Desperate to get out of New York, out of the States, off the continent, I signed up for a climbing expedition called Hot Rock. None of my friends or climbing partners had ever heard of it. Well, okay, one friend knew a guy who talked to another guy … you get the drift. The only shred of legitimacy I could hold on to came from the rapid-fire email responses in the Queen’s English from the owner. Some bloke named Duncan that wasn’t actually going on the expedition.
But I had faith.
A summery day in Quito, Ecuador – launch day – I climbed a creaking, narrow staircase to a rooftop bar and found myself immediately embraced by fellow Hot Rockers. These climbers, hailing from all over the world, turned out to be the most adventurous, crazy, and inspiring climbers I have ever met. We trundled through South America on a 14-ton truck, climbing at every crag and making merry at every campsite and detour along the way.
Here are the rules to know when when embarking on a Hot Rocks adventure:
Rule 1: Park as close to the crag as possible.
Rule 2: When bouldering, the more the merrier.
Rule 3: At 13,000 feet, pack lightly and climb efficiently.Hatun Machay, Peru
Rule 4: Make friends with the locals (part 1).
Rule 5: Learn trad climbing on untouched splitter cracks.
Rule 6: Try hard – harder! – to get Ernie out of muddy pits.
Rule 7: Don’t stress about the details.
Rule 8: Glide effortlessly on your journey.
Rule 9: Do not be fazed by inclement weather.
Rule 10: Make your own fun, costumes optional.
Rule 11: Greet the morning sun with open arms.
Want more climbing content? Get our awesome climbing newsletter.
Join our mailing list to receive the latest climbing news, hand-picked gear deals, training, articles, and more updates from our team. Thanks for supporting our grassroots community!