Abbey Smith

Abbey Smith

Pick up any publication pertaining to the sport of rock climbing, and chances are, you will see a smattering of descriptive chronicles highlighting the travels and adventures of the prolific scribe Abbey Smith. A climber and writer for over 10 years, Abbey travels extensively, financing her jet set lifestyle though her writing, allowing her more opportunities to pursue her love of adventure. Abbey has reported on a myriad of topics. From the exclusive hobby of vintage motor racing, to sassy, healthy-savvy posts on BeThree.com, to being on the editorial staff of the independent green publication elephant journal, a quarterly magazine devoted to living the "mindful life" through conscious consumerism, sustainability, eco-fashion and non new-aged spirituality.

Abbey's energy for writing is ravenous. When she speaks of it, her article ideas roll out of mouth in constant barrage without commas, periods, or other punctuation, but when placed in front of a computer, the word stream subsides into descriptive prose reminiscent of Joanne Harris. Dead Point Magazine is privileged to have her as a contributing blogger.

 

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Abbey Smith: July 2010 Blog

 

I have forgotten the feeling of boredom. Preparing to disconnect from the modern world for two months is more complex and laborious than I expected. On August 15 I leave for the Indian Himalayas and only climbed outside twice this month. As I tap away at my laptop and dart between meetings, Colorado’s high alpine bouldering season passes by, and all I can think about are the undiscovered granite blocks that lie in the hidden valley ahead. But in order to get there I have to tackle a daunting list of vaccinations, passport visa applications, agency negotiations, and personal obligations. No minute of the day goes wasted.
 
 
This will be my first trip to India and to mountains of this magnitude. Even though I’ve spent over a year organizing the expedition logistics, I have no idea what to expect. To get fit at altitude I had planned to climb and camp in the high country, but now I’ve decided to preserve my tendons and psych for the big mountains. Going in I want to be healthy and unweighted mentally. To find balance and treat my injuries I’ve turned to acupuncture with Cameron Delaney. I’ve also returned to yoga and, I must say, it has saved my life once again. Yoga has always been my hardest practice. I don’t find the punishing positions particularly fun, I’m not self-motivated to practice at home, and I can always find an excuse not to attend class. However, each time I practice the benefits are apparent before I even leave the room. My mind slows down, body balanced, and muscles relaxed. Like climbing, it takes consistency to get stronger and see results. Thanks to my friend and ace instructor Olivia Hsu yoga has been fun, and I’m seeing great gains in flexibility, core tension, posture and muscle awareness.
 
 
Simplifying life is my greatest challenge. Each day I’m working toward eliminating all but the essential, eschewing chaos for simplicity, detaching from technology, and spending my free time with those I love most. In less than three weeks I will be off-the-grid. I can’t wait to do nothing.
 
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