Name:

How long have you been climbing?
Since I was in middle school, but not seriously, just a couple trips and rock gyms.
Where’s the best place you’ve traveled for climbing?
Strictly for climbing? Well I’d say probably Hueco Tanks.
What do you when you aren’t climbing?
I play soccer and run track for OBU
What do you run?
Well I run anything between the 400 and the 1600, but I’d say the 800 is my race. I’m not a big track fan, it bores me to run in circles, but it pays the bills.
Running is paying the bills? Are you all scholarshipped?
Well, actually soccer pays for pretty much all my school, but track helps out as well
What’s the best thing about climbing in Oklahoma?
I’d say the best thing is looking forward to climbing somewhere other than in Oklahoma…
Ouch!
No, Oklahoma isn’t that bad. There is more than you’d think actually.
What’s the best part about being a climber girl?
It’s a great way to chill with some really cool people and chill in some really beautiful areas just havin’ fun.
That’s the best part about being a girl?
Ha, I guess I couldn’t think of anything gender specific, sorry.
What’s the dumbest thin you’ve ever done under the influence?
I’m under 21 so you know I’m not supposed to be under the influence yet…
What did you think of Where the Wild Things Are?
Super trippy kids movie!!! Really one of the strangest i’ve ever seen.
What are you going to be for Halloween?
Well, I’m trying to convince my boyfriend to shave of his beard and keep the mustache and be goose and I will be Maverick from Topguna. We’ll see if it works out.
If you were going to be the hot heroine in a horror movie which one would you be ?
A horror movie,  that’s a tough one. Maybe Jessica Biel in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre because she’s the only one who lives, so she must be bad A.
What’s the best thing about Halloween and being in college?
Together or separately?
Together, you know like you can’t exactly trick-or-treat anymore…
I did last year and it was great, just a little awkward when you find a grump who thinks you’re too old, but they still give you candy. I don’t think I will trick-or-treat this year though. It’s hard to find people who are willing to do it with you.
If you had to choose one movie to watch on repeat for rest of your life which one would you choose?
I’m gonna go with A Knights Tale. It’s got everything you need: eye candy, comedy, love, drama and action.
If you could have one animal as a pet that would not normally be a pet what would you domesticate?
A hippo, so cute and chubby.
Like the full size?!
Well, if I could have a miniature that would probably be better.
Leave us with some great bit of knowledge.
This is cheesy but love is all we need, just like the song!

Name:

Well How’s it feel to be the first CCGOTW from South Carolina?
Hmm. This is a very difficult question.  Are they all going to be this hard?
No
It feels original… I suppose. It almost makes me feel cute.
What does a good night out look like for Lydia?
Well, here in Columbia a perfect evening would be a really good dinner at a friend’s house with a few close friends, and then a trip to a local brewery called the Hunter-Gatherer for a bit, then the Art Bar after that with accompanying Maker’s Mark.
You’re a whiskey girl then huh?
Yeah, though I try to get as wasted as possible on that before I drive somewhere, since it’s quite expensive at the bars. Bad joke. I have a flask.
Well what do you do when you’re not drinking aside from rock climbing?
I love to read, write, and drive. I love driving places, particularly to our close by Congaree Swamp to wander around.
You wander around a swamp for fun?
There’s a boardwalk through parts of it, and there’s all kinds of wildlife—owls, wild boars, deer, frogs, lizards, squirrels, spiders, snakes. You can call the owls and they will fly in and sit in the treetops above you
Can you make an owl call?
Yeah, my friend’s eighty-year old dad taught me.  This owl, the Barred Owl (I’m pretty sure) makes a call that sounds a lot like a monkey, so it’s a pretty fun call to make.
What’s the best part about living in South Carolina?
Well, the nature here is amazing, but my friends and family are here too.  The main reason I keep coming back besides those is that it’s really cheap to live. Apparently it’s one of the top 10 cheapest cities in the nation.
What’s the worst part?
It’s hot and humid as the armpit of a gorilla living in the tropics. Outside of this city, there are a lot of very ignorant, close-minded, insanely religious people. There are some inside too, but they are somewhat less dominant.
How are the dudes in Columbia?
Well, no offense to the dudes here, but . . .the pickings are slim. I don’t really have a whole lot in common with many guys here at least not in the dating respect.
What are they lacking?
Well, they’re great, really, and most of my friends are guys, but they tend to be a lot more stationary than me, not really all that healthy, and/or gay. I leave town so much I would rather go to a boyfriend than leave one behind.
Where’s the best place to climb on earth?
New River Gorge though I am biased. I lived there for three years, but have been climbing there since I started climbing nine years ago.
What kind of climbing style do you prefer?
I prefer crimpy face and overhanging crimps and jug hauls all of which can be found in abundance at the New.
So sport climbing?
Ha, more than trad. I like trad too, but I climb sport more often. Bouldering is great, too, but I have to do it with a group of highly entertaining people which is how I prefer to do most climbing or anything for that matter
That certainly helps.
Minus sex. Not into that group thing at this point.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?
Well, pizza is great, though it’s not my favorite thing, but if I had to eat it for the rest of my life, I would pick a pizza with stuff on it like salmon, garlic, chicken, onions, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, goat cheese and tomato sauce of course.

Who’s the best climber that ever lived?
Lynn Hill. Easy enough. Not only was she a badass a long time ago, she still is! She is strong as shit and tiny, tiny, tiny.
So are you one of those dainty southern bells?
I have never been called dainty in my life, and doubt I ever will be.
If you had to have a threesome with any celebrity couple who would it be?
Well, the obvious answer would likely apply to me Brad and Angelina, but they’re probably all tired from making babies.
Where’s the most exotic place you’ve been?
Patagonia, and I’m going back next week.
What are you doing there?
I’m going to follow the Patagonia Expedition Race around and write about it. I’m going with my photographer friend Michael Clark. It’s about the best thing I’ve ever seen. Patagonia that is.
So what else do you do?
I just started copy-editing for Dead Point Mag, and that makes me happy. The next issue that comes out will be the first that I really worked on!
What’s your ape-index?
I have a negative 3-inch ape-index. Rotten luck. More like a t-rex index.
Well is there anything final you want to say to all these people reading about you?
I can’t stop thinking about something this friend of mine wrote on a myspace pic:  “Keep on keeping on and keep your pimp hand strong,” but it seems a bit misogynistic.

Lead photo by Mike Clark. Please visit his website! He’s a great photographer.

Last two photos courtesy: http://www.nilepoc.com

How did you get started climbing?
Around the winter of my freshman year here my friends Max and Greg took me to the Spot. It was an instant attraction I suppose. I didn’t really get outside until this summer then I found out what it’s really all about.
And what do you think?
It’s one of my favorite things to do! Definitely top three. I love days when I get to spend the whole time outside climbing, and the people I’ve met are pretty cool too.
What are the other two?
Laughing and making out.
Who’s your favorite Chi-town rapper?
Well he’s not from The Chi but Warren G kicks ass. I like to kick it old school. Regulate is one of the best rap songs.
I noticed on your Facebook. You’re in a relationship…with a cat.
I really do not wish to discuss this… But if you know this cat you will know he is a very special cat. He has a way with words, I think its his French upbringing
Which episode of Southpark is your favorite?
Oh man you’re hitting me with the big guns now. I’d have to say Lord of the Rings, that shit is hilarious.
I can’t get of over the World of Warcraft, Guitar Queero and Imagination Land
Anything with Cartman is worth watching
If magically a guy appeared in front of you with a guitar what song could he play that would instantly render you mushy and exploitable.
Well the backstreet boys have certainly tugged at my heartstrings in years past
Noted.
No, but I am sucker for Van Morrison or his music at least.
You mean like Moondance or Dancin in the Moonlight?
Those are good, but not his best.
So it takes something extra special?
It has to be extra special. I don’t render mushy easily.
So what would it take?
A serenade in the right context would get me a little mush, but just straight up would make me squeamish.
Right… but what’s the REAL ticket.
Well I guess I have to give away my secret…chocolate.
Really.
And a good laugh. You gotta break me down piece by piece. THEN you could do the love song.
If you were going to have an article written for a climbing magazine about you tomorrow what would you want it to be about?
Probably hard sport. I just started sport climbing and it’s rad. I normally don’t climb more than 15 feet. So I would love to one day be able to climb more than 15 feet of hard sport without forgetting to clip or forgetting my harness. That happens occasionally
What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about living in Boulder?
My favorite is being able to cross the street without looking whenever I damn well please and… It’s a utopia! There is so much at your fingertips. My least favorite are the Haters. For a town that reps peace and love there are quite a few people who look down upon you for being too cliche. I really like drinking Kombucha, doing yoga, and going to the Mountain Sun. No need to poke fun. I also don’t like it when people cross the street right in front of me when I’m driving. I mean come on!