Turn It Off: Cigarette Butts

If I had a magic on-and-off-switch that allowed me to “turn off” certain things—putting an end to the ridiculousness—here is what I’d turn off:

Cigarette Butts – I don’t know what it is about smokers, but they have this subconscious assumption that cigarette butts are biodegradable. NEWS FLASH…THEY’RE NOT!! And even if they were, throwing them out your car window wouldn’t help. Oh, I’m done sucking the life out of that stick. Guess I’ll just toss the leftovers out my car window…on pavement…where there aren't any biological elements to break it down. Where is the logic? What? You don’t want that stinky piece of trash littering your nice looking car? Your car already smells like throat cancer. Deal with the trash in your own domain and stop putting it in mine.

If you choose to smoke, do it responsibly. The filters in cigarettes are made of a type of plastic and we all know that plastic takes forever to naturally breakdown. After you flick them, your cigarette butt just sits there, looking ugly and trashy. Sometimes birds, rodents, and marine animals will eat them. Your lazy habit of not throwing away your own trash is making our world a worse place.

I once stopped an old lady after she tossed her cigarette on the grown and stepped on it. We were right next to a trash can. I picked up her cig and said, "Excuse me ma'am, you dropped this. Oh, and by the way, there is a trash can right there. Please don't litter." She looked bewildered. She had nothing intelligent to say other than, "Oh, I guess I didn't see it." Yea right you didn't see it. 

www.cigarettelitter.org

Captured in the Lens

Two of my co-workers are very talented photographers. One of them, my boss, has been published is many climbing magazines and guide books. It's always a blast to go out climbing with them. Sometimes they'll even have me pose for their cameras.

Photo by Michael Portanda

Photo by Michael Portanda

Photo by Michael Portanda

Photo by Nathan Smith

E10 Photo-Video-Design

For the longest time I have been a video and photo hobbyist, but now I'm making the transition to be an aspiring photographer and videographer.

Ever since I was a boy, I had a camera in my hand. I documented everything I did with a still frame or a video. Although taking snapshots and making crazy videos was and is fun, it's time to move forward with my dream of being an actual photographer and videographer.

When I was entering into college, I desired to study photography. However, I chose communication/advertising instead. I saw that degree more useful and family-friendly...seeing how I planned to be a family-man. Now that I am married and have two children, I don't see why I can't pursue photo and video as a profession of some sort.

Check out my work:
E10 Photo-Video-Design Website
E10 Facebook Page
E10 Google+ Page

2012 Recap

I started 2012 in a slightly tough situation and now finished it in a very pleasant one. I was an unemployed entrepreneur in Logan, UT who was working hard to put together a brand new event from scratch. My loving wife took one for the team and brought home the bacon and put bread on the table. Then I scored a very cool job as a park ranger in our “dream town” of Almo, ID where we lived right outside of the City or Rocks. That dream was short lived—only 1.5 months—after I landed a dream job with a dream company in SLC, UT as the communications specialist in Liberty Mountain’s marketing department.

I can now say that I am starting 2013 in a very awesome situation, especially with all the rad adventures and accomplishments during the year:

• White Rim Trail Run – 80 miles in three days
• Lived right outside of the City of Rocks for 1.5 months
• Landed a dream job with Liberty Mountain
• Reached the one-year mark of living full time in a 5th-wheel trailer
• Pulled off a successful first year for the Idaho Mountain Festival
• Climbed over 150 pitches
• Watched my wife take the podium on a half marathon, 50K, and 50-mile race

Now I am sitting here thinking of all the radness that I am going experience this year. I have so much I want to do and achieve that I’m having to place some in the queue for 2014. Here are just a few of the things that will happen in 2013:

• John Muir Trail – 200+ miles in no more than 10 days (ETA: Aug 24)
• Buy a house in Sandy, UT (ETA: Feb 11)
• Concentrate on exploring the bounteous climbing crags between Ogden and American Fork, with occasional trips to Idaho, southern UT, and Wyoming (All year long)
• Redpoint my first 5.13 (ETA: ASAP)

Christmas 2012

I ended up having a wonderful Christmas this year. We spent it in Logan, with Jennilyn's family, and had a wonderful time. The best part of it all was that it snowed and snowed and snowed all day on Christmas Eve; we even went sledding in the blizzard with all the kids until it got too dark to see.

Snowshoeing in Big Cottonwood Canyon

The Salt Lake valley, along with the surrounding canyons and mountains, has been getting dumped on with a ton of snow lately. This always puts me in a good mood. So I decided to take advantage of all the fresh snow by dusting off my snowshoes and taking a morning stroll in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

I originally wanted to try and hike up to Blanche Lake but was unable to even park at the trailhead. The plows had barely touched the canyon road and many of the pullouts had at least a half a foot of snow on them, making parking an issue. So I kept driving up the canyon until I found a plowed pull out. I ended up hiking around on the Days Fork Trail for an hour and was able to capture a couple cool photos.

(I captured this shot after accidentally falling over backwards after I took the photo above.)

Seek the CHRIST in Christmas

During the Christmas season, we recognize the birth of Jesus Christ, whom the Christians believe to be the Savior of the world; saving us from sin and death. Christmas is celebrated by millions, if not billions of people. It isn't just a Christian holiday, many other faiths celebrate this season in their own ways. Why? Because it is a season that represents salvation.

Jesus Christ, believe in him or not, is the universal symbol of salvation. When he was born, the entire world regained their hope to one day live with their God and Creator. On Christmas Day, we say we celebrate the birth of a child; what we are really celebrating is our belief in life after death.

If any of you do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World, I invite you to ask yourself if you believe in salvation. If you do, then you have reason to celebrate Christmas. Don't throw away Christmas because you don't believe in Jesus. Embrace Christmas because it gives you hope for a life that if full of purpose and direction.

Salvation is real and it is a present that is being offered to you. So when you hear me wish you a "Merry Christmas," I'm actually inviting you to believe in the one thing that all mankind wants and believes...SALVATION.


Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Please share this message and image with everyone on your own blog, Facebook, Pinterest, ect.

Ugly Christmas Ornaments

It is amazing to see what kind of Christmas tree ornaments exist out there. I can't believe that some of them would even be thought of, let alone made.

Last weekend, we were invited to a Christmas party at a friends house where we had a while elephant gift exchange. The rules for this exchange was that the gift had to be a tree ornament and you have to decorate your tree with the one you win.

The ending result when all the gifts were open was a slew of some of the nastiest ornaments I have ever seen...all captured and displayed in the above photo. Jennilyn and I were the lucky winners of the energy snack garland and the Jacob fron Twilight ornament.

Maybe I've found a new holiday tradition. I think I might start giving ugly ornaments to those I love as a humorous gift for Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone.

The White Rim - Rim To Rim

I'd choose a trail running adventure over a trail race any day.

Back in 2005, as a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho, my wife (Jennilyn) went on a 2 month study abroad program that required that they hike, bike, canyoneer, and canoe in the remote desert areas of Southern Utah. She was able to experience mountain biking the white rim in three days. After each day's ride, she'd lace up her running shoes and clock in some extra miles on her feet. Ever since then, she has always dreamt of running the entire White Rim "Trail".

The first thing I ever heard out of Jennilyn's mouth when I met her was, "Sorry I didn't answer the phone, I was on a 14-mile run." To me, especially at that time in my life, she sounded pretty hardcore. What I didn't know then was that I was only seeing a tiny tip of a ginormous iceberg that had yet to show itself. After 6 years of dreaming about running the White Rim, Jennilyn finally put in our bid for the camping permits needed to tackle her dream and our goal of tackling this notorious desert pathway by foot. 

The White Rim is a 100 mile dirt road that aggressively loops around and below the island mesa top in Utah's Canyonlands National Park. Jennilyn was able to secure our permits and recruit three other runners, a crew cheif/driver, a lead cheerleader, and some mini-cheerleaders to join the two of us. Our initial plan was to run the entire 100 miles in three days, starting at the Shafer Trailhead and finishing on the Mineral Road/Horsetheif Trail where it intersects with the main road. However, we modified our plans a bit and decided to just run from one rim to the other, totalling 80+ miles. We started at the Safer Trailhead and finished at the top of the Mineral Bottom Switchbacks.

Day One started just after sunrise and consisted of running just over 28 miles. After arriving at the Gooseberry Campground, we realized that a nasty wind had arrived and looked like it was going to stay a while. It prevented us from setting up tents, it blew sand in our faces and sleeping bags as we slept, and one of our runners lost their pillow during the night after it was swept away from the torrential breeze.

The wind didn't let up, in fact it got a lot worse and blasted us with gusts of 60 mph the entire time we ran on Day Two. With sand and pebbles pelting us the whole way, we trudged along to the Potato Bottom Campground for a daily total of 35 miles. Luckily, the wind ceased that evening and we slept like babies.

Day three was a delight. The weather was perfect and we only had to run 16 miles to reach the top of the Mineral Bottom Switchbacks. It was a wonderful feeling topping out and knowing that we were done. It was truly an adventure and it was so cool to see Jennilyn living out such a big dream.

Rumor has it that Jennilyn is now thinking of going back and trying to run it in again...but this time within 24 hours.

This is the map that we so colorfully marked up to illustrate to our crew the initial plan. 

The White Rim Runners: David Lynn, Steve Aderholt, Leslie Keener, Jennilyn Eaton, Benjamin Eaton

Our Support Crew. You guys rocked. Thank You!!

Blue Man for Halloween

Ever since I painted my entire head white in 2010, when I dressed up as Jack Skellington for Halloween, I then desired to completely shave my head and paint it blue to be one of the guys from The Blue Man Group. Well, I made it happen this year for Halloween and it was a success.

Video: Rebel Yell

A few of us from work have been hitting up Big Cottonwood Canyon after work on Thursdays and getting a bunch of climbing in. I'm really enjoying that canyon. The climbing is accessible, fun, and bolted.

Michael Portanda takes a lap up Rebel Yell for the first time in Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT. This route is located on the Psycobabble Wall in the Storm Mountain Picnic area where a lot of great rock climbing exists.

Video: S.N.A.F.U.

During our 1.5 month of living in Almo, ID, I shot some video of my awesome wife, Jennilyn climbing a route called S.N.A.F.U. on the Crack House Wall in Castle Rocks State Park. I decided to use the footage to create a little promo video for the Idaho Mountain Festival, an event that Jennilyn and I created from scratch.



The City Slicker Series is a collection of climbing videos that showcase the amazing climbing found at City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park in Idaho.

This video series is an Idaho Mountain Festival production, presented by Asana Climbing. The Idaho Mountain Festival is a 4-day climbing and trail running "party", held at Castle Rocks State Park, ID. For more info visit www.IdahoMountainFest.com.

Today Is Our Independence Day.

Benjamin Eaton and Ken Klingler on the cliffs next to Big Medicine Falls near Driggs, ID

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

--Declaration of Independence

This Year's Climbing Shoes

Climbing shoes can be a game changer. Pick wisely...if you care.

Thanks to La Sportiva and REI, I just scored the La Sportiva TC Pro and Solution.

I used to be a big fan of 5.10 shoes. Still am. However, as of last year, I ventured into the world of La Sportiva and have loved it. I've been climbing in the Miura VS. What a great shoe. But now I am sinking my feet into these brand spanking new kicks.

Every since I first set eyes on the TC Pro, I fell in love. It's a sexy trad shoe. I can't wait to take them up some multi-pitch awesomeness this summer. These are definitely are going to see a lot of action as I live at the City of Rocks this whole summer.

I do admit though, ever since the Solutions came out, I stayed far away from them. I have a problem with things that become over-popular. And these shoes, for many good reasons became overly-popular. But I decided to give them a chance this year as my aggressive shoe. My goal this year is to breach the 5.13 barrier of mine and I hope these shoes will assist.

Climbing Resume

During the latter half of February, I was inspired and excited to apply for a spot on the newly formed Trango Grassroots Athlete Team. Even though I only climb 3 times a week and my hardest redpoint on a sport route is a 5.12c, I went for the opportunity anyways. However, due to an unfortunate S.N.A.F.U., the email containing my application materials was never sent and sat for a week in my draft folder before I found it and fainted. I didn't really faint, but I was sickened with this discovery that crushed my hope for joining the team.

Although all my hard work was for nothing, I did enjoy the process of preparing some of the application materials. One of the thing I had to do, beside selling and promoting myself as a climber, was to provide a climbing resume. I've created thousands of professional resumes, but never for climbing. It was an interesting and fun project. Not only did I have to figure out what format and content belonged on a resume of that caliber, but I also had to reflect on my last 11 years of climbing.

Looking back. Making lists of all the locations that I've climbed. Listing my notable climbs and trips. While I fought back the feelings of being conceded for making such lists, I couldn't help but to remember all the good times with my wife and climbing partners with each item I added to the lists. The coolest thing that happend while I drafted my climbing resume was that I got to remember how many friendships were created just because of the sport of rock climbing. This sport has lead me to so many life-long friendships, even marriage, that each route that I've climbed and each trip that I've taken has a story that involves a friend that I'm most likely still in contact with.

So I'd like to share with you all my wanna-be Rock Climbing Resume. (If you were with me during any of these noted occasions, please shout out a memory you have from it in the comment section.)

BENJAMIN L EATON - ROCK CLIMBING RESUME
-Last Updated March 20, 2012


Climbing Ability

• Actively climbing since 2001, started climbing in 1998
• Climbing preference: 1- Sport 2- Trad 3- Bouldering
• Routinely lead 5.12+ sport routes and 5.11+ trad routes
• Consistently climb 3+ times a week with a full time job, wife, and two boys
• Effective coach and instructor to my peers
• Motivated ambassador and advocate of the sport
• Enthusiastic climbing photographer and videographer

Notable Climbing Accomplishments

• Founded the Idaho Mountain Festival, Idaho’s newest and only 4-day climbing festival.
• Founded The Chalk Pot, an social media hub for climbing related content
• Spent 2.5 months touring the western states and climbing everyday
• Spear headed weekly and bi-weekly climbing sessions in every climbing community that I’ve lived in.
• Introduced over 50 people to climbing and helped many current climbers gain a stronger passion for the sport.
• Planned annual climbing gatherings and trips for large groups of friends.
• Took 2nd place overall at the Pocatello Pump climbing competition 3 years in a row and 2nd place overall at the Regional Rock Walls speed climbing competition.

Notable Climbs

• Bolt Ladder - 5.12c, Sport, 1 pitch: China Cave Right, Logan, UT - 2012. Redpoint.
• Snipe Hunter – 5.12c, Sport, 1 pitch: Lime Creek, Basalt, CO – 2011. Redpoint.
• Dark Justice – 5.12b, Sport, 1 pitch: Heise Rock, Ririe, ID – 2009. Redpoint. 
• Jumanji - 5.12a, Sport, 1 pitch: Black and Tan Wall, St George, UT – 2010. Redpoint.
• Butterfly Crack – 5.11c, Trad, 1 pitch: Trashcan Rock, Joshua Tree National Park, CA. Redpoint.
• Comp Splitter - 5.11b, Trad, 1 pitch: Comp Wall, Castle Rocks, ID - 2012. Redpoint.
• Moonlight Buttress – 5.9 C1 V, Trad/Aid, 10 pitches: Zion National Park, UT – 2011. Swapping leads.
• Baxters Pinnacle – 5.9 I, Trad/Alpine, 5 pitches: Grand Teton National Park, WY – 2006. Redpoint swapping leads.
• Owen Spalding – 5.4 II, Trad/Alpine, 3 pitches: Grand Teton National Park, WY – 2004. 14 hours car to car.

Locations Climbed
UTAH – Indian Creek- Monticello, UT; Zion National Park Springdale, UT; Mill Creek- Moab, UT; Logan Canyon- Logan, UT; Maple Canyon- Fountain Green, UT; The Cathedral- St George, UT; Wall Street- Moab, UT; Big Bend Boulders- Moab, UT; Big Cottonwood Canyon- Salt Lake City, UT; Little Cottonwood Canyon- Salt Lake City, UT; Ferguson Canyon- Salt Lake City, UT; School Room- Ogden, UT; Ogden Canyon- Ogden, UT; Echo Canyon- Echo, UT; St. George Area- St George, UT; Snow Canyon- St George, UT; Woodbury Rd Crags- St George, UT

IDAHO – City of Rocks- Almo, ID; Castle Rocks- Almo, ID; Teton Canyon- Driggs, ID; Darby Canyon- Driggs, ID; Massacre Rocks- American Falls, ID; The Fins- Howe, ID; Heise Rock- Ririe, ID; Paramount- Ririe, ID; Midget Widget- Ririe, ID; South Park- Ririe, ID; Weeping Cave- Palisades, ID; Box Canyon- Howe, ID; Ross Park- Pocatello, ID; Blackfoot Canyon- Blackfoot, ID; Derkies Lake- Twin Falls, ID; Black Cliffs- Boise, ID

COLORDAO – Rifle Mountain Park- Rifle, CO; Lime Creek- Basalt, CO; Independence Pass Boulders- Aspen, CO; Thompson Creek- Carbondale, CO; Redstone Boulders- Redstone, CO; The Narrows- Redstone, CO; The Frying Pan- Basalt, CO; Poux- Glenwood Springs, CO; No Name Canyon- Glenwood Springs, CO

WYOMING – Teton National Park- Moose, WY; Wild Iris- Lander, WY; Hoback Shield and Rodeo Wall- Jackson Hole, WY

CALIFORNIA – Joshua Tree National Park- Joshua Tree, CA

Old Footage = New Video

Now that I have upgraded some software on my computer, its time to bust out some old climbing footage that I randomly shot on various climbing trips to sharpen my editing skills for better video projects in the future.

This video is of Sam Perkins on a route called Zealot in the cave at Kelly's Rock. Kelly's Rock is one of the sweet limestone walls in the Woodbury Road Crags area near Saint George, UT.

Movie Premiere Parties: WELCOME TO THE HOOD

A portion of my time, these days, has been focused on some pretty exciting climbing parties that I am organizing at some climbing gyms in Boise, Logan, and Rexburg.

I'm putting on the Sticks and Stones Movie Premiere Party, Rock Haus Movie Premiere Party, and Urban Ascent Movie Premiere Party. All three premieres will be showing the new bouldering film called WELCOME TO THE HOOD that features Daniel Woods, Paul Robinson, Guntram Joerg, and Anthony Gullsten.

STICKS AND STONES MOVIE PREMIERE PARTY
Showing: Welcome to the Hood
Date: March 24
Time: Doors open at 8pm; Movie starts at 9pm
Place: Sticks and Stones - 49 E Main St, Rexburg, ID
Cost: $5
More Info Here: Sticks and Stones Movie Premiere Party

ROCK HAUS MOVIE PREMIERE PARTY
Showing: Welcome to the Hood
Date: March 31
Time: Doors open at 8pm; Movie starts at 9pm
Place: Rock Haus Gym - Logan, UT
Cost: $5
More Info Here: Rock Haus Movie Premiere Party

URBAN ASCENT MOVIE PREMIERE PARTY
Showing: Welcome to the Hood
Date: April 7
Time: Doors open at 8pm; Movie starts at 9pm
Place: Urban Ascent Gym - Boise, ID
Cost: $5
More Info Here: Urban Ascent Movie Premiere Party


If you live in or near these cities, come out and show your support. I promise you that you'll have a great time.

Not only are we going to watch the freshest bouldering movie to hit the screens, but we will be be giving away some swag from Asana, La Sportiva, Solid Rock - Climbers for Christ, and from others.

These parties are fundraisers for the newest climbing festival to hit the western states, the Idaho Mountain Festival. All proceeds are going to help the festival with all it's permitting, rental, and insurance costs.

Come out and support.


MOVIE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Hood highlights the 2 month trip to Switzerland, Austria and France shared by climbers and friends Daniel Woods, Paul Robinson, Guntram Joerg, and Anthony Gullsten. Climbing in Ticino, Murgtal, Silvretta, and Fontainebleau, the crew accomplished some of their biggest climbing achievements to date. Witness Guntram and Anthony send their first 8B+/8C, Paul make the first ascent of an 8B+, and Daniel make the first 8B+/8C flash in the world. At around 40 minutes in length, Welcome to the Hood gives you an inside look at the psyche and motivation that goes hand in hand with living and climbing with elite athletes.

Videos On The Rock

Back when I was an active snowboarder, I was always shooting footage of myself to help me perfect my tricks and style. I did the same things when I played in a punk band. Watching the footage always helped me critique myself and do better the next time.

Now that I am always climbing, and I always have a camera in my hands, more footage of myself and others will be hitting the editing screen and making it onto the internet for all to enjoy and use to get psyched about the sport.

The three videos below are just some quick edits I did with some raw-non-scripted footage of myself that was shot during a couple of climbing trips.

On The Rock

This post full of pictures isn't so much about me as it is about all my wonderful friends that have been by my side and capturing the moments on their camera. Thanks for all the great shots.

Moonlight Buttress - Zion National Park, UT Photo by Abe Shreve

Moonlight Buttress - Zion National Park, UT Photo by Abe Shreve

Moonlight Buttress - Zion National Park, UT Photo by Abe Shreve

Puoux - Glenwood Springs, CO Photo by Andrew Bisharat

The Fins - Howe, ID Photo by Jaren Watson

Thompson Creek - Carbondale, CO Photo by Sam Perkins

Lime Creek - Basalt, CO Photo by Kausha Allison

Midget Widget - Ririe, ID Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

Midget Widget - Ririe, ID Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

Ogden Canyon - Ogden, UT Photo by Laura Harris

Mill Creek - Moab, UT Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

Indian Creek - Monticello, UT Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

City of Rocks - Almo, ID Photo by Dean Lords

City of Rocks - Almo, ID Photo by Dean Lords

Midget Widget - Ririe, ID Photo by Dean Lords

Black and Tan Wall - St George, UT Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

Black and Tan Wall - St George, UT Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

Kelly's Rock - St George, UT Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

The Cathedral - St George, UT Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

Wild Iris - Lander, WY Photo by Sharlie Bingham

Moab, UT Photo by Jennilyn Eaton

Big Bend Boulders - Moab, UT Photo by Jennilyn Eaton