Ohio, to be honest, has me the most excited because it's something I can kind of give back to the Midwest community that really taught me how to climb and gave me so much.

And, you know, I think it's a shame when people really load up in their cars and they'll

drive past these county parks, these state parks, these state forces, and they won't

spend the time, you know, seeing what's there.

You're listening to the Adventure Sports podcast brought to you by 180 Tech.

We talk with adventurers from around the globe to bring you the inspiration and motivation You're listening to the Adventure Sports podcast brought to you by 180 Tech.

We talk with adventurers from around the globe to bring you the inspiration and motivation you need to get started in the outdoors or to keep you moving if you're already there.

Hey friends, welcome back to the Adventure Sports podcast today.

I have a really interesting guest for you. And this is one of those shows where you might do a double take. You say, what? Did he say? Yeah, I really did say, except I haven't

said it yet. So let me say it. Alan Kenneth Shidley is talking to us today from the United Arab

Emirates, specifically from Dubai, and he wants to talk about

rock climbing in the Midwest. Yes, the Midwestern United States that people don't think about

with rock climbing, and yes, he's talking to me from Dubai to do this. So, you know, that right there

is enough to make you take pause. So, Alan, welcome the program. Yeah, thank you, Kurt, for having me on. It's a great pleasure. You know, when you first contacted us and said, I'm in Dubai, but I love climbing in Missouri. And I want to talk about climbing in Missouri. I was kind of like, whiplash, you know, wait a minute. Why is someone in Dubai trying to get to Missouri to climb?

Yeah, it's kind of an interesting enigma because I live in Dubai and at my front door

with a quick flight anywhere, I have some of the best rock climbing in the world.

But I sit at home and I constantly do think about bouldering in Missouri

and Illinois and Wisconsin and the other Midwestern states because I find the climbing that are just

so rich and unique and the community is just really different. I think when you're in a landlocked

area and you have climbers that are hungry

for some kind of adventure, you get this really cool homegrown adventure spirit that I think,

you know, since you don't see the mountains right in front of you, you have to dig a little

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