High Point Expeditions

A few months ago I had the opportunity to work with the American Alpine club's project. I shared a little bit about me and the relationship I've had and I want to have with my climbing.

The sport has helped me to find how I want to live and leave a legacy in this world. If you have a few moments take a quick read below and check out the link in my bio for the full article.

........................................................

Climb United is about bringing us all together, through the thing that unites us: our passion for climbing. In many ways, fully sharing our passion for climbing requires us to break down the barriers that make it harder for some individuals and communities to access climbing. In other instances, it means highlighting that we are all climbers. But even as we are all climbers, we each experience climbing, and any given climbing day, in our own way.

Below, dive into a day of climbing, with our friends , , , , and .querubin .

📷 :

clothing
# mentorship

It has been one hell of a year so far. I'm so thankful for the friends, family, and mountains that have been along the way in this crazy thing called life.
I want to tell you do to always chase your dreams no matter what the cost because regret is not worth my friends.
Thank you for stopping by for thoughts with Mario Stanley.
clothing

Route: Real Talk IED
Route style: Highball / Bigwall
Route grade: V∞ / 5.∞

2020 was the year of the pandemic shut down the world. The hatred, racism, and prejudice roots of American behavior finally came more into the open light. I've said this before and I'll say it again and again "it's sad that it took a pandemic and the whole world shutting down for America to look in the mirror. That only happen because you had nothing physically, mentally, and spiritually else to do after the death of George Floyd".

I received a message from Ray a listener asking for some on how to keep building bridges and keep the empathy tank full. I have been sitting on this thought for a while and the only thing I can say is to keep clipping the bolts of commutation. I wish I had more insight to give you. but if you are someone who actually cares about seeing the good in this world, you've most likely have looked into all the resources that are available to you.

The truth is that we are on the biggest route of all time. Named "Real Talk IED" (Inclusion, Equality, and Diversity) funny thing is that we have been swapping leads not just with each other but for generations. With all great endeavors, it's more about conscientiously and intentionally making choices/movements that get you closer to the chains.

That just how these things work and if you are willing to train your body and mind to work on your plastic and rock projects. Then you have all the tools necessary needed to continually tackle "Real Talk IED" at your disposal you just need to add your soul or your spirit whatever you choose to call it into the mix. You can start or continue to lead your community and those who stand in solidarity with you.

I can now say 2021 is the year of HTFO ( hold the f* on!) But this is only going to get more interesting as we pull the first few headwalls on this route with our generation on the sharp end. I have faith in us to stay on mission. Ray can't tell you how excited I am to belay you and watch you pull through the cruxes of these next few pitches and I am ready to swap leads when you are. Let's Suffer and Send this thing man.



clothing

Ok so here we are 2021 and it’s time for that inspirational post that we all are just scrolling through as we avoid reflecting on our own year. I don't know what to say to y’all but a happy new year and new you (though you should have done that during lockdown). This is your year to go get that new job or promotion. Whatever it is you need, go for it.

With that out of the way, I want to have some echo chamber talk AKA “straight off the dome talk”. My buddy shot this photos a few months back. I've been sitting on it for a while and I have and have not known why. What I do know is this photo sums up the emotional and spiritual battle that has been waging in my body through 2019 and 2020.

In 2019 it rained so much in the south and , my guiding company, took some major hits. Honestly, I didn’t know if we were going to survive. I know no one can control the skies but damn! Then 2020 happened. Remember the rule of Zombieland ( #2 Double Tap - In those moments when you're not sure the undead are really dead dead, don't get all stingy with your bullets.) Well, we got professionally double tapped by 2020. But 2020 was not done with me yet. With the height of the George Floyd outrage around the world I finally and unwantedly felt seen. I was always able to be the fun black guy that you have joyful interactions with and forget about later. I got to live in a world with preset dangers that had clear rules of engagement that had been passed down from generation to generation. All that s**t is out the window now because so many of you have become woke to the KNOWN reality of many black, brown, and LBGTQ+ people in this world.

Now that my truths and your shame have been brought to the light, both of us are having some major growing pains. I'm reminded of something my mentor Mark said, “Mario, there is nothing new under the sun”. When I coach my youth team and we are picking a route to project I ask them “Kids, is it more true or less true that you can send every 5.11 in the gym”. Mark is right, it’s more true there is nothing new. These problems and struggles have been around since the dawn of time and they're not going away fast enough. Yet, for me, the statement is becoming less true because we live in a time where we are so connected and you can choose to see or believe the reality of myself and so many others. This ability to see and learn is new and we must connect with open minds in order to move forward.

I want to remind you that just like this photo we are climbing out of the darkness and into the light. Now that we are seen, and can see, we can’t lower off this route. We have finally been able to see each other in our entirety with loving arms and accept each other for who we are. In my eyes, all our flaws and imperfections make us perfect. We are never going to clip these chains in our lifetime but I’ll be damned if I let you lower back into the darkness and be unseen. We are partners, homies on this route, and every finger lock, hand jam, and crimp I pull on I’m doing it for you and me. Let’s try and send this thing called life together.

Happy new year!

#2021 .clothing

Hello, World!
HighPoint Expeditions season-opening bouldering trip was full of sending and suffering today! Any seasoned climber knows that not every climbing trip is a send train and you have to fall to learn and in those moments a send can be possible.

What do you want to be famous for?! Who even asks that question but here is an answer for you.

What do you want to be famous for? I was ask by on IG what do you want to be famous for? Here is my answer!

Listened to 121: Mario Stanley- Mario tells us how he got into climbing, the programs offered at HighPoint and he drops a couple great books on us. from The Outdoor Biz Podcast https://buff.ly/2LxMhgs

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bla5cbcDZLS/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1c6ps1aki3ovi

Mario Stanley from HighPoint Expeditions dropping brain bombs today! #climbing #rockclimbing #bouldering http://www.theoutdoorbizpodcast.com

Father's Day at the Crag! check out our recent blog post about the most inspiring group of dads we've had the privilege of working with and a while.
https://buff.ly/2tybArH

Thanks for showing DFW some love GQ! Great experience working with this team!

The Dallas Getaway Sometimes the best memories happen you take a step back and live life in the moment. Follow the journey as Tony Trahan and his wife venture out of Dallas to create the new memories with amazing views, food and cocktails from The Glenlivet.