Paradise bound...bouldering on the remote West-end of Catalina Island.

Matthew Fienup > Favorite Photographs

Paradise bound...bouldering on the remote West-end of Catalina Island.

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copyright 2005, Matthew Fienup--Earthworks Imagery

Look at that grip!!<br>
<br>
Climber: Bryson James Fienup

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Matthew Fienup

Apr 23, 2009

“Paradise bound...bouldering on the remote West-end of Catalina Island.”

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copyright 2005, Matthew Fienup--Earthworks Imagery

Paradise bound...bouldering on the remote West-end of Catalina Island.

Look at that grip!!<br>
<br>
Climber: Bryson James Fienup

2-1/2 year old Bryson enjoys the stellar climbing at Bishops Peak, in San Luis Obispo. (September 2009)

One of the great privileges of my guiding career was a day spent with 84 year-old Steve and his 4 year-old great granddaughter, Hanna. Unbelievably awesome!

The newest member of our family was born on November 2, 2019. Sierra is shown here at 15 weeks.

Marisa Fienup. Kalorama Wall, Ventura.

Must be the time of year...I'm seeing these creatures all over the place.

Footprint from an endemic (and threatened) Island Fox, taken on a beach on the remote West-end of Catalina Island.

Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer)

Future rock climber: Bryson James Fienup<br>
Born: January 2, 2007<br>
Weight: 7lbs, 7oz

Another view of this incredible animal!

Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis zonata)

Jerusalem Cricket (Stenopelmatus fuscus)

Marisa Fienup enjoys perfect laybacking on the Maine mega-classic "Old Town."

Marisa Fienup nears the top of "Old Town," in Acadia National Park, Maine.

Matthew & Marisa Fienup

Growing up FAST!!

Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

Matthew Fienup with one of his subjects

Another future climber:<br>
Wesley Fienup<br>
born October 20, 2009<br>
<br>
...so blessed!

Self Portrait: bouldering at Mugu Rock

Rose Falls, at low water. Los Padres National Forest.

Bryson (left, 16 y.o.) and Wesley (13 y.o.) enjoy the extraordinary views from atop the route Horst at Sierra de Toix, on Spain's Costa Blanca. Calpe and the Peñon d'Ifach are visible in the background.

Rock Climbing in Iowa, on the McKay home wall.

Bryson takes a lap on the Shark's Fin, in the Alabama Hills (December 2020)

Matthew & the boys at Piedra Blanca, Los Padres National Forest. (Spring 2013)

March 15, 2009

Living the good life in Ventura.

Bryson's first climbing helmet (February 2009, 2 years old)

A little jaunt with the boys up Rattlesnake Canyon, in Joshua Tree National Park. (New Year's Eve 2012/13)

Has anyone noticed the crazy abundance of Praying Mantis this year in Southern California? This one's a male.

Bryson & Wesley indulge in their favorite edible plant. San Ysidro trail, Santa Barbara.

Bryson - 18 months old (July 2008)

The boys pose atop the world's coolest crag--Dome Rock, in the Southern Sierra.

Hands that tell a story...

The boys scrambled 1,400 vertical feet up a steep ridge to nab the summit of Sentinel Peak, in the Southern Sierra. Dome Rock and the Needles are visible in the background.

Bryson James Fienup, 6 months old

Bryson & Wesley hangin' out in San Ysidro Canyon. (January 2013)

An important first: at just 4 weeks old, Wesley accompanies the family on a climbing outing.

Photo by Marisa Fienup.

Bryson, nearly three years old, gets a belay from his grandmother, in San Ysidro Canyon.

Bryson's first climbing trip--San Ysidro Canyon, August 9, 2009...age 2-1/2 years.

BELAY 4U

Wesley gives his older brother Bryson the critical foot beta on Meilee, at Lizard's Mouth.

Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis zonata)

Juvenile Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). Los Angeles, Calif.

Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)

This is likely the worst anchor I've ever seen. The yellow "webbing" in the photo is actually a strap from the climber's SUV roof-rack. It's hard to see in this photo, but 2 rubber-ized hooks on the two ends of the strap are hooked through the left-hand carabiner.<br>
<br>
The anchor is completely non-redundant and relies on the stitching that attaches the rubber-ized hooks to the ends of the strap. And that quick-draw?<br>
<br>
At least they padded the edge to protect the strap from abrasion.

Bryson and Wesley enjoy one of the great rest day activities in the Upper Kern River Canyon around the Needles. Nobe Young Creek is home to some of the finest natural water slides and plunge pools. (Summer 2017)

Dome Rock (July 2017)

Dome Rock (July 2017)

Lower Red Cave, Mount Carmel, outside Zion National Park (January 2020)

Wesley (10 years old) and Bryson (13 years old) pose with Sierra at Lookout Beach in Summerland.

The Notch Route on the Rostrum might be our favorite family outing to date in Yosemite. It allowed us to completely escape the New Years' crowd and provided a safe environment for our boys (8 and 10 years old) to experience some real Yosemite exposure.

Roc du Vent, Beaufortain, French Alps (July 2019)

Female Praying Mantis

At just 14 months old (and after eyeing the route for a few weeks), Bryson decided it was time to climb!!!

April 18th marked the return of the Lizards Mouth Clean-Up, following 2 consecutive brush fires which closed the area to climbing (and cleaning). Forty-five individuals donated their time & energy, and the site continues to look better and better. Thank you to everyone involved!

Bryson & Wesley soaking up the freshies in Mammoth. The mountain received nearly 50 inches of snow during a long-weekend at the end of March.

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