Openhand Press

Bishop 2025

In March 2025, I made the impulsive decision to take my first climbing trip outside of Canada. I spent seven days bouldering in Bishop to connect with friends and get my first taste of Sierra granite.

Three Things That Defined the Trip

• The Scale of the Landscape:

Coming from a region where boulders are sparse, the density of Bishop was hard to process. Standing under the Peabody Boulders for the first time, I didn’t pull on right away—I just walked the field, looking up at line after line stacked on the same formations.

• The “Green Flash” at Green Wall:

“Glimpse you ere the green ray, Count the morrow a fine day.” - Some English Proverb

While I didn’t see the meteorological phenomenon, I had my own “Green Flash” moment. After meeting the media team from Long Beach Rising at the Green Wall Boulder, they encouraged me to try the harder, direct line. I pulled on expecting to fall off the opening moves, found my flow state and linked the sequence together cleanly. I stuck the slopey pocket and hit the lip and as I stood on top of the Green Wall Boulder, I knew I could count the morrow a fine day.

• The Power of Community:

Climbing is only half the story. After my initial partner headed out, I joined up with Kade and his friends. I hadn’t met them before, but the vibes were stellar. Whether we were projecting in the Happies, romping around the Brown Wall, or demolishing post-climb sandwiches at Mahogany.

Two Things I Learned

• The Art of Packing Light:

I made the mistake of checking most of my climbing gear and spent the flight imagining lost luggage. By mid-week, I realized I didn’t need half of what I planned to bring. Moving forward, I’m committed to keeping my setup streamlined enough to fit entirely into a carry-on. Thankfully, I had a feeling this could happen and stashed a pair of shoes in my carry-on and my bag never making its way to Bishop didn’t create a complete disaster.

• Prioritizing Fun Over Numbers:

Some of my favorite moments didn’t involve my hardest moves. Watching Kalel send Evilution in the dark, or climbing the no-hands slab circuit of the Buttermilks with Kade, felt more significant than any V-point.

Five Favourite Climbs

• Hero Roof
• Buttermilk Stem
• Green Wall Center
• Flyboy Arete
• Good Morning Sunshine

Five Climbs to Return For

• Xavier’s Roof
• High Plains Drifter
• Stained Glass
• Saigon
• Finder’s Fee

What’s Next?

This trip was an introduction, not a finale. Bishop is already calling me back, and I’m already thinking about the next season.