I am currently training climbing three times a week and it is starting to show. For a while I felt totally wasted, but now I start to feel strong – it is a wonderful sensation. I have done some of the boulder projects that only a month ago seemed utterly impossible. My training goals are within the context of 2007 to:

* Achieve my hardest Trad Redpoint

* Achieve my hardest Sport Redpoint

* Become a better ice climber

* Climb one of the 6 alpine north faces (Eiger, Matterhorn, Jorasses, Badile, Dru, and Cima Grande)

Besides climbing I have made a resolution to train something every day. Swimming and Running does it for me, when not climbing. I only take rest days when needed. The great thing is that it is no problem to run even if my upper body is aching like never before (and it actually helps)

So far my training regime has been successful, but I suspect that at some point I will have to battle with motivation.

Even though it is not winter yet, the fall? is still dark and wet around here. No ice and only cold wet rock or plastic to be climbed. I decided to cure the blues by spending a week on the Island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. That was one great idea! Corsica is simply a fantastic place. Sunny sculptured granite, sandy beaches and beautiful nature. Even in late October it was possible to? take a refreshing dip in the sea. The air temperature was hovering around 23 degrees during the day, the water around 20 – just perfect.

The famous Roccapina Beach?

The Col de Bavella is without doubt the Premier climbing location on the island of Corsica. A road from Sulenzara on the East coast, to the town of Zonza? splits the Col down its middle. A Stop on the valley rim is almost obligatory by all new comers to the area and gives you time to take in the view and then photograph it.?

Anders climbing on Col de Bavella?

Another fine location? is the beach of Roccapina. A wonderful sandy beach surrounded by yellow granite. Read more about this place and other Corsican climbing sites? at Planetfear.

If you want to explore the old towns of Corsica you might take a look at Bonifacio located on the extreme south of the island. The famous action movie The Guns Of Navarone was shot here. We went on a sea trip from Bonifacio and had a chance to see Bonfacios waterfront. Very impressive!

The Guns Of Navarone?

I’ll be back for sure!

Last weekend was spent climbing on the Island of Bornholm. Bornholm is located in the Baltic Sea and it is the only place on Danish soil where you can find real rock. The climbing is on granite and is mainly single pitch cragging and bouldering. The island is peaceful and secluded so it is a fine place to get your batteries recharged. We only met one other climbing team during the whole weekend. The weather was also really nice so basicly there was no excuse for not getting totally wasted – Just Perfect!

There are other reasons for going to Bornholm than climbing. The nature is wonderful and there are a lot of interesting medieval historic sights worth seeing. The castle of Hammershus is just spectacular.? There is an online climbing guidebook and you can find more tourist type info on Bornholmer Info