Sunday, November 4, 2012

Rock Climbing in Mali, Africa.

This was a small tower that I got to climb with my brother while visiting Siby in Mali. A colony of bats had made the darkness formed by this handcrack their home. Its both nerve racking and exciting to jam a crack when your not sure if every time you sink your fingers in that you could induce a swarm of skiddish flying mammals. This climb although short, represents a lot of what I like about climbing; the adventure, the unknown, making calculated decisions in the face of danger, and perhaps most important, being able to share that experience with my brother.

Chongo Nation HQ is born...

CHONGO NATION
What is it? Where did it come from?

 Like every great unifying force, Chongo Nation was forged by the gradual contribution from the creative and unique minds of its founding fathers. These selfless souls bore a vision that transcended social preconceptions of success, and instead sought something more; the unheralded support of individuality.
 Chongo's are like snow flakes, at first glance they appear generic, predictable. Yet upon closer inspection one finds that, like the snow flake, no two Chongos are alike, and it is that uniqueness that unites us.
  
A CHONGO NEVER GIVES UP!

 Chongos dream BIG, and go BIG in whatever discipline they choose. When a fellow Chongo falls, their comrades lift them up again without hesitation. Chongo Nation is NOT a fraternity, in fact, it is in strict opposition to them. The Nation does not recruit its members, it accepts any soul that lives by these principles. Diversity gives us strength.

This blog is merely a glimpse into the plight of one Chongo attempting to live by these values in a world where they are often neglected...

My name is Maximilian Barlerin, and I am a Chongo.