EP 78: Jason Kehl — Karate Screams, Chronology of Hairstyles, and Bouldering with Cargo Nets

The Nugget Climbing Podcast

Jason Kehl is a professional rock climber known for his highball bouldering ascents, and unique artistic expression. We talked about karate and how screaming helps his climbing, roof climbing in his parents' basement, a chronology of his haircuts, vans he’s lived in, having kids, bouldering with cargo nets in Hueco Tanks, and notable highball ascents like ‘Evilution’ and ‘The Fly’.

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Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/jason-kehl

Nuggets:

2:05 – Karate

6:48 – Power screaming and made-up words

9:20 – ‘Count to Six and Die’

10:47 – Growing up in a small town in Maryland, climbing trees, the basement home wall, and Jason’s go-to move

15:53 – Parental support

16:34 – Jason’s journey to bouldering, and climbing ‘Evilution’

20:25 – Getting noticed for highballing, and bouldering ‘The Fly’

25:15 – Joe’s Valley

27:29 – Jason in High School, pocket protectors, and the weird kid’s lunch table

30:51 – Developing his image, sponsorship, and performing for an audience

32:45 – The competition disguise

33:50 – Jason’s theme song

35:25 – A chronicle of Jason’s hairstyles

42:30 – The Dreaded Wudan Mullet

43:30 – A chronicle of Jason’s vans

47:35 – Falling in love with Hueco, and climbing in the summer

52:30 – Are there any FAs left in Hueco?

55:37 – Having kids, and focusing your time

1:06:38 – Cargo nets

1:17:35 – Social Media, and being a professional climber

1:25:44 – Patron Question from Logan: What was the most difficult part of dropping everything to be a pro climber?

1:28:01 – Odd jobs

1:29:39 – Patron Question from Will: How did the NE influence his climbing?

1:33:16 – Patron Question from Nick: Do you ever go back and repeat dangerous climbs you’ve done before?

1:35:53 – Gratitude

1:37:40 – Don’t give away the beta

1:41:22 – Reminders and stuff I’m excited about