http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/niles_barnes/ Niles Barnes passion for climbing runs deep, from ice to trad to sport to bouldering — he loves to do it all and suggests that specialization is for insects. He started climbing in North Carolina as a teenager, but didn't get fully consumed until he moved to Lexington, KY and was within close striking distance of the Red River Gorge. Since moving to KY six years ago, he's been fortunate to climb in some beautiful areas in the US and Canada, in France, Switzerland and a bit in Argentina. en-us http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/niles_barnes/ http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/niles_barnes/niles_squamish-sq.jpg 6/23/09 - Climbers are some of the most immature people on the face of the earth and I mean that in a very good way. It is precisely because of this immaturity, that I think climbers are actually some of the most evolved and advanced group of people I have ever known. As I discovered on a climbing trip to Smith Rock, the human species has in fact naturally evolved by retaining immature characteristics. http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/niles_barnes/niles_barnes_-_reader_blog_2 niles_barnes Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:41:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/niles_barnes/scorpion_johnS-sq.jpg Niles Barnes - Reader Blog 2 6/23/09 - Climbers are some of the most immature people on the face of the earth and I mean that in a very good way. It is precisely because of this immaturity, that I think climbers are actually some of the most evolved and advanced group of people I have ever known. As I discovered on a climbing trip to Smith Rock, the human species has in fact naturally evolved by retaining immature characteristics. 5/27/09 - I remember when I first discovered that there are more important things in life than climbing. It was morning and I was standing outside in the cold of March, down coat over top of my hospital gown, bandages covering my hands and an IV hooked to my arm. It was day 5 of being in the Chamonix hospital and I was taking a moment to walk around and stretch my legs in the parking lot. http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/niles_barnes/niles_barnes_-_reader_blog_1 niles_barnes Wed, 27 May 2009 09:29:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/niles_barnes/alps-in-the-whiteout-sq.jpg Niles Barnes - Reader Blog 1 5/27/09 - I remember when I first discovered that there are more important things in life than climbing. It was morning and I was standing outside in the cold of March, down coat over top of my hospital gown, bandages covering my hands and an IV hooked to my arm. It was day 5 of being in the Chamonix hospital and I was taking a moment to walk around and stretch my legs in the parking lot. Niles Barnes passion for climbing runs deep, from ice to trad to sport to bouldering — he loves to do it all and suggests that specialization is for insects. He started climbing in North Carolina as a teenager, but didn't get fully consumed until he moved to Lexington, KY and was within close striking distance of the Red River Gorge. Since moving to KY six years ago, he's been fortunate to climb in some beauitful areas in the US and Canada, in France, Switzerland and a bit in Argentina. http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/niles_barnes/ niles_barnes Tue, 26 May 2009 11:09:00 EST Niles Barnes - Reader Blogs Niles Barnes passion for climbing runs deep, from ice to trad to sport to bouldering — he loves to do it all and suggests that specialization is for insects. He started climbing in North Carolina as a teenager, but didn't get fully consumed until he moved to Lexington, KY and was within close striking distance of the Red River Gorge. Since moving to KY six years ago, he's been fortunate to climb in some beautiful areas in the US and Canada, in France, Switzerland and a bit in Argentina.