Where'd all the good people go?

To climb requires a bond greater than the strength of any rope. To trust ones companions leads to possibilities. These are essential for success, however it might be defined...

1/2000, F3.5, 50 mm, ISO100 © 2010 Shawn Boye

Possibilities...

For a three year old the world is full of possibilities, yet realization requires belief. The last thing he needs is to be told he can't, or to be indoctrinated into a specific way of thinking. What possibilities remain for you?

1/200, F2.8, 32 mm, ISO800 © 2010 Shawn Boye

Powder!

This is what it's all about! Shawn Boye enjoying the best Vemdalen has to offer.

1/1000, F6.3, 55 mm, ISO200 © 2010 Tielma Productions. Photo Jonatan Nilsson

Critique

I've chosen to Boycott 8a! It is a call for change, a recognition of a need for a better community. And an attempt to do something about it... Some don't agree, but then again it's another thing to stand for what you say:

Hej, vill meddela dig om att jag kommer ta avstånd från alla dina produkter och dessutom så mycket som möjligt uppmana andra att göra det. Anledningen till detta är ditt ofattbart pinsamma övergrepp på Jens Larssen. Han är en kontroversiell person, absolut. Men nu har du fan gått för långt. Skandal är bara förnamnet. Börja respektera människor. Dags för en ofentlig ursäkt?

-Anonymous, via email

Afterski

For some, this is afterski. For others, finishing off your buddy's beer after he left it in the shower, and there's a strange aftertaste of head and shoulders is what it's all about. After all, having to wait a day for the ombudsman to deliver is a bit too long…

1/160, F4.0, 105 mm, ISO400 © 2010 Shawn Boye

Fjällen

Fjällen. Good friends, lots of snow, a glass of wine... What more could you ask for?

1/10, F3.2, 35 mm, ISO320 © 2010 Shawn Boye

Burnin' Down the House

Generally, I use rechargeable batteries, but with the recent cold weather I'd switched to disposable, which are, maybe, not as durable. It is well known that French engineering is, how shall I say, "unique" and the battery case for my headlamp definitely qualifies.

As best as I can figure, noticing that the battery pack lid wasn't completely on when unpacking from a recent ice climb, I re-closed the lid, the shearing action of closing damaging one or several of the batteries. The lid closed, I left the headlamp on a desk apparently in a position where the alkaline did not leak.

On re-packing my bag several days later, the damaged batteries moved into a position where they began to leak. Having gone to bed I remembered, luckily, that I hadn't packed my flask only to find melting nylon about to ignite.

Obviously, the design of the battery pack has been rethought on newer models and I'm glad the house didn't burn down. Saved by Scotch!

1/15, F4.0, 35 mm, ISO400 © 2010 Shawn Boye