Instagram story viewer> @futurewatt> Posts

Alexander Watt

@futurewatt

727

followers

443

following

🛘
In pursuit of eudaemonia
•
Supported by
@arizona_mountaineering_gear
@physivantage
@bigfilschalk
@blackdiamond
•
@futurewatt_board board acc

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

In Hell I’ll Be in Good Company
9a/5.14d
Green check
•
Really weird emotions coming off of this one. Firstly, I could not think of a better name for this climb, Dalton nailed it. A round of thanks and acknowledgements is absolutely necessary, as the people who made this climb possible are also the people who have defined my climbing journey and allowed me to reach the mental state and conclusion that led to my completion of this climb.
•
Thank you to @jack_wall_123 and @evangelo.birk for driving me up to siege this rig before I could drive, despite the fact that you weren’t syched on any climbs in the cave. The fact that some of my favorite people to climb with are the same now as they were 5 years ago says a lot. Thanks to my dad @miahwatt for the unconditional support and sych every time I made a miniscule link, the constant support for my climbing has allowed me to pursue climbing for very intrinsic reasons that hold lots of personal value. Thanks to @vancesteezfield and @hadlerock for bringing all time vibes yesterday and being the climbing partners I’ve lacked for years. And lastly my old coach @phillip_symons for teaching me a mentality and approach to climbing that has lasted long since my retirement from competition and that has led to exponential progress these past few months, the lessons I learned as a 14 year old continue to pay dividends. And thanks to my amazing gf @makenna.morriss for the support and banana bread I ate immediately before sending. There are many more people who were there along the way, with belays or videos or just sych for the process, and hopefully you all know who you are, thanks, I’ll try to tag all my belayers and videors if possible in the videos. Also a massive thanks to @arizona_mountaineering_gear and @bigfilschalk for the support.
•
1-4 uncut
Everything else is my first time achieving something on the route, starting in June 2024 when I started videoing and working towards the present.
•
Continued in comments. taken in American Fork Canyon by @futurewatt

173

24

4 months ago

Purgatory, 5.14d/9a, FA
Story time

A note on the historical significance of this climb, as that was largely what drew me to it, and I feel it carries some importance. The Hell Cave was first bolted in the 1980’s by a local crew (Boone Speed, Jeff Pedersen, other all-time crushers) and was largely the origin of steep sport climbing in the United States. The first climb done in the cave proper was Wizards (13b) by @boonespeed (which shares a top with Purgatory). The cave quickly became a test piece hotspot due to the snowbird World Cup that was in SLC at the time. Jared Roth, an OG legend, bolted what is (in my opinion) the best line in the cave in 2000. It is both the only climb to start in the back of the cave and the only climb to go out the steepest part of the face, directly through the center, it is relatively straight and takes the cave bottom to top, through some of the most obvious features. This line came to be known as the fire pit project, due to the old campfire in the middle of the cave it climbs over. It has been projected by many as a local legend, but due to many of the moves being relatively new gen style and extremely physical — along with several gnarly clips — it never went. Remaining a project for 25 years, as far as I’m aware it may very well have been one of the longest standing projects in the US. An alternative start beginning in Cannibals direct was FA’d by Dalton Bunker in 2019, but the original line was never done. It remained the last standing project in the Hell Cave for 25 years, until yesterday.

Before I elaborate, I want to thank all the people who’ve been there along the way. Though there are far too many people to mention, there are a couple who made a special difference. My dad, @miahwatt ,there every step of the way, my biggest supporter always. @jack_wall_123 , who belayed me on nearly all of my high points. @werewolf_climber , who belayed me when I cleaned this old line and dodged the pounds of rock I knocked off it. @erik_cmiel for showing up in frigid temps when no one else would. @arizona_mountaineering_gear for the support. And @pusherholds for bolting it in the first place. Thanks.

Continued in slides
2-3 are uncut by @futurewatt

190

30

a year ago

Yosemite
•
Didn’t pull on any pebbles after a bad fall on Midnight Lightning dislocated my elbow day 1, still had a splendid time in one of the most beautiful places out there. Certainly inspired to come back and pull on some rocks. Feeling relatively positive and grateful despite the universe opping me lately. Thanks to the ppl that have been there. @hadlerock especially clutched up this trip after the elbow. taken in Yosemite National Park by @futurewatt

107

2

4 hours ago

People pebbles and places.
•
Been ruminating on what makes climbing and friends important to me, and it’s certainly the feeling of wanting to be better because of the things around me. Feeling thankful and content atm. I’ve also realized how unimportant the number assigned to a rock is for me, and have been finding lots of joy in location, aesthetics, and people lately. If you’re here cause you want to see lots of big numbers it won’t happen sorry.
•
Big thanks to those who think the journey is worth supporting. @blackdiamond @arizona_mountaineering_gear @bigfilschalk @physivantage by @futurewatt

50

3

13 days ago

Nightman v12

Fun one from a bit ago. Fired it up in a hour or two w @_brycenix . Been off insta for the past couple weeks to focus on some introspection and life enjoyment, but some big things are in the works so updates will come soon!
•
#climbing #climb #rawsends by @futurewatt

60

0

17 days ago

Iron Spider v12 🕷️
•
Fun one, took a go or two to find the right beta then fired the 11 stand first try and the 12 sit second. Quite my style and a nice moment during a splendid trip. Couldn’t have done it without the @bigfilschalk stick and @blackdiamond pad setup. I don’t love drop off finished but this one ended up being cool on the send go so 🤷‍♂️. Nice movement and rock, starting to feel a bit better on rock.
•
Big thanks to @vancesteezfield for the vibes and pads, twas a sick weekend trip.
•
#climbing #rock_climbing #bouldering #rawsends by @futurewatt

142

9

a month ago

Been feeling a bit off in my climbing for a sec, and have really been struggling to find proof of progress. I set this one about a month and a half ago when I first decided to go all in on improving my style with disregard to weaknesses. It felt limit when I set it, and I most certainly would have given it 13 if I’d done it then. Felt like soft 11 on my 3rd go today, but made me realize how much better I’ve gotten at this style. Somebody repeat this and tell me what to think… either way it was a nice burst of validation and a very fun climb.

“Crmp 3” v12? @40
@tensionclimbing @tensionboard
#climbing #tensionboard #boardclimbing by @futurewatt

28

2

2 months ago

Uintas musings
•
I’ve spent the past two weekends in likely my favorite bouldering location ever, and have felt like my excessively syched 15 year old self again. As I think about my motivation, which has been hot and cold more so than ever before this year, I realize how crucial the environment I am in is to the inherent joy of an experience. That has sparked the realization that the people and places which I am surrounded by have a far greater impact on the quality of an experience than the subjective difficulty of a rock that I am trying to do. As I spent the last weekend pursing the names not grades mentality I have grown up idolizing but not participating in, I’ve realized that this is what I want to look for in the future of my climbing. While I still enjoy and will pursue hard climbs, I think it is important to pursue them due to the personal importance of an athletic challenge in a beautiful space, not due to the desire for public validation or arbitrary success. In that train of thought, I’ve decided to post these thoughts, along with some of my favorite experiences, in the hope that it helps others to find a mindset that brings them joy and maybe even inspires one or two people to go do something cool.
•
Massive thanks to @bigfilschalk for the stick during the heat of summer, @arizona_mountaineering_gear for some heater chalkbags and a bungee I will be using extensively for the highball in slide 7, @physivantage for the nutrition needed on my multiple 5,000+ calorie days, and @blackdiamond for the gear and apparel that makes it all possible.

Eagle of Zeus sitting above the rest of the boulders

@hadlerock underneath the Watcher

@blackdiamond pad setup I hauled for multiple miles every day, the new carrying system on the Erratic pad combined with the strap attachment bag were crucial.

Unknown name, joy

Unknown name, joy

Prometheus (Henry is 6’2”)

Pano

Unknown name

The Animist Direct, edited slightly

Heart of the Pack, the only thing I’ll talk about grades for as I’m proposing a solid upgrade and consensus is important and this was either the 2nd or 3rd ascent. In my opinion this felt 8a+/v12 in comparison to other climbs of similar difficul taken in Planet Earth by @futurewatt

97

6

2 months ago

Eclipse v12
•
Fun one from the back logs. One seshed it in the heat…LCC in fall is gonna be mega.
•
@vancesteezfield on the spot.

#climb by @futurewatt

80

2

2 months ago

19 years and still going strong - The Illume is the single photo competition that still gets my attention.

Since its inception over 30,000 photographers, from 120 countries have participated, and the photos that stick are not to be missed.

If you play in the adventure realm, don’t delay, clocks ticking with submissions closing soon. by @futurewatt

177

0

3 months ago

19 years and still going strong - The Illume is the single photo competition that still gets my attention.

Since its inception over 30,000 photographers, from 120 countries have participated, and the photos that stick are not to be missed.

If you play in the adventure realm, don’t delay, clocks ticking with submissions closing soon. by @futurewatt

140

2

3 months ago

19 years and still going strong - The Illume is the single photo competition that still gets my attention.

Since its inception over 30,000 photographers, from 120 countries have participated, and the photos that stick are not to be missed.

If you play in the adventure realm, don’t delay, clocks ticking with submissions closing soon. by @futurewatt

225

2

3 months ago