In this episode, we sit down with Boone local Sam Dospoy—woodworker, van builder, and climber deeply rooted in North Carolina’s High Country. Sam shares how a two year stint dirtbagging in a minivan sparked both his love of climbing and his custom van build business, Stand Up Vans. We dig into his early days of bouldering over couch cushions at Blowing Rock, the tight-knit and low-beta climbing scene in Boone, and his progression into bold trad climbing and first ascents.
Sam reflects on mentorship, the local ethics around development, and the draw of uncovering untouched rock. We also get into the nitty gritty of what it takes to repeat some of 221's most infamous and hardest trad routes, his futuristic project at Hawksbill, how bouldering has shaped his trad climbing, and what it looks like bolting steep routes ground up while hanging from sketchy hooks.
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Climbing in Boone with Sam Dospoy: https://youtu.be/rEkMJdHC4gs?si=yB0C2b23oQV64-Gc
The Castaway - Ship Rock: https://youtu.be/h6DG1F8K5qQ?si=IYFZRSrYfohA1NVV
Blowing Rock Boulders: https://youtu.be/rEkMJdHC4gs?si=yB0C2b23oQV64-Gc
Fire in the Hole: https://www.mountainproject.com/route/117126148/fire-in-the-hole
Hawksbill Project: https://www.instagram.com/p/B571Y-XD-gN/
Heirloom (Moon Rocks Corridor Project): https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7QCbtDzZo/
Ishmael (Stack Rock): https://www.instagram.com/p/BaJ61_CAQ-H/
Pyramid Scheme: https://www.instagram.com/reel/B8l_ZwUJ_Pc/
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Follow Joel on Instagram: @sam_ayye_am
Check out Stand Up Vans on Instagram: @standupvans
Find a Stand Up Van that's right for you!
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Follow along on Instagram: @listentogroundup
Check out our new website: https://www.thegrounduppodcast.com/
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