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Brandon Marshal

@brandon.wanthal

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I like to write, ski and climb.
@icelantic_skis @rangemealbar @blackdiamond @thehighroute

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Late August is about the time I start dreaming of winter. Here's some previously unshared slides I dug up in my reminiscence.

The 2024/25 winter was a meaningful one, and this May day was the capstone. The Southeast Couloir of the South Teton lies in plain sight, arguably the most striking and obvious ski descent in the entire range visible from the valley floor, but sees few descents. Why? It's damn steep, committing, high consequence, and difficult to find in good condition due to solar exposure and a broad overhead snowfield which continuously sheds debris.

I never thought I'd ski this line, one I'd eyeballed for a decade, with inches of visibility. But the fall line is well defined, stability was right, and the generous smattering of peppery cliffs provided just enough depth perception. The 50 degree jump turns on the summit headwall were equally eerie and disorienting. Unnervingly scratchy skiing culminating in an unsuspecting ice bulge prompted @mikeparri to toss me a rope. I was espescially excited for my @blackdiamond whippet this day. Did I fly too close to the sun, with edges resisting purchase on dark blue water ice? I'm still breathing, and did grow up skiing ten lifetimes of bulletproof ice in the Northeast. Plus, I knew Mike had my back. The skiing below the crux was spectacular powder, an especially sweet treat in May.

After 4,000 feet of fall line bliss we punched a hole in the thin ice of Lake Taminah to refill water, downed some gummy worms, and continued up Wanda Pinnacle to place a cherry on our South Teton sundae. The remaining details of our day are irrelevant. What matters is the second-to-none feeling of skiing inspiring terrain with good friends. It's an intoxicating cocktail.

My freind Chris calls these days "expression sessions." I've come to adore that consonance. In the muted landscape of deep alpine winter I feel liberated, free to wander where inspiration leads me. On skis I am most alive.

I'm excited to slide on snow again, and hope you are too ❄️

#tenthousandtoofar #skimountaineering

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A little mid-summer check in from one of the hottest incorporated cities in the United States: Needles, California. @ricky_bobbi and I have been in the Mojave Desert since late March, and around Needles specifically for three months. 100 degrees is considered a cool day, 110 reasonable, and only exceeding 120 will locals start complaining. Such incompressible heat makes my brain fuzzy. At what point will our precious earth spontaneously combust? Nevertheless, we're adapting.

After 60 weekly hours in the field, weekends consist of a two hour commute to Las Vegas, with time split between the alpine limestone wonderland of Mount Charleston, or Red Rocks when shady temps allow.

Despite constant and persistent fatigue I've managed an exciting collection of meaningful adventures, including two of my longest rope-solos on Dark Shadows Full (5.8+, IV, 1300') and Healy's Haunted House (5.8 X, III, 700'), and my first full 5.11a multi-pitch redpoint on Circus Maximus (5.11a, II, 685') with Bobbi. Other notables include a journey up the mighty Zar Wall (5.11c, III, 900') with @jordan.mabrey (not quite free for me), and a Vegas-classic five peak scrambling traverse over 11,533 foot Mummy Mountain known as "Mummy Head-To-Toe”.

Beyond the mountains, Bobbi and I celebrated our six year anniversary - and first as an engaged couple. We didn’t do anything special - just two days climbing, burritos, fireworks, and playing a game we call “Otters" in the hotel swimming pool (where we pretend to be otters and paddle around... it’s pretty simple). She singlehandedly makes life better in just about every way, especially in the heavy swells of summer work.

I’d say life is going well - rarely excellent or terrible, just well. And “well” is just fine by me for right now. The tides of life are fluid, grinding for goals feels good, and snowflakes aren't too far away.

Hope you're doing well too ❤️

📸 1-2: Mummy Traverse
📸 3: HHH, Rope Solo
📸 4: 6 years ❤️
📸 5-6: Zar Wall
📸 7: Circus Maximus, P5
📸 8: Goofin'
📸 9: Dark Shadows, Rope Solo, P10
📸 10: Tiny spider

#tenthousandtoofar #climbwithfriends #climbing

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A surprise late engagement celebration on a Duffy boat at sea is in order when you live so far from family💛 Here’s a few of the best shots from our mini break between work projects🌊🏝️🍌

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From March 31st to June 4th I had two honest days off work. I use the word "honest" to represent a day without any work obligations - no packing, logistics, preparation or e-mails - the collateral associated with 60-80 hour six day work weeks in the field.

On each of those days my initial inspirations were towards performance rock climbing, as if learning nothing from last season, where I repeatedly pushed past exhaustion resulting in injuries and extreme burnout. This year my primary goal is establishing homeostasis between work and recreation - finding effective ways to build strength throughout the week, and using my limited time off to enjoy nourishing, less draining, iterations of fun.

So instead of flailing up desperate tips cracks wagering bone, tendon and sanity, I left itineraries for each day flexible, and resisted incorporating partners to detach from the rigidity of planning.

On May 17th I approached the monolithic Tahquitz Rock with a rope-solo kit and half dozen possible routes. Without any pressure of the day ahead I slept hard, awoke refreshed, and ended up completing a life dream to solo a summit route on Tahquitz, accomplished via The Long Climb, a 1957 Royal Robbins classic of burly chimneys and physical cracks. Because I was rope-soloing I had to climb every pitch twice, totaling 1,600 feet of exhausting, yet stunningly beautiful, pearly California granite - my longest rope solo to date.

Two weeks later I harnessed the same liberal energy, but diverted the medium to trail running. The original objective was Mount San Gorgonio (11,503'), Southern California's tallest peak. But much like wandering into my biggest rope-solo to date, I ended up on a spontaneous 21 mile ridge traverse, bagging four peaks guided solely by stoke and inspiration. I haven't been running much lately, so 5,100 vertical feet and 21 miles felt excitingly proud.

The lesson I learned from these two days was the power of lowering expectations, tapping into the guiding light which brought me to the mountains in the first place: fun and wonder.

I'm going to try this again 🌻

📸 1-5: The Long Climb, Tahquitz
📸 6-9: San Gorgonio Wilderness

#tenthousandtoofar

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Our journey east was one of a kind! One precious family, one treasured childhood friend and one unforgettable city made for one heartwarming trip❤️

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A week of East Coast family and friends time, interspersed with climbing gyms, sunny running, hiking, and hangboarding, has us less attached to winter - feeling the winds of change. While still hoping for a few good ski days, the desert is calling. Our work starts at the end of the month, and knowing there's cracks like these basking in 70 degree sun makes early departure extra appealing 🍊

Here's some recently developed shots from Fall 2025 in Joshua Tree - a mix of landscapes and portraits. This place is as rad as it is photogenic. If I had to choose one single pitch climbing destination for the rest of my life, it would be Joshua Tree.

Photos 3 & 6 shot by the lovely @ricky__bobbi ❤️ 📸 🥜

More words and photos on my website (link in bio)

#tenthousandtoofar #tradclimbing #joshuatree

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2025 was my first year climbing in Red Rocks. Woven into a tenuous work schedule I sampled some two dozen multi-pitch adventures and countless single pitch routes. Red Rocks shines through variety, offering quality and abundance in every conceivable climbing style.

When it comes to trad climbing, the overwhelming Red Rocks ethic is safety. Most routes feature lead bolts whenever natural gear opportunities dry, and bolted anchors for easy retreat. Combined with stable weather and short approaches, you have a recipe for a very popular trad climbing venue.

Unlike the masses, I did not fall in love with Red Rocks' cozy, bolt-happy trad climbing. Shiny bolts next to perfect TCU placements seemed sacrilege, and eliminating runouts longer than 10 feet dulled my climbing experience. So when I discovered the "Adventure Punks" - an anti-establishment clique of 70's and 80's renaissance hardmen who established bold routes in the traditional style I was used to, I got excited.

The two dream routes of my Red Rocks season were Rock Warrior (5.10b R, 800') and Adventure Punks (5.10d, 550'). The former is a renowned psychological test in the rarefied discipline of ground-up traditional face climbing, with six straight R rated pitches up to 5.10b, none easier than 5.9, and consistent runouts up to 40 feet. The latter is a Teton-esque endurance journey of soaring sandstone flakes, cracks and corners, with five 5.10 pitches culminating in a flaring 5.10d off-width - and not a single lead bolt. I had the pleasure of leading and onsighting every pitch of Rock Warrior with @ricky__bobbi and @joyseward on November 9th, and swinging leads with @jediahporter on Adventure Punks a few days later. These wild routes provide equal opposition in the mental, physical and spiritual realms, separating climbing from standard sports where athletic prowess reigns solely supreme. When I climb routes like these, I return a different person.

The first 5 pictures are of Adventure Punks, and the last 5 of Rock Warrior. Write ups from both are on my website. They're among the finest climbs I've done, augmented by great friends. Given Idaho's dry winter, I'm itching to return.

#tenthousandtoofar

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Last week @ricky__bobbi and I spent eight days in Cody, Wyoming to celebrate our engagement and my 31st birthday. We climbed six days on, logging some 3,000 feet of ice and 50+ hours of movement. The South Fork Valley wilderness is romantic, rugged and raw. Most of the climbs are several hours from the car and defended by steep bushwhacking. Limited traffic makes for natural climbs without the hooks and established feet of popular venues like Hyalite Canyon. Volatile weather breeds brittle ice and atypical three-dimensional ice features. Everything about climbing in Cody is intense. After all, "the alpine simulator" is the area nickname.

We enjoyed a balanced mix of routes, from long moderate adventure climbs to testy single pitch pillars. Some of the highlights were tip-toeing up Sendero Illuminoso (WI4) in extremely thin conditions, a 75 minute (successful!) onsight battle with a virgin and heavily chandeliered Hunter Creek Falls (WI5), and a long 1,500 foot adventure quest up one of the "top ten ice routes of North America" - The Main Vein (WI3+, III, 1500').

We returned home sore, bleary and satiated, hearts swollen with gratitude. I'm so excited to marry such a tough and driven lady, and my top adventure partner. Who do you know that climbs six out of eight full days in the South Fork, up to WI5, in their second year ice climbing? I'm not sure if I could've... sanely.

For anyone curious, or heading to the South Fork soon, there's more words and pictures on my website (link in bio).

📸 1-2: Bozo's Revenge (WI3+, II)
📸 3: Sendero Illuminoso (WI4)
📸 4: Animal Rights Activist (WI4+)
📸 5: Hunter Creek Falls (WI5)
📸 6: Bobbi leading pitch four, Main Vein
📸 7: The 80 meter pitch five, Main Vein
📸 8: Shoshone crossing
📸 9: Crux pitch, Moonrise (WI5, II, 500')
📸 10: Too Cold to Fire (WI4, II, 300')

#iceclimbing #tenthousandtoofar

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I’m deeply disturbed by all acts of violence.
I’m deeply disturbed by the right and the left.
I’m deeply disturbed by @realdonaldtrump

I’m deeply moved by nature.
I’m deeply moved by human resilience.
I’m deeply moved by love, empathy and forgiveness.

This is a really strange happy birthday post to my beloved fiancé. But we care about what’s going on, what’s been going on for a long period of time. We care about those who are being treated unfairly, being treated with violence and being oppressed.

We’re doing our best to balance living our lives with understanding our world on a greater scale. My conclusion thus far is the more I learn, the less I know.

Thank the stars I have Brandon, my family, friends, friendly strangers, hero’s I’ve never met and wildlife to journey with on this flying space rock through the universe.

Happy birthday precious soul- I love you millions and beyond.

@realdonaldtrump if you see this, please consider changing your approach on nearly everything. Please consider that you might be wrong on so many levels. Please consider love as a guiding force. Do better.

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Let me start by saying I find Donald Trump and his administration deplorable, and my heart aches for the senseless violence occurring in Minneapolis at this time.

Since moving to Teton Valley 11 years ago the north face of Housetop Mountain has captivated my imagination. For the west Tetons it's as improbable and ephemeral a ski venue they come, with sustained and often peppery 50+ degree slopes hanging above a half mile wide, 200 foot cliff with one sinewy sliver of an exit couloir. The west slope is different than the east slope, home to the famous granite couloirs of Grand Teton National Park. Peaks west of the hydrological divide are smaller and primarily of limestone composition, ringed with horizontal cliff bands that create compact, inobvious and adventurous face-style ski mountaineering.

The first recorded descent of the north face was in December 1998 by Scott Saufferer and Jarad Spackman. Unfortunately their route, beginning from the summit block, is rarely in condition and descents are spaced by many years, if not decades.

After a failed attempt last year, I spotted what would become the Direct North Couloir, an alternative to Scott and Jarad's line and the only other ropeless passage onto the face. Conferring with elder statesman of Teton skiing, it appeared this obvious line may never have been skied. The entry is steeper than the North Face, with pitches in the 55 degree range, but seems to fill in more regularly. West wind crossloading, a bony crux, large cornices, eminent exposure to several terraced cliffs, and an airy traverse to the exit couloir made quite the puzzle. On January 15th I found just good enough dust on crust conditions to channel my east coast upbringing and complete the descent. The tactile edge to edge jump turns through the steepest bottleneck were transcendant, and the gatekeeper to epic buffed powder turns along the lower face and through the miraculous exit couloir. It was among my finest ski days, irrespective of whether it was actually a first descent.

My only hope in sharing these stories is to show my inspiration and happiness in hopes it can inspire others to pursue theirs.

Much love ❤️

#tenthousandtoofar

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Last year @ricky__bobbi and I had the pleasure of holding the cameras as our best friends @liilcarl and @bayyesace got engaged on the summit a Teton mountaintop. Yesterday I carried the tradition forward. Bailey and Carl held the cameras while I dropped the knee, and my best friend in the whole wide world, my soul mate, Bobbi Ann Clemmer, said yes.

It's been an exhilarating six years with this powerful wonder woman by my side, and I'm ecstatic for a lifetime more. Best friends, 5,000 feet of powder, and a classic Teton north face was the icing on this especially sweet cake.

Bobbi and I met in these mountains, said "I love you" in these mountains, and intend to live the rest of our lives in these mountains. I got sober in these mountains, learned to love in these mountains, and became a man in these mountains. I owe everything I have in my life to these mountains. Life is a crazy ride. Pinch me.

Getting engaged seems like it should be "all about you", but this moment has me overflowing with gratitude for our very special Teton community, greater mountain community, and my lasting few back in Massachusetts, that have supported me over the last eight years. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the ride. I love you all ❤️

I usually max out my Instagram captions, but I guess I'm just speechless. We'll leave it at that.

We're doing it! I love you to the moon and back, forever and ever, babe.

#tenthousandtoofar

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I said YES to the most romantic, hilarious, caring, adventurous, brilliant, fun, driven man in the world—and somehow also the person I want to share snacks, silence, and every wild idea with forever.

The one who makes me laugh until my face hurts, raps (lyrics and ropes) on long car rides and steep cliffs, supports my athletic endeavors, steadies me when life gets loud, pushes me to dream bigger, go harder, and loves me in all the ways that feel like home.

Life with you is my greatest adventure, my favorite love story, and my safest place all at once.
I choose you. Always. Every time.

Forever sounds really, really good with you ✨

Shoutout to Bailey and Carl for amazing pictures, first rate vibes and for being excellent adventure partners always❤️

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