andy Selters – Mountains of the Blue Sheep

Location: Round Table Pizza, 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa

Time & Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2013 @ 7:30 PM (Social hours and free beer for members at 6:30)

Andy Selters has been a leading figure in both the artistic and technical aspects of mountaineering for many years. As a guide and climber he has climbed from Alaska to the Cascades, Sierra and Bolivia. In particular, he has spent many seasons trekking and climbing in Asia and he has pioneered new routes in the Himalaya and Karakoram.

As a photographer, Selters images have won international acclaim and he has authored important books including Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue and the award-winning Ways to the Sky, A Historical Guide to North American Mountaineering. His recent focus has been on the people and geography of Ladakh, the Tibet-like area at the northern tip of India.

Mountains of the Blue Sheep is Andy’s latest presentation from his expedition last year as a member of the first team ever to explore the easternmost Karakoram. The team climbed and named four 6000-meter peaks, discovered unknown passes and found a haven for wildlife and fascinating clues of long-ago humans. After climbing, Andy stayed and befriended the inhabitants of a previously off-limits village that had not hosted a foreigner before, documenting their way of life and their nascent opening to the modern world. Mountains of the Blue Sheep pulls together Andy’s photography, recorded audio, and live narration to tell the story of one of the most impressive, and yet, least known mountain areas of the world.

In 2014, Andy plans to guide a trip back to this area and will introduce this trip to potential participants.