About Rowdy Dowdy, JJ

I’m a climber. I wasn’t always. I began as a sledder, and a rover of woods. Then there were ski lessons and my first mountian bike. My father nourished my interests with hiking and camping trips in the Green and Appalachian Mtns. But, my real personal interest in outdoor sports came with a week long backpacking trip to the Adirondacks when I was sixteen. My best friend and I took our parent’s gear, planed the thing and made it work. Charged with our new found expertise as outdoorsmen we bought some climbing equipment. With a little help from some local college students at Middlebury College, and “Mountaineering Freedom of the Hills” we figured that out too. Since then I’ve come a long way. College at UVM brought new climbing partners who knew more that I did. I joined the Outing Club, became a trip leader, and began to lead myself. I got a degree in Environmental Studies, and I picked up ice climbing. Post college I’ve pursued climbing, and jobs that allow me to climb. Living in Burlington and Flagstaff, AZ it’s been easy. I’ve been a rock and ice guide, a ropes course instructor, and a residential instructor at a private school. My main climbing focus is traditional rock climbing, with a love of long varied rock routes. But really I am a generalist; I boulder, sport climb, and ice climb even. I’ve climbed a lot locally, but have also climbed in Peru, California, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, North Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama. I still ski though the skis are shaped these days and my heel is no longer locked in place. I still enjoy a hike I have just traded the boots and heavy pack for a trail runners and a light pack. Most of my camping is done out of my car, or at bluegrass festivals, these days. But, I still do get out overnight in the backcountry every now and again. So. Ahh. Yah know... There ya go. For the past two years since i've updated my bio i've focuse more on mixed climbing, sportclimbing, and pusing my limits on gear. I have had several banner seasons of mixed, and rock climbing here in the north and south east. With three amazing rock climbing trips to the Red River gorge of Ky and Obed of TN with great friends from Vermont. I have also had many crazy adventures learning modern mixed climbing with my great friends here at the store. Josh Worley, Ivan Tighe, Ande Kahora, and Mike Donahue have been developing mixed routes here in VT, and traveling to crags in NH, NY, and Quebec to pursue our love of monkeying on tools. Checkout our blog updates through out the season to see how we get it done and have a great time in the EAST!