Some EE pics

Here's a few pictures from the extreme edge climbing gym and the Uni gym I've been slacker in posting. Eventually, I'll make a point to get some photos with my actual face in them :P, whoops!

Shiva on some brutal 21

Ed on a 25"ish" climb

Mikhail not so stealthily stealing chalk

Me getting my arse handed to me on this 24

Big bad Ed yet again crushing the life out of this 27 (well, minus the several hangs he took). That roof is insane.

FINAL...ly

Hey there guys. I realize it's been forever since I've posted anything on the ol' blog, so apologies to my tens of fans, which is being generous. Life gets busy as a suave Hundredaire living in a thriving metropolis like Auckland. All kidding aside, I've pretty much been swamped with finals, essays and the like for the last month or so. But as of yesterday they are D-U-N done. Exams here are all essay exams that involve using big words and run on sentences to disguise the fact that you didn't study that chapter very well. All in all they went pretty well I think.

Anyhow, before I abuse the English language any more here is the News: Victoria and I are off to the South Island for a week and a half! It should be pretty exciting, I just hope the weather plays favorites with us. I've been impressed with the scenery here on the north island so far, other than the copious pine plantations that is. The place is green a beautiful, with great beaches and beautiful rock. From everything I've been told, this pales in comparison to the scenic beauty of the South Island. I'm looking forward to it. Traveling around in a van for a week or two with Victoria in the beautiful Southern Alps has the makings of a pretty epic road trip.

We'll fly back from Christchurch by plane, but there isn't much in the way of concrete plans so far. We'll get down to Wellington by bus and take a ferry across the Cook Straight (something I've been meaning to do). Then, hopefully the weather will cooperate and we'll do some trampin' in Abel Tasman national park (on the north part of the South island). Then it is off to Christchurch and our wicked camper van and whatever else awaits us. I'm hoping to see a Fjord, some penguins, get in some good bouldering and maybe even convince Victoria to bungee jump with me (after I do that last one, I'll go walk on water and wait for monkeys will fly out my butt). When I get back I'll post a wave of pictures the likes of which the world has never seen before, rest assured. Before I get back to fantasizing about how awesome this is going to be, let me thank everyone back home for your love and support. Have a great 4th of July, I'm really gonna miss the Gradek picnic this year. Nothing like cheap beer and explosions to celebrate the American way of life. Justin, if you are reading this, let me know how the culture shock goes man. CHEERS!!!

Lord Burton is Graduatin'

For those of you who know my friend Richard, he happens to be graduating from the University of Oregon with his degree in environmental studies. We've been rock climbing buddies for a while, and I'd just like to say this...

I remember musing way back in the day that graduating would be no big deal, and that I probably wouldn't even walk. Bullcrap. Dude, this is a big deal. Don't let anyone tell you different. After all the projects, massive exams, reports, research, reading and deciphering graphics like this...

....all the hard work, sweat and tears have finally payed off. Believe me, I know it is difficult. Ignoring climbing for weeks at a time is not an easy thing to do. But when it is all said and done, it was worth it. It's not just a piece of paper or a job certificate, it is proof that you strove for years to become a more knowledgeable and aware person. Who can't get behind that? So anyhow, my hat goes off to you man. Congratulations and rock on dude!

~Jake

Finals

Not much going on these days, adventure-wise that is. I'm currently battling finals and came out alright on the first one. Instead of a single, frantic week for finals like they do back in the U.S., we get over 3 weeks here. My exams have been pretty well spaced out, with there being one scheduled about every week or so. I've finished my invertebrate diversity class (they call classes "papers" here). While doing some background research on cephalopods (squid, octopods, etc.) I came across this gem. Cheers!