Once again, it’s time for the Five Ten Days of May event! We’re giving away over $1,000 in prizes, and you’ll have 10 unique ways to enter for a chance to win. Below are instructions for entering each day’s contest, along with the the shoe prize for each day. Check back each day for updates on how to win a pair of Five Ten shoes!
- Tuesday, May 1 (Five Ten Guide Tennie Canvas): Today is a “pin to win” contest on Pinterest! Follow these instructions to enter the giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/rockcreekoutfitters/app_222646557846367
- Wednesday, May 2 (Five Ten Camp Four): Write a review of your favorite Five Ten style on rockcreek.com! Be sure to enter your email address to become a “verified reviewer” when you’re done; that’s how we will receive your entry, and that’s how we’ll contact you when we select a winner.
- Thursday, May 3 (Five Ten Arrowhead): Go to rockcreek.com, “like” the Five Ten shoe of your choice, then post a comment on our Facebook post here saying which shoe you liked and why. Pick your shoe at https://www.rockcreek.com/five-ten.rc
- Friday, May 4 (Five Ten Quantum): Post a comment below this blog article and tell us about your most memorable moment climbing. Was it sending your toughest climb? An epic multi-day trip? Your first time leading a route? The sky’s the limit, and we’ll pick our favorite entry… so make your case compelling!
- Saturday, May 5 (Five Ten Blackwing): “Like” Wild Trails on Facebook. No, really, that’s it. Wild Trails is our non-profit that’s focused on trail work and access, playing a key role in climbing-related projects this past year like the Deep Creek trailhead and the Stone Fort impact repair project. If you’re already a fan of the Wild Trails facebook page, post in our Facebook thread here.
- Sunday, May 6 (Five Ten Freerider): Today’s giveaway is a Twitter challenge: tweet why YOU should win a pair of Five Ten Freeriders, and be sure to mention @rockcreekgear in your tweet! We’ll pick our favorite.
- Monday, May 7 (Five Ten Coyote VCS Canvas): Today’s shoe is the Coyote VCS Canvas (now available in a women’s version)! To enter, watch this video — http://vimeo.com/29090844 — and email [email protected] with the answer to the following question: How far into the video (m:ss) does local Five Ten rep John Dorough accidentally spit beer all over Rock/Creek climbing buyer Chad Wykle?
- Tuesday, May 8 (Five Ten Warhawk or Five Ten D’Aescent): To enter today’s Five Ten contest, sign up for our email newsletter and check “Five Ten” as one of your interests. If you’re already a subscriber, update your profile to make sure Five Ten is checked!
- Wednesday, May 9 (Five Ten Water Tennie): Today’s giveaway is a little different: the feature shoe is the Water Tennie, a river shoe that’s perfect for paddling, fishing or even canyoneering. Want to win a pair? Visit our Facebook thread here, tell us what you would do with them in a comment below, and we’ll pick one lucky winner.
- Thursday, May 10 (brand new BLACK color Five Ten Team 5.10 Shoe): This one is my favorite — we’re the first to have the new Five Ten TEAM BLACK, and we want to give you a pair… but you’re going to have to convince us that you’re the best recipient for a fresh pair of hardcore sport climbing & bouldering shoes! Visit our Facebook page and post your most epic climbing photo… we’ll send one lucky winner a pair of shoes to take them to the next level!
Entrants have until May 10th to enter each of the contests, at which point we’ll select and announce the winners. Meanwhile, go shop Five Ten and pick out the shoes you’d choose if you win. We have most shoes on sale for 20% off during the 5.10 Days of May: https://www.rockcreek.com/five-ten.rc
Nick says
All of my cards were declined on a climbing road trip down to Foster Falls and LRC in TN. In order to afford food I had to do odd jobs and do stupid things that people told me to do. I would carry three ropes and all the quickdraws to the crag and do peoples laundry. One of the stupid things I did was to go through a fountain that a bunch of kids were playing in. The fountain was in a very public place in Chattanooga and there was a bunch of kids playing in it. I decided that I needed the $2 so I ran through it to get it over quick. About half way through it slipped and fell on a metal grate and cut open my leg and bled everywhere. The parents watching were not amused, but I was able to eat dinner that night.
Michael Nalevanko says
This past weekend, I put up a First Ascent of a highball boulder problem. Even some crusty locals deemed it to be new classic route. On Sunday, I met up with a bunch of friends and some locals from the Colorado Springs area. We went to a historic boulder area called Ute Pass. We spent the morning hanging out underneath the tall pines and giant granite boulders. We everyone was happy to be out on a warm sunny day and sending the classic boulder problems of the area (some were 20-30 years old.)
At the end of the day, we all went exploring around the northern and less traveled section of the boulder field. Here there was only a couple well-established problems. After repeating a couple of the known routes, I found a beautiful feature that started in a 2 ft. space between 10 ft. and 30 ft. boulder. Not thinking twice, but seeing a clear sequence of holds to the top, I sat on the ground and did a heel hook and pulled up to one of the sweetest gaston moves I have ever done outside. Then using balancey crimps to the half-way point above the smaller boulder. Here the exposure kicked in and end up topping out on granite jugs. By the end, I was about 25-30 above the ground on giant granite dome.
Some of the old school locals said they never saw that line up the rock before and decided repeated it after me. At this time I was just think I did some obvious classic as it was very natural on a solid line. I was just amp’ed on being able to climb it. At the point the locals came down with a super stoke look on their face, they kept commenting on how fun it was and that no ever really came out to this area. So with their support they gave me the FA of the route, which is now dubbed, “Meet me in Gastonia. V4”
Ryan says
Even the worst trip to Yosemite can be more memorable than the best trips to many locations. I’ve made road trips to a variety of amazing climbs, but my first trip to Yosemite was truly unforgettable. Two of my closest friends and I made the 11 hour drive to Yosemite to work some routes we’ve had on our radar for years. I had never seen the walls of Yosemite before, and the first sight of them took my breath away. Of course, I’d seen these granite monoliths in pictures and videos, but seeing them first-hand left me awestruck. Like a perfect body in a bikini, Yosemite kept me staring.
Unfortunately, Yosemite can also be a tease. Rainy weather constantly threatened our poorly-timed trip, and climbing simply became impossible. We were forced to find alternative entertainment to pass the time while our rocks were getting soaked. Where one beauty ends, another begins in Yosemite, and the valley turned into a magnificent display of newly formed waterfalls, adding the smorgasbord of eye candy. We ended up spending our time hiking in the rain and lighting blue darts in our tent.
Although we didn’t get the results we planned, the trip gave us great memories and inside jokes that will last forever. Simply spending quality time with my bros made the trip a memorable success.
James Dufour says
Q: Why do you need these shoes?
A: It’s a long story..
Q: So you’re… writing this story?
A: Well, after a year of couchsurfing and generally dirtbagging it across the continents, I have come to rest in the northeast, and occasionally there midatlantic, and there are rocks here, and I need to climb them.
Q: And… you don’t have shoes?
A: Well, I did, while climbing in China and nearing the end of my trip I sold my slightly used Solutions to a Spaniard, because I like the Spanish and he gave me good beta. I had a pair of Jet7s that I dearly loved and I thought would hold up for the last week I was scheduled to be there, but a hard slab of inordinately sharp limestone tore gaping holes on both toes within two routes. I managed to find a pair of Evolv’s that were on sale due to some absurd desire by Evolv to move into the Chinese market. They worked well, the held up. I did not climb the inside of the Moon Hill arch, but I did the sides (you should google it, it’s epic.) The Spaniard.. he did climb the arch.
Q: And.. then you came back?
A: Well, not really, I still had some money left so I convinced my girlfriend that we should move to Spain, I wanted to go to Mallorca but she wanted Barcelona.. she won, but I considered it a victory. We lived in a tiny roof top apartment in Raval and I hitched rides with people whom I didn’t share I language with to far off crags where I learned that the Spanish aren’t compelled to place bolts in any meaningful manner but make up for it by placing them everywhere. I climbed much, and my Evolvs held up well. I had overstayed my visa by some amount and my beautiful fluent girlfriend decided she had had enough the grumpy Catalonians. We caught a plane from Portugal to Montreal and made our way south across the border where I found the people pastier and fatter than I remembered. I was in a funk but a good friend intercepted me in Concord, drove me to Rumney, and I climbed the routes I’d missed for years and years.
Q: So, you ruined your Evolvs at Rumney?
A: Well, yes, they lasted a scant few weeks back in the 603, but I think it might be more due to my return to plastic. A friend spotted me a pair of Venom’s that I wore through a season of Farley bouldering and winter plastic.
Q: And that brings us up to today?
A: No, but we’re getting there, I went on a road trip to the beautiful boulders of Acadia. I walked into the local climbing store and found a pair of Jet7s! The discontinued shoe that I so loved! In my size! Half off! It was amazing! Like falling in love again. With new found zest and confidence I sent harder than I ever had! It was amazing, and wonderful and the Farley bouldering renaissance continued until tragedy struck…
Q: Gasp!
A: Yes! They were stolen! I had just had an amazing session training for the upcoming return to ropes and biners, six straight hours of pure endurance climbing on overhanging plastic, back and forth on a grueling schedule of belaying and climbing without rest or casual banter.. I left them under a chair as I staggered out in pursuit of food and rest. They were spotted the next day by a friend at the gym in their lost and found.. but now.. they are gone. The tips were still so smooth and beautiful.. and not only are they gone but the Jet7 is no more! Where do I turn?
Q: Arrowheads. For the next season of sendage.
A: That’s right. Arrowheads.
Johanna Voss says
V3, sit start, three moves.
Only after sending did I realize
the boulder I had just climbed
in the parking lot of the Christmas Tree Shop
was where the people walked their dogs.
This Boulder Smells Like Pee. V3.
FA Johanna Voss, 2009
Barb says
My most memorable moment climbing actually occurred indoors. In 2007, my son founded a community service climbing program for kids with cognitive or physical disabilities. After my son left for college, the program continued with various volunteer leaders until this past winter, when I stepped in to manage it. We expanded the program to improve access to more children and teens and made an effort to especially include those with more complex challenges.
One session, we had a teenage girl attend who is autistic, blind and developmentally delayed. Her father was enthusiastic about “B” trying climbing, but mom was clearly worried and fearful. Some of our volunteers were skeptical as to whether we could be successful with “B” due to her multiple issues. We got her harnessed and on belay and had climbers climb on either side of her. “B” seemed to understand what to do, although each of her limbs had to be guided to the holds.
“B” started climbing and never gave up. She kept holding on and pulling up. She didn’t complain or fuss. She seemed to understand that she was doing something remarkable, responding to the constant cheering of our volunteers and others in the gym. Her mom continued to worry. “Is the rope strong enough to hold her if she falls?” she asked.
After half an hour, “B” reached the top of a 25 foot climbing wall. Our gym exploded with applause and congratulations. Her parents were so overjoyed that mom was literally in tears. Our volunteers were thrilled to be part of “B” s success. What a feeling there was in the gym that day! This girl had achieved something no one would have ever guessed was possible for some one in her situation. And this is just climbing. If “B” can do this, what else can she do? Suddenly the possibilities for “B” expanded. “B” has since been back to climb with our program twice more and is making it to the top of the wall faster each time. Never underestimate anybody!
Here’s the Facebook page for our program:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rock-On-Climbing/160310440720150
Fernando says
Ok so my most memorable moment has to be my first time leading a route this was just a couple months ago over in Lucerne Valley, at a crag New Jack City aka Sawtooth Canyon. Went there twice and on the second trip I lead a 5.8. Really nerve racking for my first time leading. My foot slipped once during the climb but I think I was able to hold on because of all the adrenaline. Im at about 5.9+ to 5.10 so 5.8 is pretty close to my limit…
Oh I almost mention that I on sited it! Yeah!! My uncle who was belaying me has a “just do it” attitude while I am more analytical. So with my uncle pressuring me I just analyzed the first five moves and then solved the climb on the way up. I was pretty proud of my self when I made it at the top because usually I only make it 3/4 or half way up before I have to take.
Not much of a story but hopefully this will be one of many, looking forward to many more memorable trips!