My 3 year battle with an injury and the infamous "Redneck" boulder.

A brief overview of the past 3 years...

I was at HP40 back in Fall/Winter 05/06' working on Redneck in the far left image. When I was topping out, a sharp/hot pain shot from my shoulder blade to the base of my skull. I immediately came down from the topout, never truly getting the send.
From that day forward, I had what seemed to be severe whiplash symptoms and the range of motion in my neck was very minimal. Returning home I went to an immediate care center where they gave me all the Western painkillers, anti-inflammatories & muscle relaxers I would need.
A month later when the drugs wore off, all the symptoms returned. Masking the problem never solves the issue.
I saw western doctors for about a year and a half and no one was able to resolve my pain.
1.5-2 years into my injury, I saw a holistic healer , Peter Moscow. Now for the first time since the initial injury I was feeling better. After some time, I also got treatment from neuromuscular therapist, Julie Harper who helped with the physical trauma my soft tissue had received.
In the fall of Nov.07, I was visiting a friend of mine in Albuquerque, NM and he suggested I see his Sports Injury Specialist, Dr. David Peer. Upon seeing him, he looked at my MRI. I had a C5/C6 disc bulge and a pinched nerve in that area which was causing the hot sensation.
I received traction treatment to alleviate the pressure of my disc as well as rehydrate them.
I was now able to climb sporadically on easy problems, like once every two weeks to build back the muscle, tendon, ligament tissue that I had lost in the past 2.5 years.

The middle image was taken in Fall 06' when I thought no one was around. I was still injured at this point and went down to HP40 to hang with old friends and shoot some images. At the point this image was taken, I still thought it was climbing related injury and not from my car accident, so I had gone to make amends with the force that injured me.

The image on the right was taken on Oct.19th, 2008 when I returned to HP40 for a photoshoot and lay to rest my problem demon.
3 years after my initial injury, I finally got to topout "Redneck."

Thank you... Mandy Rhoden for taking the most recent photo.

Kings, Daughters & Sons show - Oct. 22nd, 2008

I had been in the southeast for a week climbing and shooting and this is the reason I came home a day early. Joe Manning and this band can lay it down.

They are getting ready to head into the studio to produce their first album, which will most likely be out in Spring 09.

Kings, Daughters & Sons Montage:

Horse Pens 40

A selection of images from HP40

Jay on Skywalker

Mark Osbourne on Slaboliscious boulder

Mandy Rhoden on Lowdown

Brooke "lil sis" Hadden on Lowdown

Mandy Rhoden on Slaboliscious

Horse Pens 40 - Moon Arete'

Spent the weekend at HP40.

Something to tide you over.

Moon Arete'

Rocktoberfest Red Bull Dyno Comp *Montage*

Little montage of the Redbull dyno comp

Thanks to our Sponsors: Redbull, Rock Candy Holds, Soill Holds & Organic.

Rocktoberfest at "The Cove" RRG, KY 2008

Trying to stray from the crowds of the Rocktoberfestival, a small group of us ventured up to a place known as "The Cove."
It was here that Timy Fairfield got the FA of Covert Methods last November.

As the day wore on, more boulderers had the same mentality as we had.
My good friends Nate & Liz of Rock Candy Holds paid us a visit and pulled down on the overhanging sandstone.
Another good friend of mine "Adam Taylor" came by to get on Ghetto Methods & Covert Methods. Adam made the 4th ascent of the Covert.

Covert Methods sends to date:
1. Timy Fairfield
2. Jaime Emerson
3. Mark Osbourne.
4. Adam Taylor

Who says there's no bouldering in the RRG?

Now for some images:

Liz Yokum

Alyssa Hoeper

Nate Yokum "Hobbies Delight"

Mark Osbourne "Covert Methods"

Adam Taylor "Ghetto Methods"

Eric Gifford

Stephen Woodward

Another Mondo 2.0 Montage

More images from the Alley Cat