Laura Jones

Member since 2016

How did you start climbing? 

Laura: I started climbing at the rec center gym while I was in college in Ohio. It was during that time that I started going on regular weekend missions to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

Why do you climb at Edgeworks? 

Laura: I really enjoy the variety of what I can do at Edgeworks from hanging out with great people bouldering or getting on the  ropes, to tuning out for a solo workout involving the hangboard/fitness room. Regardless, I always like to catch up with the strong community Edgeworks has created. Thanks!

Where is your favorite place to climb outside? 

Laura: Yosemite! Although that is a tough question as I have many more favorites than one. Granite cracks or overhanging limestone are my main haunts.

What do you do when you’re not climbing?

Laura: I also like to hit the ski touring scene, yoga, knitting, vegetable gardening…and I am an accountant, so I am most likely nose-deep in a spreadsheet during the day.

Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?

Laura: Leading 🙂

What are some interesting facts that you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?

Laura: My husband and I are re-vamping a 1910 house on the East side of Tacoma at the moment, so right angles and level surfaces are a consistent crux. On the climbing side of things…in the alpine realm I have climbed the South and North peaks of Denali, with a ski descent of the Thunderbird Couloir from the North peak. Of rock interest, a gal pal and I did an ascent of the Nose on  El Cap last summer in a single push (we were very thirsty at the end).

What’s your go-to route grade?

Laura: I like to throw myself at things that are a grade harder than what  I can get up without too much trouble. I don’t mind logging some air time with a little try-hard.

50% OFF 30-Day Intro Pass

Limited time only! Just $44.50 (regularly $89)

Our 30-day intro pass is the perfect purchase to help sweeten your summer and fill your Instagram with adventuresome photos of rock climbing — #havingfun and #lovingit! While the Intro Pass is not a full membership, it does include some of the same awesome perks like full access to our climbing walls, fitness classes and our 101 & 102: Intro to Climbing courses.

The deal gets even sweeter with 50% OFF the start-up fee if you decide to sign up for an EFT membership before your pass expires!

Seriously, don’t miss out on this great deal!
– No coupons necessary!
– Offer valid July 15 – August 15, 2017.
– 30-days starts from date of purchase.

Dean Baggs

Member since 2015

How did you start climbing?

Dean: I’ve always been climbing. It started with escaping cribs, progressed to trees then rocks. Who knows what’s next!

Why do you climb at Edgeworks?

Dean: I like hanging out with everyone here and talking about past adventures and planning out new ones. It’s a great place to train, and I’m really excited for the new moon board that’s going in! (P.S. maybe don’t tell Dean but we think he received some bad intel on that last detail.)

Where is your favorite place to climb outside?

Dean: Smith Rock. It’s got a great spread of climbing styles off of everything from giant buckets to razor sharp monos. Plus multi pitching is epic there. Then cooling off in the Deschutes with a few local brews…can’t be beat.

What do you do when you’re not climbing?

Dean: Mountain biking. I’m doing a few enduro races this year and trying to get in more time on the downhill bike. I also like to backpack, mountaineer, hike, kayak, snowboard, and ski when there’s time.

Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?

Dean: Are you implying that I’m rockist? Lead and bouldering, I like climbing with or without rope, no discrimination here.

What are some interesting facts that you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?

Dean: I’m a bike nut so if you need help with anything bike related, feel free to ask. I’m happy to help. I like playing board games a lot when the weather isn’t ideal for being outside so if you’ve got a game you wanna play, let me know.

What’s your go-to route grade?

Dean: I’ve been projecting 11b/c and V4/5 outside on the try hard days. Otherwise, cruising up 5.8-5.10 multi pitch is pretty rad.

Shannon Seidel

Member since 2015

How did you start climbing?

Shannon: 3 years ago on a fateful trip to Barcelona someone staying in my hostel talked me into a multi-pitch climbing adventure that hooked me for life. When I got home from the trip to San Francisco where I was living at the time, a couple of wonderful friends showed me “the ropes.”

Why do you climb at Edgeworks?

Shannon: Edgeworks is where most of my favorite Tacomanians can be found! I’m sure everyone says this but I LOVE the Edgeworks community and truly can’t imagine my life in Tacoma without it. When I flew up to interview for my job, they gave me a tour of Tacoma and I actually made them drive me to the gym to check it out.

Where is your favorite place to climb outside?

Shannon: A lot of my early climbing trips were to the Yosemite Valley. As my friend Drew put it, “winter was canceled” that year so the sun was out, no snow was on the ground, and it felt like we had this magical place to ourselves. I’ve gotten to climb in a lot of inspiring places but with the climbing history and my own formative climbing experiences there, Yosemite is hard to beat.

What do you do when you’re not climbing?

Shannon: Hmmmm…. When I’m not climbing I guess you might find me singing in my car, gardening at Cush Cottage, grading papers, watching stand up comedy, or trying to convince someone to go climbing with me.

Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?

Shannon: I love it all! I really do. Before the Spring Bouldering Series I would have said anything on ropes but shout out to Jimmy for the awesome competition because now I really enjoy bouldering too.

What are some interesting facts that you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?

Shannon: I guess many people are surprised to learn that I’m a scientist and that I love viruses! If you want to know what makes viruses so cool, feel free to ask me about them!

What’s your go-to route grade?

Shannon: I’m going with V.Fun and 5.Fun because grade ain’t nothin’ but a number! If I get too hung up on the grade, expectations and ego get in the way so I try to just do whatever seems fun on any given day.

Record Number of Invitations to Divisionals!

Congratulations to all of the Team Edgeworks competitors who qualified for an invitation to the 2017 USAC Divisional Championship in Anchorage, AK, June 17-18! Out of nineteen kids on Team Edgeworks who competed at the regional, thirteen qualified for an invitation to the divisional, exceeding our wildest expectations! Although, no one should have been surprised at the strides the kids have made these past few months. They have earned it by  putting in an incredible amount of hard work, dedicating themselves to excellence, and doing it all while smiling and encouraging each other every step of the way.

These are the ten competing in Anchorage this month, wish them luck next time you see them:

– Brette Hume
– Elizabeth Hume
– Sophia Terrill
– Noah Larsen
– Hal Warren
– Ethan Riggle
– Kohle Andrews
– Aiden Hecker
– Jageli Rife
– Halle Rife

Climbing “Homework” for the Dedicated Few.

With the Divisional competition rapidly approaching, a few dedicated climbers have committed to extra practice time during the week to work on longer routes. Some of the Advanced Team climbers who are going to the Divisional have been spending their off day at the new Cirque Climbing gym in Lacey, WA to take advantage of the taller walls. Next sport and speed season we look forward to being able to train for endurance on our own walls!

Upcoming Events

June 10

Team Lock-in. $20/pp, sign up at the front desk.

June 17 – 18

USAC Divisional Championship, Alaska Rock Gym, Anchorage, AK

Social Media

Check the lobby bulletin board, Facebook, Instagram for Team Edgeworks news and information.

Next PCA Meeting

The June meeting is cancelled.

Climbing the Triple Couloirs on Dragontail

by Collin Jenkins

Earlier this month, I went out with fellow Edgeworks staffer, Andrew Powell, and climbed the Triple Couloirs on Dragontail Peak (early May 2017).  This route has intimidated me for over a year since it first got on my radar.  After being turned back once with a different partner due to avalanche concerns, Andrew and I went back with a 24 hour window.

At 3am, the route started off unexpectedly stout with a small bergschrund crossing and pitch of solid WI3 ice and I thought, “There’s no way I can finish this.” But in the spirit of adventure and “try hard” I took off on the first couloir.  In no time, my blood was up and we were in a rhythm. We encountered a little scary mixed climbing and temperatures much lower than we were expecting, but not stopping keeps you warm! We caught a sunny break on the summit ridge, bagged the summit and headed down Asgard Pass.

Twenty hours, 14,000ft of elevation change, and around 20 miles after we set out, we completed our car-to-car ascent.

This route revealed to me that the “in-a-day” mentality I’ve observed in so many Pacific Northwest Alpinists I respect isn’t as crazy–​or demanding of superhuman endurance–as I thought.  Believing in yourself, trusting your partner, and simply not giving up can go a long way.  Endless calories and good weather help too!

The McCabe Family | Tim, Hayden, Gen and Frankie

Members since 2015

How did you start climbing?

Tim: Climbing has held a special place in my imagination since I was a child. I devoured every climbing book I could get my hands on as soon as I could read. I really wanted to be Reinhold Messner when I grew up. I did some peak bagging in my early teens with family but did not get my first pair of rock shoes until college and really did not start trying hard until 2 years ago when I brought my daughter Hayden to Edgeworks for our first time. We were hooked and have never looked back.
Hayden: On my 7th birthday my dad wanted us to a father-daughter thing so we went rock climbing at Edgeworks.
Gen: I had never been climbing before I started coming shortly after Tim & Hayden caught the climbing bug. Their enthusiasm is contagious. My only knowledge of rock climbing was the dramatic opening scene of Vertical Limit…which is hilarious to watch now (spoiler alert, except for the dying part, not funny)
Frankie: He was most likely climbing even before he started walking at 9 months old.

Why do you climb at Edgeworks?

Tim: The Edgeworks community is amazing. The staff and the members have embraced us like family and are endlessly supportive. I have been to several other rock gyms and while some may have “better” facilities none of them can match the friendliness or sense of community at EW.
Hayden: I like climbing here because the people that work here are awesome and the routes are always fun.
Gen: Our fantastic community keeps me coming back. The staff and members all contribute to such a friendly and encouraging atmosphere. I love our adventurous climbing community!
Frankie: He absolutely adores the Edgeworks staff and his many friends he’s made at the gym.

What do you do when you’re not climbing?

Tim: I took up wood working a few years ago.  I make furniture and tables and other silly things.  Some of them are really good and some of them are really good firewood.  So far, I still have all 10 fingers.
Hayden:  I’m 9 years old so I go to school, hang out with my friends and family.  I also play softball and soccer.
Gen: Well besides my 9-5 job & keeping my family of four alive, I play indoor soccer regularly and I’d like to play more tennis.  I’ll play just about any sport for that matter.
Frankie: He loves dinosaurs, animals and cars, in fact next time you see him ask him if he is a t-rex or a tiger that day.

Where is your favorite place to climb outside?

Tim: Leavenworth is for lovers and I love Leavenworth. There is world class bouldering, trad and alpine climbing just right outside our back door! Plus, all the German food and liters of beer you can handle! I love climbing outside. It is my favorite thing to do in the world and honestly I do not care where we are climbing as long as we are outside with good friends!
Hayden: I love going to Leavenworth, the feeling of the rock is amazing and the food is great too.
Gen: Smith Rock is such a magical climbing wonderland. It really is my favorite, but I’m happy to go climbing anywhere outside.
Frankie: Leavenworth is his favorite, in fact he has been putting up some FA on the toddler circuit.

What are some interesting facts that you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?

Tim: We have a German Shepard named Bode. He is partially named after six-time Olympic Medalist Bode Miller and partially after Bode, the mystic/surfer/bank robber in the classic film Point Break who was played by Patrick Swayze.
Hayden: Did you know pioneer Job Carr was the founder of Tacoma, and that he was also the first Mayor of the city?
Gen: I’ll just leave you with some words of wisdom “there are plenty of ways to enter the pool, the stairs is not one of them”.
Frankie: Ernest Hemingway one said “There are only three sports: bullfight, motor racing and mountaineering: all the rest are merely games.”

Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?

Tim: Leading and high-ball bouldering.  Both test your resolve and push you to your limits.  I think it is important to explore the things that elicit fear inside of us.  Being able to control those feelings and push on right to the edge is life affirming.
Hayden: BOULDERING!
Gen: Sport climbing, the longer the route the better.
Frankie: He is still working on his top rope skills, only a select few of his favorite people can talk him into putting his harness on, so for now it’s all about bouldering.

What’s your go-to route grade?

Tim: Right now, it is 5.12a sport climbing and V6 outdoor bouldering.  I have been eating lots of salads and drinking less beer to try and make both those happen this climbing season!
Hayden: V3-V4 range with bouldering and like 5.10 range on top rope.
Gen: I’ve been venturing into 5.11 grades indoor which means I’m ready to push my limits this outdoor season, because so far the hardest I’ve lead outside has only been 5.9.
Frankie: Currently projecting 5.15d on gear.

Team Outdoor Trip

Record numbers of kids made it to Vantage on April 29th for the team outdoor sport climbing trip. For some, climbing outside was a new experience.  Even though some kids had done this trip before, team coach and AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Jimmy Grant made sure new experiences were had all around.

Jimmy commented, “I think all of the kids had a great time! Lots of them experienced their first lead climb outdoors, and some even got to clean their first route (removal of the climbing gear from the wall)! Two of my favorite events of today were watching Kohle Andrews lead climb the hardest routes at ‘The Feathers’ pushing his personal boundaries and climbing with style. The second moment was watching Elizabeth Hume lead her first outdoor climb! Her smile was contagious and kept all of us smiling for the whole day. I can’t wait until the next trip!”

Championship Season

The end of April marks the end of the 2017 USAC Sport and Speed Local Season and the beginning of Championship Season. We had an amazing season watching twenty six different Team Edgeworks climbers competing in five different local competitions. Nineteen of those kids are eligible to compete at the Regional Championship in May.

Eligibility for the Regional is dependent on collecting a score in a minimum of two local competitions. The top ten finishers in each category at the Regional will qualify to compete at the Divisional in Anchorage, AK in June. The top six in each category at the Divisional qualify to compete at the National in Kennesaw, GA in July.

The team will be preparing for the championships by maintaining their excellent fitness levels, and concentrating on areas needing improvement that surfaced during the local season. Part of that includes training on higher walls. That means field trips to other gyms. Keep your eyes open for scheduled team trips, and if you can, take some independent trips of your own.

NEW!

Have you  heard of our new Team Parent Memberships? If you’ve been meaning to join, now’s your chance. Parent’s of Team Members can now have a membership at $47/mo. and the joining fee is waived. All the same benefits of a regular membership are included. This rate is not advertised on our website. Sign up at the front desk today!