Climbing – Digital Steak

An experience climbing the Cassin on Piz Badile

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 12:04:57 +0000

The grin on my face is reflected in Waldo’s as he makes the last moves onto the belay. We have been climbing for 5 hours with a few more to go but the rock is simply stunning and neither of us want it to end. We didn’t know each other 48 hours ago but a...

Finding my flow

Charley Radcliffe — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 06:54:17 +0000

As I was cruising up yet another stunning crack splitting a 300m granite face up high off the Aiguille du Midi, I felt truly in my element. Recent life events have really knocked my mental strength and the first thing to suffer is my ability to climb, or at least feel comfortable climbing. My recent...

Eating on the go – nutrition while trail running

Charley Radcliffe — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 08:01:17 +0000

I’ll be fine. I don’t need to eat at the moment. I’ll eat in a bit. It’s ok. Then.. it is suddenly not. I crash. I start to slow down first, then my concentration starts to waiver, then I just fall into a crabby and irritable mood. If only I had had eaten when I...

Italian sport climbing day trips

Charley Radcliffe — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 08:30:11 +0000

What better way to start your day than with a proper espresso and two scoops of real Italian gelato? As we fled the poor weather in Chamonix, driving through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Courmayeur, it never fails to amaze me how different this side of the mountain can be. The Magic Tunnel This summer...

Kettlebell classes in Chamonix – The Mountain Foundry grows!

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 12 May 2016 11:44:45 +0000

It’s only 10 minutes until my first kettlebell class in Chamonix and there are already over 10 people here – not bad for a debut! Fine, the class is free and the weather is glorious but, hey, I’m thinking this is a win! Growing The Mountain Foundry in Chamonix It was just 12 months ago...

An Interview with David Goettler

Charley Radcliffe — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 15:34:52 +0000

David Göttler is an IFMGA mountain guide and professional athlete who splits his time between Spain and Chamonix, France. He has been on a massive 31 expeditions and is currently camped out at the South Face of Shisha Pangma with Ueli Steck, waiting for a weather window to attempt a bold new route. He kindly took...

.. and then I get spanked – climbing the Supercouloir

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:03:25 +0000

Yep, after going on about feeling stronger and the benefits to being stronger in the mountains, I headed out and got firmly put back in my place. And it’s not a bad thing at all. I headed up to climb a stunning but very challenging route here in Chamonix, the Supercouloir, with Graeme – mentally,...

Strength training for the mountains feels like cheating..

Charley Radcliffe — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 13:03:31 +0000

As I sit on a lift going back up for another ski run, tie onto the rope for another lap, or catch my breath before running up another hill I can’t help feeling like I’m cheating, that I’ve given myself an advantage over myself in previous years. Strength has given me a capacity to do...

Ski Touring 2.0 – skiing the Pigne d’Arolla

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:03:32 +0000

“I can’t work out if this was a good idea or a bad one..” said Matt. Tomorrow the Cabane des Dix, high in the mountains above Arolla would have a full staff, prepared food, and be a hive of activity as a key stop on the Haute Route, a classic alpine ski tour. Tonight, however,...

Big Mountain Dreams

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 07:24:09 +0000

What are you training for right now? What is on your wish list that, maybe, you’ve not started training for yet? I’ve been ticking along recently, which has been a much needed gear to be running in but I’ve recently been feeling the need for something more. For picking an objective and committing to the...