Robert Pizem

2011 Year in Review

2011 turned out to be a busy one for my family and me. The first half of the year included some desert first ascents, weekend cragging and new routing. When the school year let out and I no longer was teaching, things got crazy. After finally selling our house in Denver during the spring time, we were able to close on one in Grand Junction the day after summer vacation began. It was a fixer upper and needed to be gutted before we moved in and before the baby came. Before beginning the demolition, I flew to Italy for a climbing trip. It was supposed to be two weeks in Val di Mello and two weeks in the Dolomites. Since the weather was extremely uncooperative none of that happened. I ended up on the Mediterranean and at the Verdon Gorge sport climbing until my knee blew out. Within three days and totally bummed, I was flying home for surgery because I couldn’t walk or even weight my right knee.

Upon returning home, the demolition began on the house. I enlisted some local high school graduates to rip up the floors and clear out the yard of the house. Once the place was ready painting and new flooring took over, along with my knee surgery. After 21 fifteen hour days we completed the remodel! Wow that was tough. Thanks so much to everyone that came out to help, without everybody pitching in it couldn’t have been completed in time.

Next, it was time to visit family in Ohio. Jane was six weeks away from her due date and I was due for some actual knee recovery time. It was great to hang with my family for almost two weeks! We flew back to Grand Junction recharged and had two days to move out of our apartment and into the house. Two days later the best thing in the world came, my son. Jane did awesome at the hospital and overcame the pain of the contractions and didn’t use any birthing medicine. I got to cut the cord and be a part of the whole experience.

The next two months went by extremely quickly for Jane and me. Without sleep or much energy all focus was on our son and surviving. Once we got the hang of taking care of a baby, life began to return to normalcy. We learned how to manage our time and began to train, workout, climb, run, hike and integrate Rowan into everything that we did.

The fall came and I was able to establish a few more new climbs in the local areas around the house. A new 5.13+ sport climb called the Unaweeper, (along with a short video about it) and a three pitch, 5.12+ roof crack were definitely the highlights. I was also lucky enough to be in Chuck Fryberger’s latest film called The Scene. Thanksgiving came and went and the year ended with more great visits with family.

Thanks to my sponsors for supporting me with gear throughout the year. I look forward to what 2012 will bring my family and my climbing!