About Luke Laeser
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Lately, “Laeserguns” is balancing responsibilities as the Online Editor for Climbing.com in Chattanooga, TN or going bouldering with his two-year-old son. Inspired by Mags:Climbing, Mountain, and Rock and Ice, Books:Rocks Around the World, and 50 Classic Climbs, Laeser started rock climbing around the volcanic cliffs of Los Alamos, NM in the early 90s. When not out playing the full-time family guy is with wife Melissa, son Layton, dog Priscilla and cat Death Monkey. His latest climbing exploits were learning to climb (and fall!) above deep water on a limestone cliff above the Tennessee River. In October, 2007 Laeser finished first-in-class racing a Subaru WRX at RallyCross Nationals in Hastings, Nebraska. Some of Laeser’s notable first ascents include:Count Rudolfo, Guardian of Box Canyon, (5.9 A3, 200 ft.) February-April 1992, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico with Cameron Burns; East Face of Venus Needle (III, 5.9, A2+; 2 pitches.) September, 1992 with Cameron Burns; Friggin’ in the Riggin, Shiprock VI, 5.9, A3+, 13 pitches to join the normal route, May 7-13, 1994 with Cameron Burns; Man Eater, Upper GypsyTower, III 5.10+, 3 pitches. Fall 1993 with John Butler. Colorado National Monument, Colorado; Slavery, Independence Monument, IV 5.10 A3, 4 or 5 pitches. Colorado National Monument, Colorado, Spring 1994 with John Butler and Cameron Burns; Lots of boulder problems with Ed Strang in Unaweep Canyon near Grand Junction, Colorado; Six fun sport routes in Bangs Canyon, above Grand Junction, Colorado; The Mean Leaner, (5.13-) April1997, first free ascent with preplaced gear of the Leaning Tower Crack (formerly A2+), Las Conchas, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico; Bolted 16 sport routes at “The Dungeon” from 5.10 to 5.13b, Los Alamos, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico; Subiendo el Arcoiris, IV 5.13b 1000ft 10 fully bolted pitches. Basaseachic National Park, Chihuahua, Mexico with Peter Baumeister and Dierk Sittner; Logical Progression, IV 5.13b 2500ft, 28 fully-bolted pitches, February-April 2002, El Gigante, Basaseachic National Park, Chihuahua, Mexico with Peter Baumeister and Bert van Lint.
