tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260760072011-12-24T09:33:54.572-08:00Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-89171834959188432422011-11-27T12:00:00.000-08:002011-12-06T15:39:05.406-08:00

On October 27, 2010, Joe Puryear died while climbing in Tibet. Just before he departed for his last adventure, Joe set up the joepuryearimages.com website to feature his photography and make it available for others to purchase and enjoy. These images are stunning and capture Joe's vision of the world. His enthusiasm and love for exploration are present in each photo and hopefully will

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-21694973909566306302010-09-15T18:16:00.000-07:002010-09-15T18:22:09.469-07:00

I've created a new photography website for my images. Check it out at www.joepuryearimages.com. This will officially replace CascadeImages for displaying my images. While this is going to be a work in progress, right now you can check out many of my recent images from climbing trips to Nepal and some of my favorite Alaskan pics. All of the images are for sale and easily purchased in a variety of

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-80809250072455736732010-09-07T10:02:00.000-07:002010-09-07T10:03:44.042-07:00

David and I are once again headed back to the Himalaya. For our latest adventure we will be exploring the remote Labuche Kang Massif in Tibet. The range centers around the highest peak Labuche Kang (7,367 meters, 24,170 feet), which has had once ascent via the West Ridge in 1987 by a Tibetan-Japanese expedition. Nearby are a few more 7,000-meter peaks and many peaks in the high 6,000-meters. Many

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-12825097258302038512010-06-17T06:47:00.000-07:002010-06-17T06:47:29.303-07:00

Check out my new blog: http://puryearpicks.blogspot.com/! I'm going to start blogging reviews about my favorite climbing gear, clothing, and other accessories that I use in the mountains. You won't necessarily find reviews of the latest and greatest equipment. I'm more interested in the gear that has stood the test of time for me and has worked to successfully get me up big climbs. Check it out

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-20720298866801498522010-05-04T13:33:00.000-07:002010-05-04T13:36:05.225-07:00

A humongous thanks goes out to W. L. Gore & Associates for awarding David Gottlieb and I a 2010 GORE-TEX® Brand Shipton-Tilman Grant for our upcoming climb in Tibet this fall. This is a true honor for us to receive this award and to be part of an amazing tradition that Gore has upheld for 20 years! Thank you W. L. Gore & Associates!!! From the Gore website:The annual program was established by

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-72788503415298436182010-03-29T11:30:00.000-07:002010-03-30T08:55:00.143-07:00

In one of our biggest overall mountain climbing efforts ever, David and I completed the first peak ascent of Takargo (6,771 meters) in the Rolwaling Himal of Nepal via the east face. The climb was completed in a 12-day effort, without a rest day, round trip from the small Sherpa village of Beding (3,700 meters), where we had spent most of the previous month ice climbing.  Due to the

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-23216923775150373332010-03-29T11:20:00.001-07:002010-03-30T08:55:37.998-07:00

In February, David Gottlieb and I discovered, explored, and climbed in what may be perhaps one of Asia's greatest ice climbing venues, the Rolwaling Valley of Nepal.  Over the course of the month we climbed over a dozen frozen waterfalls from 2 pitch WI 5 and 6's to a 700-meter WI 4 and everything in between.  The high concentration of ice located just a short distance from the main Sherpa

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-13380412080566003332010-03-15T11:46:00.000-07:002010-04-01T14:57:25.911-07:00

I am super psyched to announce that I have received the 2010 Mugs Stump Award for an upcoming climb in Tibet this fall.  One of America's most prestigious climbing awards, this grant will go a long ways in helping David Gottlieb and I follow our alpine climbing and mountain exploration dreams. I'd like to thank the following companies for granting the award as well as their continued support in

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-4195551331609889182009-11-05T16:02:00.000-08:002009-11-05T16:20:38.181-08:00

Some exciting news: I've been invited by the Czech Republic to give a presentation at the Smíchovský Alpine Festival in Prague later this month. Other speakers include mountaineering greats Reinhold Messner and Boris Lorenčič as well as a host of other international alpinists. The festival runs the weekend of the November 20-22, and I'll be showing at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday night. Check out the

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-75976883475953791732009-11-04T16:12:00.000-08:002009-11-05T16:19:30.724-08:00

This fall I took another road trip to the desert southwest to climb more towers. This time it was 24 towers in 20 days. Another great tower session!Check out the trip report on the SuperTopo website: http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1002231/TR_Desert_Towers_Rule

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-91276738760109183412009-05-04T02:56:00.000-07:002010-04-13T07:37:05.469-07:00

It is with great happiness that David and I report the first ascent of Jobo Rinjang (6,778 meters) via the direct south face, in the Khumbu Region of Nepal, climbing alpine style over 6 days (from April 20 to April 25), summiting on April 22nd.  Please visit our Climb Nepal blog for a full account: www.climbnepal.blogspot.com. The climb was considered as one of 52 grand first ascents, by the Les

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-1622053463549428612009-04-29T23:42:00.000-07:002009-04-29T23:46:05.704-07:00

It is with great excitement and appreciation that I would like to announce our receiving of the 2009 Spitzer Cutting Edge Award from the American Alpine Club for our climb on Jobo Rinjang. The award has been created to back American expeditions to the toughest alpine objectives in the world. From both David Gottlieb and I - our deepest gratitude goes out to the AAC. Thank you for helping us reach

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-84587417550080625872009-01-17T11:13:00.000-08:002009-02-23T08:57:26.065-08:00

On February 13th, Lakpa Rita Sherpa and I successfully summitted Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), Africa's highest point. Lakpa completed his Seven Summits (climbing the highest peak on each continent) with this climb, becoming the first Sherpa to complete this great accomplishment. Lakpa is the main climbing ambassador for Sherpa Adventure Gear, and I was able to climb with Lakpa to photograph and

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-86998874577765230102008-11-05T14:23:00.000-08:002009-05-13T21:55:06.990-07:00

David Gottlieb and I have had great success on making the first ascent of Kang Nachugo (6,735 meters) in the Rolwaling Himal of Nepal. We made the ascent over 5 days, summitting on October 17. Please visit Climb Nepal blog for a full account: http://climbnepal.blogspot.com/The climb was considered as one of 57 "Ascensions de l'Année" or "Ascents of the Year", by the Les Piolets d'Or 2009.An

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-13026678960871355982008-05-14T15:38:00.000-07:002008-12-11T21:47:22.977-08:00

This spring I was able to make a really fun desert Southwest tour. I visited Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. During the trip I climbed 32 desert towers and a half dozen other routes. Check out the full trip report on the SuperTopo website:http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=584543Enjoy!

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-26519691914215378832007-11-01T11:40:00.000-07:002009-05-04T03:44:56.895-07:00

Peter Inglis and I have made the first ascent of Peak  5,965 meters near Mt. Genyen, in the Shaluli Shan Mountians of the Tibetan region of Kham.  We made the ascent alpine style over 4 days, summiting on October 22, 2007.  For a complete account of our climb, check out my Climb China blog at www.climbchina.blogspot.com.Peak 5965 from the south:Peter in the initial couloir:Joe on the summit:

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-73980009749528097842007-05-01T11:36:00.000-07:002009-05-04T03:53:52.772-07:00

Backed by the American Alpine Club’s McNeill/Nott Award, Chad Kellogg and I were to make our second attempt on Mt.Siguniang (6,250 meters) this spring, the centerpiece of climbing in the Qionglai Shan. A family emergency kept us from attaining our ultimate goal. Chad’s wife Lara died tragically in the during our expedition. Chad immediately departed, hence our trip came to an untimely end.  

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-72172227037626362732007-04-01T19:56:00.000-07:002008-12-11T21:47:23.822-08:00

I am very excited to learn that I received the first ever McNeill-Nott Award from the American Alpine Club. The intended route was a new line on 20,505-foot Mt. Siguniang in Sichuan, China. Check out the trip report here. Also, for more information on the McNeill-Nott Award, check out the American Alpine Club website.

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-1144986493133845522006-04-13T20:46:00.000-07:002008-12-11T21:47:23.995-08:00

Alaska Climbing by Joseph Puryear All the hard work has finally paid off. Here it is - a select full-color guide to 30 of the best climbing routes in the Central Alaska Range. Tons of information, history, and beta on climbing in North America's premier alpine-climbing destination. Includes 150 color photos from around the range, many with route overlays.

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-82362341497250471492005-11-01T09:02:00.000-08:002008-12-11T21:47:24.092-08:00

In 2005 I was on a very successful expedition to the Qionglai Mountains of Western Sichuan, China where we made the first ascent of two unclimbed rock spires in the region.More info can be found on MountEverest.net.The Angry Wife (5,020 meters), Raindog Arête (5.10c, 550 meters)First Ascent: October 11, 2005 - Chad Kellogg, Joe Puryear, Stoney RichardsMt. Daugou (5,465 meters), Salvage Op. (5.10d

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-91816611500752152872005-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:002009-05-06T19:51:59.433-07:00

Chad Kellogg and I spent a few weeks in the remote Kichatna Mountains of the Alaska Range. We managed to climb Kichatna Spire by a new route. This was the eighth ascent of the mountain by its seventh route to the summit. The Black Crystal Arête (VI, 5.10 A2) is the first route to tackle the peak’s southern aspect by climbing the slender ridge that splits its south and east faces.For a full

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-89868710434587778962004-06-30T23:38:00.000-07:002009-05-06T19:46:38.812-07:00

After climbing The Cobra Pillar, The Southwest Face of Hut Tower, and the West Pillar of the Eye Tooth, Chris and I were ready to get on a new route. We found that the rock in the basin of the Eye Tooth, Wisdom Tooth, and the Stump was exceptionally good. After two tries we put together the route Goldfinger (IV, 5.11, 12 pitches), which takes a direct line up the left of two major dihedrals

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26076007.post-7380796545331674112004-06-30T12:54:00.000-07:002009-05-06T18:45:31.321-07:00

In mid-June, Chris McNamara and I traveled to the Ruth Gorge in the Alaska Range, where we climbed the 2,700-foot Cobra Pillar on Mt. Barrill (VI, 5.11, C1, 23 pitches). After much work and many tries, the first ascent of this route was made by Jim Donini and Jack Tackle over 6-days in June of 1991. Two subsequent ascent were made in 3 and 2 days. Our goal was to make the 4th ascent and do it

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.com