Project365 Archives -

The launch!

By Steve on December 16, 2013 in project 365

This weekend was a snowy mess in the Northeast-apparently the weather systems didn’t get the memo about the Project365 film premiere! The good news is that we still managed to draw a crowd of about 50 people in spite of the weather. It was great being able to watch the audience watching the film-I have seen it so many times myself that it has gotten a bit repetitive for me, but it’s almost like seeing it through a fresh perspective when a crowd of people comes from all over the tri-state area to spend their time with us.

I enjoyed climbing with everyone-especially the kids. This always reaffirms my faith in the future of humanity-seeing how fearless they are and how they just get after it. I always enjoy seeing parents of a child who is climbing for the first time hand them over with a bit of trepidation-and then the youngster blows them away by just crushing it!

Those moments were the richest takeaways for me, far beyond the success of the film. A lot of people are excited about the quality of the film-one dear friend, Trevor Kelley, who was my partner in climb back before there was an actual “Project365″ when the idea was still hatching-asked me who did the production for the film. I really enjoyed being able to say “Dude-that was my most recent project-I taught myself to edit and wrote the story after going through all the footage”. Notwithstanding, you have read here (many times) how many hands have labored in the creation of this finished product. I want to specifically thank Peter Darmi gave us a professional product through the benefit of his years of experience in the field.

This is the completion of one chapter. Now we begin another. Getting the film out there-and then what? Well, I think that this weekend may have been some hint of what’s to come; we have been seeing a lot of potential and interest in SweetestSummit programs for 2014-and get this-we have a beautiful new website (click over and see!) that Stefanie built in her free time. She has been sacrificing a great deal of time and effort to help grow those programs while working her job-and I couldn’t devote my effort to the film and Team LV if it were not for that.

And speaking of Team LivingVertical, there is a project waiting for us this summer that will go beyond Project365-and of course I’m going to make you guess about what that entails because I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself-but we have a sizable team of climbers, with a variety of skills and we need something to sink our teeth into…somewhere remote, with unclimbed rock, unpredictable weather and spectacular scenery. Hmmmm…

Want to see the Project365 documentary?

By Steve on December 2, 2013 in Diabetes, project 365

If you follow us on Facebook you probably saw the announcement of our first screening of the completed Project365 documentary. We actually have an EVENTS page that you can check regularly to see where we are going and what we are doing…but I digress. It’s going to be really awesome-we will have LivingVertical merch to give away, to raffle off AND we will have a silent auction to benefit our 2014 SweetestSummit Programs. We will be auctioning off TWO round trip tickets from Jetblue, FROM any city they fly TO any city they fly!

I am so proud of the fact that this film was a grassroots effort-produced through hard work and sacrifice rather than a big budget. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to try the big budget approach, but it’s really significant to see what can happen when normal people get behind an idea and push to make it happen-and that’s what we-and by ‘we’ I mean ‘you’- have done with this film. It’s been a community undertaking from day one and that is the message!

In keeping with this community centric approach, I’d like to ask you to look around in your area to help connect us with local venues that would be interested in hosting a screening. Climbing venues, diabetes orgs/groups, schools, hospitals…anywhere that people will be motivated enough to get us a place to show the film, we will bring it there and present it. We are excited to partner with the NYC JDRF chapter for our launch of the film and hope that this type of event and partnership can be replicated in many communities across the world-creating opportunities for climbing, empowerment and community growth through this film.

Please EMAIL US and SHARE this post if you’d like to get involved and can help us bring Project365 to YOUR community!

53 hours remain

By Steve on October 1, 2013 in Uncategorized

Here’s the situation: we have 53 hours to raise $2,525. Once the film is funded, then I’ll quit asking for help. We need less than $2 from each of our Facebook followers to make it happen. Surely that’s a reasonable ticket price for a movie these days?

If the funding goal isn’t met, what will happen? Is Livingvertical headed for a shutdown?

Well, LivingVertical will always exist in some form or another but we are heading for a situation where I will have to choose between releasing an unfinished product that won’t live up to the scope of Project365 or simply waiting until I can save enough money to pay finishing costs out of pocket. Either of these options will take LivingVertical back to square one.

There has never been a plan “B”. This was always about taking on commitment. Project365 is ours-it’s not mine. So I’m giving it back to you-to do with it what you want, because I’ve done my part and I can’t do the rest without support. It’s that simple.

I’ve done all I can do-I’ve invested the last two years of my life in creating this, and I’m prepared to keep on giving-but it’s not really up to me now. It’s hard to let go when you want something so badly, but sometimes that’s the only option left. I want to level with you all and be honest about what I can and can’t do and the position we are in.

If it’s not a little scary, then you’re probably not going all out. No plan “B” feels more than a little scary-but after coming this far, it’s too late to go back-and I wouldn’t, even if I could.

climbing diabetes diabetic climber livingvertical Project365 steve richert type 1 diabetes

Where does it end?

By Steve on December 3, 2012 in project 365

Or does it? I’ve gotten two questions repeatedly for the last several months: 1-where will the last day of the project be 2-will you keep climbing after its over?

I’ve been back in Zion for a couple of days and getting out with my partner “Broccoli” Rob while trying to figure out some answers to these questions. I like to jokingly quip that on day 366 (Jan 17, 2013) all my climbing paraphernalia will be listed on eBay and that I will take up golf.

The last few days I Rob and I have been going out, looking for unclimbed routes and boulders. Lines that are beautiful but guarded by steep and unpleasant approaches and scary landings that threaten to punish the careless without mercy.

There are gems upon gems…and so much beauty, without even having to leave the canyon. There is so much just here that makes me want to get stronger and faster and begin to physically push myself in ways that I have held back from in order to ensure that I am able to climb each day consecutively for this project.

So we took in some of the potential, climbed a few unclimbed (as far as we know) easy routes up some very impressive boulders that have many more routes that exceed what we can currently climb.

So to make a long story short, there are a lot of unanswered questions, but Project 365 is only the beginning. But the beginning has to have an ending and in the coming days I hope to share with you my thoughts on how I intend to close out this amazing chapter. Meanwhile I will be heading to Joshua Tree for a few days for the Insulindependence wilderness festival which will be a great opportunity to connect with friends and just get out to climb!

My humble thanks on World Diabetes Day

By Steve on November 14, 2012 in project 365

The last 301 days have had a lot of ups and downs. Project365 started with an idea and little else. From the get-go this has been a haphazard patchwork of input and effort from all over the world, literally.

Days like today, world diabetes day, when we have the opportunity to step back and see the bigger picture come together I am so thankful and so humbled. I often get so caught up in my role in this project and so worried about what comes next or what I should be doing, that I forget the mission and the support for the mission from so many of you.

Advancing the LivingVertical mission is my goal in Project 365, but regardless of how the project itself fares, this project and the ensuing documentary are only vehicles for a hands on message of being empowered, strong and free despite having to negotiate the challenges of diabetes.

Of late I have felt like the project has been out of my control-and I struggled with that realization. The last several days I have refocused and accepted that it has never been mine to control, and that, at the risk of sounding like a fortune cookie philosopher, the journey is the destination.

The support, the discussions, the help, the social media connections have led us to a point where today, I will be representing the LivingVertical mission at Roche event held for diabetes awareness.

This logo- which started as a photo taken on our first climbing trip in Bishop, CA in 2008- and was edited by Stefs sister and then later finished and retouched by Terrie from ClimbAddict will be seen on special shirts created by Roche for World Diabetes Day.

A year ago, the LivingVertical mission was an idea and this logo was just a photo cluttering my hard drive. Now it is a part of the community, out in the open, where we are part of the framework, able to serve others who don’t want to be victims and who refuse to be kept down by the need to regulate their blood glucose. We are making a difference together and showing the world that diabetes is what you make of it.

Thank you all so much!

Support Project 365 by raising diabetes awareness

By Steve on November 11, 2012 in project 365

This blogs publication marks day 300 of Project 365. We are two days away from world diabetes day and this weekend was my strongest bouldering outing yet-something I am still surprised at considering my inability to have recovery days so vital for building power.

Over the next few days I will be lightening my climbing load to turn my full attention to World Diabetes Day and using this occasion to raise awareness. While the window of opportunity is open. I want to extend the opportunity to join me in raising awareness through wearing a Project 365 bracelet or necklace available through our funding campaign for three remaining days.

There is special significance to the Monkey Fist knots and we want to continue the effort and partnership with the diabetes community that they symbolize. The wristbands are a bit more obvious and straightforward and also help to raise awareness.

Project 365 is at a crux right now-we are at the point of breaking through and are beginning to reach more people but there is a funding gap that I have to address and your showing solidarity with this project through wearing Project 365 jewelry will also help us to close that gap and finish strong-aside from looking great!

I am looking forward to the last days of Project 365, not because I want a rest day but because this is just the beginning of something great and the best is yet to come but I need help to make it happen. Stay tuned for World Diabetes Day on the 14th of this month- the LivingVertical mission will be getting a fantastic platform to raise awareness and empowerment and I hope you can join in and follow along as WDD unfolds!

I am looking forward also to answering more questions in videos and sharing the LivingVertical mission in presentations in the coming weeks!

Project 365 Q and A: post workout foods

By Steve on November 9, 2012 in project 365

Project 365 Q and A: post workout foods from Living Vertical on Vimeo.

Food, fitness and diabetes are a huge part of the focus of the P365 documentary-and food choices are unique to each persons dietary preferences and metabolic responses. I have learned through trial and error what works for me and looking for patterns and correlation between blood sugar levels and types of foods have been my method. It’s not always pretty but that’s been my strategy.

Be safe, test your blood sugar often and take note of what foods are better for you and which are not. While you’re at it, log your blood glucose test results at www.bigbluetest.org to help raise funds for diabetes supplies for those in need.

Speaking for myself, I know the Bigbluetest initiative has helped me to keep better track of my blood sugar and it incentivizes consistent monitoring and that is never bad.

So be part of the discussion! What foods work for you and why? We are all different and can benefit from sharing strategies!

(Submit your question on our Facebook Page and it could be selected for a video response here!)

accu-chek bigbluetest blood sugar bouldering clifbar climbing climbing with diabetes diabetes diabetic climber documentary fitness insulin livingvertical nano Project365 steve richert type 1 diabetes

Starting a dialogue

By Steve on November 7, 2012 in project 365

I have been thinking about what I could do specifically for Diabetes awareness month that would bring something worthwhile to the table. Part of me felt like “hey, Project 365 is an ongoing and sizable contribution to raising awareness, so that should be good enough…right?”

At the end, I realized that this project is making a great impact and that I don’t have to reinvent the wheel-but rather I need to find a way to start a discussion and build something on the framework that we have been creating here over the last 295 days and 68,656 feet of climbing. What I am looking to gain is more connection, more interaction with people who are impacted by and following the project. The climbing is all well and good but your involvement is where it all ties together to make an impact.

•photo: Stefanie Richert

Our friends at Accu-Chek suggested doing a simple question and answer format dialogue. Here’s what this will look like: you post your questions on the Livingvertical Facebook page and I will select and discuss them via video and blogs which will be seen right here!

I plan to continue this for the remainder of November at least. I figure that by now everyone has a feel for the climbing part of the project and the day to day stuff-and there’s a whole documentary yet to come of that too, so I am excited to add a new dynamic to Project 365.

Since Hurricane Sandy I have been in the Northeast since I am restricting my travel and crashing at my dads place since the project funding is tapped out. We have been very appreciative of those who have contributed to our current campaign to help finish the project but it looks like we won’t meet that goal with the remaining 6 days.

I have been choosing to stay positive and use this opportunity to climb locally at my old gym in New Paltz and use this training facility to get stronger- which has been happening quite successfully!

•photo: Michelle Hoffman

Earlier in the project I had to struggle to complete V4 boulder problems and recently I have been sending V5s consistently and I even began making progress on a V6! That’s really encouraging to me since I haven’t been able to train power very much till now and it is helping me stay psyched as the project is struggling and I am marooned in the northeast where the weather is getting far less agreeable following the storm!

•photo: Michelle Hoffman

But there are some exciting developments coming up too as a result of my being in NY too-I will be able to attend a special event for WDD (world diabetes day) on the 14th and a Project 365 presentation on the 19th at Tufts University as a guest of the College Diabetes Network! These opportunities mean more chances to spread awareness and so oddly enough, being here while the weather is deteriorating may be a blessing in disguise!

I will be updating you whenever possible-in between climbing and filming. So post those questions up and let’s open a discussion. Tell your friends-PWD or no, climbers or flatlanders-all are welcome!

The mountains are calling and I must (let it go to voicemail)

By Steve on September 19, 2012 in LivingVertical

“I don’t feel ready for this. I know that I’m strong enough and experienced enough not to have any excuse NOT to go, but I don’t feel like I’m really dialed in and confident in my abilities” I said to Rob who was furiously applying upholstery cleaner to his Jeep cover.

Without missing a beat his immediate rejoinder was “That’s awesome. I’m really excited for you-what a great place to be in! You’re going to learn so much up there.” I should have expected this from Rob since he enjoys suffering and has been my mentor in embracing discomfort with unbridled enthusiasm.

I have both longed for and dreaded my time in the Bugaboos in British Columbia. It is without a doubt my favorite climbing area in terms of aesthetics-and always has been since I first became interested in climbing and picked up my first copy of “Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills” and saw those magnificent spires on the cover. That notwithstanding, the “Bugs” have always intimidated the hell out of me because of a variety of challenges they present that I have never felt completely prepared for.

Cold: Big mountains in September aren’t going to feel like summer nights bouldering at the Globe in Zion or cragging at Cerberus. Highs in the low 40s.

Steep approach: 3 hours of hiking and climbing with a big ass pack filled with climbing gear, clothes, camping stuff and camera gear…just to get to basecamp.

Ice and snowfields: So we will be learning a bit about using axes and crampons, glacier travel and the like since accessing the climbs requires crossing icefields.

Committing routes: Once you commit to the first several pitches of most of the routes, your only way down is up. Descents involve routefinding, not simply threading some chains and rapping off.

Fickle weather: It can snow any month of the year. Ridgelines and summits are effectively lightning rods. Metal (found in climbing gear) attracts lightning.

Ah the joys of alpine climbing. So wonderful are they that I almost completely neglect them because I just don’t want to hog all the fun. After spending all night packing up and now charging my batteries, I am trying to avoid that unproductive question of why…because I know there is no ready answer and I can’t second guess myself. Granted I am really really good at second guessing myself-to the point that I can even trick myself into backing off of objectives when deep down I know I can do it.

See? Now diabetes isn’t the biggest baddest thing out there. It’s just a cog in the machine out there that is conspiring against you, waiting for one wrong move in order to strike you down. Im not sure if that’s encouraging or not-and really I don’t care because this is a sliver of what occurs in my mind when I push myself out of my comfort zone. It’s simply part of the conversation. I would be a transparently idiotic blowhard if I tried to pretend that in my mind I was totally dialed in and set on crushing my objectives. Some people (whom I thoroughly envy) have minds like steel traps. They think it and they do it. No questions asked.

I on the other hand question myself to the point that once I run out of monologue to engage myself with, I have no choice but to go up. The voices are still there, but I have to strain to hear them over the wind, whistling in my ears. The doubt is there but I am too gripped to engage it. There is only survival and action.

Climbing in the mountains is very different because speed is safety and moving quickly can be the difference between very different outcomes on a given day. Sure climbing is always filled with objective dangers, but it’s a lot easier to shrug them off when you can approach the climb in flip-flops and rap off at any point to go back to town for a diet soda.

I have set myself up for this kind of thing, and I am thankful that there are people who hold me accountable and remind me of the joy of struggling and the importance of not knowing the outcome. There have been many times during this project where I have lost that vision and have despaired but seeing through the eyes of others allowed me to regain the path. I am hitting my stride again and with that comes the need to push forward and get a little scared. I know that this is my next step even if it is to be a short one as the weather closes in for good at the higher elevations.

Heading north tomorrow. Diabetes is coming along for the ride I guess. I can’t leave it home. Oh. That’s right, I live in a car or on Rob’s couch so technically I have no home. Anyone want to take in a bum pancreas for a couple weeks? No? Fine, looks like its coming with me. Lazy bastard.

Sure does feel like a Monday

By Steve on August 27, 2012 in project 365

Today I am flying back to Las Vegas to reunite with my car, license plates and camera gear. Some days feel like I am teetering on the brink of failure and looking forward into a bottomless abyss that is waiting to swallow hopes of success that have kept this improbable journey alive.

Before boarding I found out that Nick was involved in an accident which damaged his right knee and wrist. Knees and wrists are integral in the activities of climbing and operating camera equipment. To be fair he cant even drive, so our trip together must be shelved and I am going on from here alone. Again. Nick has always been a big part of the artistic vision for this project and I wish him the speediest and most bearable recovery possible.

I am also doing some basic accounting and we are struggling in that department. We have generated 324 likes on the video at www.stevesmountain.com at a ratio of 5 views to 1 like. We are doing everything we can on this end but even if every supporter of Project 365 liked the video we would barely break 1000 dollars.

The success of this project is going to come down to sharing and engaging YOUR networks and YOUR friends to generate the “likes” needed to close our funding gap to complete the project according to the vision we have been following.

I’ve always been a realist. When there is good news I’m psyched to share it. On the other hand, when things are looking bleak I’m not going to pretend they’re not. This project belongs to you and I want to be up front about the current situation.

I have seen some of our supporters really go out of their way to try and help us make it over the hump and that does not go unnoticed. Those of you who share and retweet and tag LivingVertical in your posts are much appreciated…and I am sure there are many things done on behalf of this cause that I am not aware of.

It’s good to stay hungry and it’s good to struggle, right? Maybe I have gotten soft mentally, thinking that we should have things sewn up since we got some press and some kudos with some major sponsorship. This has always been a shoestring operation and it probably always will be. I am ok with that.

I will go back out into the austere places that remind me how little our trivial concerns actually matter and I will find a way. I’m glad we had this little chat. I feel much better now.

bouldering climbing diabetes livingvertical Project365 T1D type 1

Nothing to see here folks…

By Steve on August 22, 2012 in project 365

I am beginning to feel as though I can’t even keep up with myself. I am all over the place! It seems like everywhere I go, when I run into acquaintances and friends I get puzzled looks and comments like “wait…what are you doing here? I thought you were in _______” Which ultimately leads me into a diatribe about the chaos that is my life and so on.

So while I am waiting for my plates to come in so that Nick and I can get on the road, I have been back in NY (flew back here late last week) spending some time with Stef and her dad who has been a big supporter and contributor to Project365. We got to climb at the Gunks on monday despite some rain and yesterday we explored the skytop area of the Mohonk Mountain house property.

Yesterdays climbing at the Mountain House Property was less about difficulty and more about enjoying some scenery and capturing some images on a beautiful day. Stefs dad and I enjoyed some banter over our respective camera choices-he was outgunning me on sheer firepower with a Nikon D7000 but I was capturing annoyingly clear images using just the iphone! As a recent convert to iphone-tography I know how irksome it can be, but the truth is they have some amazing capabilities! To whit:

Today we began working our way back down toward the city where I will be flying out in hopes of arriving in Vegas at the same time as my plates…but I still found some suitable “urban climbing” to entertain and fulfill the days requirements. Note the blue shirt-blue for diabetes awareness!It actually got kind of exciting for a moment when Stef thought she saw a security car driving up to investigate…as I was downclimbing I was rehearsing my explanation of just what in the hell I was doing up there…but there was no issue in the long run.

More updates will of course follow as relevant events unfold. I encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the play by play as we move forward and take pictures of all the ensuing adventures!

adventure climbing diabetes documentary livingvertical photography Project365 Stevesmountain T1D

Where in the world…

By Steve on August 20, 2012 in LivingVertical, project 365

Some exciting news to start the week off-but it may seem a little complicated, so bear with me!

I am totally psyched to officially announce that Nick will be back on the project and that he and I will be climbing together over the next several weeks, predominately in Northern California. This will bring us into the middle of September or so.

I am really excited to be able to have a friend on the road with me and I am even more excited to know that we will be capturing a great deal of media for the project since Nick is a professional photographer and his skill and enthusiasm for camera work always inspires me and elevates my photography.

My goal is to double the current amount of footage we have from the entire project in the next month and change. It will be a challenge but a fun one at that!

More good news…after Nick is done climbing with me, Stefanie will be joining me for the second half of September. Her schedule is allowing her to now take more time to rejoin the project each month which is unspeakably awesome. Many of you know that being without Stefanie is the biggest challenge I have faced. Climbing is hard, but you can steel yourself to that challenge. Being without the love of your life is something that you can’t ever prepare for-in reality you can barely deal with it from day to day!

So where am I now? Well my last day before my registration on my car expired was the 18th. As you know I am waiting for my plates to arrive in the mail, probably middle of this week. On the 18th I drove to Vegas after climbing in Zion. Rather than wait for the plates at Nicks in Vegas where it was a cool 100 degrees at 11pm…I have opted to take advantage of Stefanie’s time off this week and I was able to fly back to NY so I will be with her for the next couple of days and then I will return to Vegas by the time my plates arrive and then on to California!

bouldering climbing diabetes film livingvertical photo Project365 Stevesmountain

Please EMAIL US and SHARE this post if you’d like to get involved and can help us bring Project365 to YOUR community!

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