Ian Nicholson

Age: 27, Years climbing: 14, Hometown: Seattle, WA, Favorite product: Miura

Do you clip bolts, plug cams, stack pads, or crush ice?

All of the above, but I enjoy longer routes on any medium the most.

How long have you been an athlete with La Sportiva?

This is my first year.

What are some of your lifetime climbing goals?

To keep loving climbing as much as I do now. Of course there is always the next idea for first ascents, speed climbs and brilliant looking lines.

Do you have a claim to fame?

I've climbed some new routes in remote corners of the world as well as climbed others pretty quickly.

Do you have any vices?

Chocolate Milk (I've even ordered it at bars) and most things sweet.

What makes you tick as a climber and in the real world?

As a climber I get psyched exploring new huge unclimbed faces. Also, I'm stoked with the challenge of moving efficiently over enormous amounts of terrain. I'm driven to push myself to improve as a climber and a Mountain Guide. In the real world I love spending time with my wife, especially in the mountains because its the best of both worlds.

What drives you to climb? The money? The groupies? The fame? What?

I love to climb in all its forms and would do it no matter what. Being a Mountain Guide you could say I climb for the money at least part of the time but I am still loving it.

What is your favorite movie?

Splitter, The Dosage series, Progression, First Ascent. I own over 30 climbing movies and watch them way too much.

Do you have any nicknames? Explain:

E and Big Ian are pretty common. Iron Man and El Fuego are my Yosemite nicknames. El Fuego, Spanish for fire comes from speed climbing in Yosemite in red spandex.

What’s the longest you’ve gone without sleep? Why?

I've gone just over 24 hours numerous times climbing new routes in Patagonia, Canada, the Cascades and elsewhere. The longest was probably in Alaska while attempting a new route on Kichatna Spire. We had two 70m ropes and put in 17 V-threads plus a half-dozen more rock rappels. Then I dropped my helmet into a cravasse at the bottom and had to rap in and get it, definitely not what I wanted to do after 27 hours

If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be?

Maybe Washington since that is where I live. It sounds cool and hey it was the name of the first president. The bummer would be there isn't a great nickname to go with it, I mean what would your friends call you "Wa"?

What did you have for lunch yesterday?

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

If you could hook up a thought monitor to your head, would you see pictures, hear words or would music be playing?

For sure pictures, most likely of climbs I've done, people I've done them with and trips and goals I would like to do.

What really scares you about climbing?

Not being able to climb. Objective hazards, avalanches and seracs. Maybe its spending too much time in the Cascades but loose rock really doesn't bother me very much.

If your life was made into a movie, what would it be called?

Too bad they already made an Iron-Man movie that was way sicker than a movie about me. Maybe the title could be "Its Really Not That Bad" or "I'm Cold".

Where would you live if it could be anywhere in the world?

I enjoy living in the Cascades and would have a hard time giving them up completely. I have debated moving full time to Yosemite Valley for a year or two. It would be nice to split time with Washington in the summer, California in the Spring or Fall and then some place new ever year to explore and keep it fresh.

Have no food or have no gasoline?

No gasoline

Do you wish you had sexier feet?

I am really happy with my feet, but some think they're ugly and more think they smell bad.