EXPERT PROFILE
Rocking on with Danny
- Skilled identify: Danny Rodriguez
- Affiliation: The American Alpine Membership Members
- Occupation: Outside Photographer
- Location: Virginia
- Date joined ExpertVoice: 2016
Meet Danny Rodriguez, a climber residing in Virginia and no stranger to journey. As a member of the American Alpine Membership, Danny joined ExpertVoice as an authorized skilled in 2016. Throughout his time on the slopes and within the crags, he gathered loads of expertise and experience. He is thought of to be within the high 5% amongst our climbing consultants. Learn on to be taught extra about Danny, his adventures and equipment suggestions.
ExpertVoice:
What do you do for a residing?
Danny Rodriguez:
I do numerous issues for work. I work as a photographer and likewise seek the advice of on quite a lot of environmental tasks. I’m at present engaged on a number of carbon seize and decarbonization tasks, and take pictures on my off days. I shoot numerous journey sports activities (like climbing, snowboarding, whitewater kayaking, and so forth.) and a few industrial pictures. I additionally work at Sportrock Climbing Facilities in what free time I’ve left over!
ExpertVoice:
How did you get into climbing?
Danny Rodriguez:
I’ve all the time cherished going into large, wild landscapes and I began mountaineering as a automobile to attach with these locations. That pursuit led me to begin backcountry snowboarding, ski mountaineering, and path operating. After climbing snow and ice for a couple of years, I spotted I ought to in all probability work out what to do when my route turned to stone so I dove headlong into mountain climbing. After graduating from faculty, I began working at Sportrock which was an unbelievable alternative to attach with the climbing group and hone my expertise.
ExpertVoice:
What are your go-to indoor and out of doors climbing spots?
Danny Rodriguez:
For indoor, you’ll be able to’t beat Sportrock’s Alexandria location. The route setting at Sportrock is world-class and the 60ft partitions are arduous to beat. Moreover, the bouldering areas have all kinds of terrain from technical slab routes to lengthy, overhung issues that make you would like you hadn’t skipped all these core exercises.
The New River Gorge will all the time maintain a particular place in my coronary heart. There may be such a variety of route varieties on prime quality rock. The entry from the American Alpine Membership campground is unparalleled and the group there’s extremely welcoming. Armed with the New River guidebooks, cease by the varsity bus-cum-coffee store within the campground and ask Lukas to your every day beta over a steaming cup of recent espresso (be certain to deliver your personal container!).
What Danny recommends:
Bombproof
With a pricetag like Arc’teryx’s, you’d anticipate high notch high quality. This jacket is among the many finest that I’ve worn. Options are high notch; massive pit zips, elastic hood and waist changes, pocket placement, and taped zippers… Learn extra.
ExpertVoice:
What’s your most memorable climb or journey?
Danny Rodriguez:
My most memorable climb was in all probability this previous August once I climbed and photographed a marriage at Seneca Rocks. The bride and groom have been each sturdy climbers and wished to climb a Seneca basic, Pleasants Overhangs (5.7) in full marriage ceremony apparel (the bride climbed in a full marriage ceremony costume). With a view to get the pictures we wished, I climbed the route forward of them. That they had their ceremony on the summit then simul-rappeled into the sundown. Very romantic. The Washington Put up really simply wrote an article about it.
My most memorable journey was going to Chile in 2018 to assist shoot a ski film for the DPS Shadow Marketing campaign. The Shadow Marketing campaign is considered one of my favourite movie collection (up there with Arc’teryx’s A Skiers Journey) so being on location to movie one other installment was actually a dream come true.
ExpertVoice:
What’s in your climbing pack?
Danny Rodriguez:
Except for the standard assortment of climbing gear, the three issues I all the time maintain in my pack are my digicam, ski straps, and a headlamp. I’ll swap out gear to tailor my pack for no matter journey I’m on however I by no means go away the trailhead with out these three issues.
As a photographer, my digicam is all the time by my aspect. Relying on the journey, I’d go away my DSLR behind and choose to only use my cellular phone. I at present use a Nikon Mirrorless system as a result of the lenses are so dang good and I like the smaller dimension of the mirrorless.
Ski straps are probably the most helpful items of drugs any adventurer should purchase. The quantity of the way to make use of these straps are close to infinite (one is at present conserving a bag of cookies closed and recent on my kitchen counter). I’ve used them to repair torn zippers, damaged crampons, and for medical functions. I’ll change ski straps with a roll of athletic tape, particularly if I’ll solely be on rock the entire day or climbing cracks. Metolius Climbing Tape and Voile Straps are my go tos.
A headlamp is equally as helpful. The quantity of occasions I’ve unintentionally epic-ed is embarrassingly excessive however my headlamp has all the time guided my again. I like the Biolite headlamps due to how mild they’re for his or her output and that I can recharge them on the go.
ExpertVoice:
What footwear do you put on?
Danny Rodriguez:
I put on Evolv Nighthawks for many indoor climbing and lengthy days of simple multipitch. Regardless that they’re a “newbie” shoe, I not often have any points with their efficiency.
For arduous indoor, out of doors sport and bouldering, I put on a Scarpa Vapor V. The slight downturn and supportive midsole assist me really feel safe on overhung routes whereas nonetheless feeling snug on dime edges.
Evolv Nighthawk
Scarpa Vapor V
ExpertVoice:
What ideas do you’ve for brand new climbers?
Danny Rodriguez:
An important tip I can provide new climbers is that the majority gear will just do high quality and to give attention to discovering the piece that may assist you get on the market. Climbing footwear are a fantastic instance. All climbing footwear do related issues with the one variations being small modifications within the development and supplies. That being stated, the match can differ dramatically between manufacturers or fashions. The bottom line is to search out the shoe that meets all of your wants and suits properly. You do not need to put on an ill-fitting shoe that may maintain you from climbing. As you develop your expertise as a climber, what you want out of your gear will probably change so you’ll be able to revisit these items and replace them as you progress.
Being a newbie climber is among the most fun occasions as a climber, don’t let gear selections get in the best way of you getting on the market and experiencing how fantastic climbing is.
You’ll be able to comply with Danny on ExpertVoice by going to his profile. He is credentialed in additional than 180 completely different manufacturers. Observe alongside to see what different gear he recommends and take a look at the photographs he shares.
