http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/ I started rock and ice climbing in 1991 and started writing for the climbing magazines that same year. (My first piece was for Climbing Magazine about bouldering at Rat Rock in Central Park). I wrote regularly for both Climbing and Rock and Ice until I started a biography of the great Gunks and medical pioneer, Hans Kraus (Into the Unknown), married (a fellow Gunks climber), started a family (my children are 9 and 6), and kept working my fulltime corporate job in New York. en-us http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/ http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/sebs_skatebd_8_large-sq.jpg I’ve been ruminating a lot about perspective. Recently I attended the New York Section black tie dinner of the American Alpine Club and I find myself continuing to ruminate away. The guest of honor was Stephen Venables, the mild mannered and droll Brit who is also the first (and only) climber to solo the East/Kangshung Face of Everest. http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/susan_eb_schwartz_-_reader_blog_13 susan_schwartz Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:11:00 EDT http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/SEBS-09-AAC-din-sq.jpg Susan E.B. Schwartz - Reader Blog 13 12/01/09 - <b>The Schwartz Spot</b> - <i>Black Tie Perspective</i> - I’ve been ruminating a lot about perspective. Recently I attended the New York Section black tie dinner of the <a href="http://www.americanalpineclub.org/" target="_blank">American Alpine Club</a> and I find myself continuing to ruminate away. The guest of honor was Stephen Venables, the mild mannered and droll Brit who is also the first (and only) climber to solo the East/Kangshung Face of Everest. Blog O' Bunions To push my climbing blog into new territory, in this blog I will sink to an all-time low. Literally. Because this blog will start at the bottom. With feet. More precisely, poor, deformed, unhappy feet. Feet with bunions. Bunions are supposed to be largely genetic but exacerbated by high heels. And I wonder about the effect of climbing shoes. http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/susan_eb_schwartz_-_reader_blog_12 susan_schwartz Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:11:00 EDT http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/climber-bunions-sq.jpg Susan E.B. Schwartz - Reader Blog 12 10/02/09 - <b>The Schwartz Spot</b> - <i>Blog O' Bunions</i> - To push my climbing blog into new territory, in this blog I will sink to an all-time low. Literally. Because this blog will start at the bottom. With feet. More precisely, poor, deformed, unhappy feet. Feet with bunions. Bunions are supposed to be largely genetic but exacerbated by high heels. And I wonder about the effect of climbing shoes. A Depressing Blog About My Mom, In Case You Wondered  I’m not climbing much this spring. The reason isn’t even due to having young children, as I wrote in the article for the January issue, Confessions of a Climbing Mom.  This time it comes from the other side of the family equation. My elderly and sick mom. I have officially joined the sandwich generation.  http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/susan_eb_schwartz_-_reader_blog_11 susan_schwartz Fri, 22 May 2009 10:11:00 EDT http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/sebs_skatebd_8_large-sq.jpg Susan E.B. Schwartz - Reader Blog 11 5/22/09 - <b>The Schwartz Spot</b> - <i>A Depressing Blog About My Mom, In Case You Wondered</i> - I&rsquo;m not climbing much this spring. The reason isn&rsquo;t even due to having young children, as I wrote in the article for the January issue, <a href="http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/features/climbingmom">Confessions of a Climbing Mom</a>. This time it comes from the other side of the family equation. My elderly and sick mom. I have officially joined the sandwich generation.  Recently, I was thrilled that Eric Horst asked me to read his new book in manuscript form, and if I was so moved, provide a blurb. I’ve just started the manuscript but it’s terrific. I can’t say more here. You’ll have to look for the book when it comes out later this year. But Eric’s manuscript set me thinking. About how much effort goes into writing a book… Heck, about how much effort goes into writing a bad book. http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/susan_eb_schwartz_-_reader_blog_10 susan_schwartz Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:11:00 EDT http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/High-Exposure-(1941)-sq.jpg Susan E.B. Schwartz - Reader Blog 10 4/17/09 - <b>The Schwartz Spot</b> - <i>It must be so much fun to write a book.</i> - Recently, I was thrilled that Eric Horst asked me to read his new book in manuscript form, and if I was so moved, provide a blurb. I’ve just started the manuscript but it’s terrific. I can’t say more here. You’ll have to look for the book when it comes out later this year. But Eric’s manuscript set me thinking. About how much effort goes into writing a book… Heck, about how much effort goes into writing a <i>bad</i> book. After all, I’m not a professional or outstanding climber. I’m just your adequate, recreational weekend trad climber. So I always figured: who the heck am I to give technical advice? But there is one technical how-to I feel amply qualified to offer: Roofs. More specifically, how to follow leaders of much higher abilities up routes with roofs far above the second’s prowess. http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/susan_eb_schwartz_-_reader_blog_9 susan_schwartz Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:11:00 EDT http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/readerblogs/susan_schwartz/BIG_climbing_guy[2]-sq.jpg Susan E.B. Schwartz - Reader Blog 9 4/03/09 - <b>The Schwartz Spot</b> - <i>The Blog I Swore I’d Never Write</i> - After all, I’m not a professional or outstanding climber. I’m just your adequate, recreational weekend trad climber. So I always figured: who the heck am I to give technical advice?  But there is one technical how-to I feel amply qualified to offer: Roofs. More specifically, how to follow leaders of much higher abilities up routes with roofs far above the second’s prowess.