I was born in Orlando but moved to Phoenix while still just a pup. Almost immediately, I discovered a love for climbing boulders that covered the Sonoran Desert scape. Climbing became my passion!
Vinny the Pug
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Hardtimes have come to Sedona, Arizona! It has become victimized by afflictions that are being felt everywhere. The over commercialization of areas adjacent to the best venues is hitting the climbing community especially hard, making it more diff… See more
Vinny the Pug
Sunday, September 17, 2017
The incredible legend of Vinny the Pug continues with an unrelated update. During his incredible thirteen years on Earth, Vinny's love for climbing was the stuff that legends are made of. He would mount boulders so effortlessly, and plant his paws… See more
Vinny the Pug
Sunday, June 4, 2017
It has been a little over four years since my best friend Vinny the Pug left me due unto a cancerous tumor. Ever since then, I've continued developing and pursuing the plans that he and I had made together to help improve the world wherever possibl… See more
Vinny the Pug
Sunday, March 19, 2017
You know the moral the story as I'm sure something similar has had to have happened to you at least once! The day started out well enough and perhaps even better than most after you've checked the weather reports. Cloudless sky's with the exact te… See more
Vinny the Pug
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Here we find an interesting view of "Vinny the Pug" as he stands triumphantly atop Phoenix's famed, Mount Camelback. This particular perspective is that of a birds eye hovering over-head as it looks down upon the mountain. <br /> See more
Vinny the Pug
Monday, November 14, 2016
In this age of rapidly vanishing access to the best climbs, one is often left with whatever he or she can find. A case in point was that time when Vinny the Pug came across the mountain at Salt River Project. It is more widely known as Mount SRP. A… See more
Vinny the Pug
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Very much like every climber who has ever reached the pinnacle of a particularly difficult climb, Vinny the Pug is seen here absorbing his accomplishment. When asked why he chose such a demanding and potentially dangerous pastime, Vinny's response … See more
Vinny the Pug
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
How long it had been since Vinny had last visited his training rock? I really couldn't tell you because once he started climbing in the Sonoran, the time passed very quickly. It could have been a year but no more than two at most. I can't even re… See more
Vinny the Pug
Saturday, October 29, 2016
As if climbing during sun lit hours wasn't exciting enough, being on the side of, or atop a peak greatly amplifies the experience. Because there are only 24-hours in a day, as with every climb eventually the sun's arc begins to decay and that crit… See more
Vinny the Pug
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Every now and then the question would come up as to Vinny the Pug's preferences as far as his gear. His answer most often was that he had no preference because the gear that he had grown to know and depend on for life and safety was produced by sev… See more
Vinny the Pug
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
If he was not a climber but a musician, particularly a guitarist, the title of this article would be "Unplugged". Instead, "unharnessed"was used to convey a phase describing what we all go through from time to time. You know! Occasionally there a… See more
Vinny the Pug
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
In thumbing through the photography album from my years since discovering bouldering, I have found a recurring theme that I had not noticed before. I would have to say it happened quite subconsciously as I do not remember having chosen one crag ver… See more
Vinny the Pug
Monday, October 3, 2016
I suppose ever climber has his or her favorite haunt. That special place where one can find climbing worthy of their challenge, but also, they can find peace and tranquility. For Vinny the Pug that place was Sedona, Arizona. I can't say why he ch… See more
Vinny the Pug
Friday, September 16, 2016
At first blush it seemed simple enough. Start at the base, grasping a firm paw hold followed by pushing off on hind leg and thrusting forward with front leg extended, ready to find and secure a paw hold. Then! Repeat, over and over and over agai… See more
Vinny the Pug
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Vinny's greatest accomplishment was to have been featured in the climbers bible "CLIMBING"Magazine. in the August 1, 2003 issue. Though he was also featured in "Pugs" Magazine Climbing was Vinny the Pug crowning achievement. If you're a collector … See more
Vinny the Pug
Monday, August 22, 2016
As a pup climber who had diligently practiced over several months, Vinny finds himself at the base of Mt. Camelback in Phoenix. Just before his ascent, he suddenly becomes consumed by a mild case of fear. In the milliseconds that are expended durin… See more
Vinny the Pug
Sunday, August 21, 2016
This was Vinny the Pug's training rock for about half a year. Though it was not the first bolder he climbed, it was his training station which he visited two or three times every day. It was here Vinny practiced mounting and dismounting the boulder … See more