High Country Calls are always answered

In 2001, I had only been climbing for 3 months when I competed at the Hound Ears comp. I had a bionic knee brace after just tearing my ACL but for some reason I had no fear getting up my first v3 (Jaws) which is roughly 20 feet tall and requires you to squeeze between two slopping top outs and transfer boulders with your legs dangling in space. Scary. But with climbers below and screams of encouragement...send. I was hooked. The comp introduced me to bouldering and the community of boulderers in Boone who are still my friends to this day. When my friend Andrew Kornylak, whose work I have always had such appreciation for, asked me to be a part of The Tribe, a video he was doing for prAna and the Triple Crown of Bouldering's 10th Anniversary I couldn't help but say yes! So after completing a very challenging semester of PT school, I left for a week long trip to North Carolina. 


It had been at least 5 years since I'd been to Boone so I was pretty excited and also open minded about what lay ahead. I knew for sure that it would be filled with green, humid summer days and possibly less than perfect sending temps. But I know it's going to be a good time.











My parents picked me up at the airport and we drove directly to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Where, unlike in my undergrad days, I could only finish half my donut. But it was sooo delicious. God bless the south and thank you Dad.

We stayed with Kim and Paul Fuelling and when I arrived at their house I was all alone, free to wander and take in my new surroundings.

I walked around the house,

looking at the wood growing lichen on it and the
corrugated metal they used for the siding.













They have an airstream that I covet in the side yard and I sat there for a while trying to figure out how they got it there.

I peeked in the windows (confession) to see a
home with open space and deliberate placements.

I wandered across the street and down the hill to discover their garden. Everything was just so green!

Jimmy Webb

Grayson Highlands State Park

Not a pretty place at all.













Wild ponies,

blueberries,

gray boulders.















Native tongue. A mushroom that looks like the earth grated cheese for you.
























Paul Fuelling

Jim Horton. He's funnier than he looks.

.

Pretty and soft

Trying not to be eaten
 by no see em's.

             

Kim Fuelling

 

Just another pretty project that could be 
a piece of modern art.

Motorized Scooter







 
The Fuelings have a functioning gallery 
in their house which proved 
to be perfect for scootering and skate boarding 
after hours.

Paul is a master wood worker.















I love this jewelery box.

View from the plane home.

This is but a snippet of the trip. The best story is told by Andrew in the film, The Tribe. (click to view)