Ben Folsom and Maura Hahnenberger, Salt Lake City, UT: an interview by Erik Solberg and John Worsencroft, [June 9 and 18, 2008]

Transcript (41, 48 pages) of two interview by Erik Solberg and John Worsencroft with Ben Folsom and Maura Hahnenberger on June 9 and 18, 2008

Ben is a tree climber in Salt Lake City and owns his own business. He's done some tree climbing competitions but rock climbing is his real passion. The two sports are intertwined though--one prepares him for the other. Ben likes to do his climbs in a traditional style, using as little fixed gear as possible. He says that there are different rules and etiquette in different locations and also there are lots of different types of rock and they should be climbed in different ways. When he establishes a new route he says he wants to do it right and will sometimes take weeks to complete it. Maura is currently getting her doctorate in meteorology at the University of Utah with a focus in mountain meteorology and forecasting. She's very interested in the Salt Lake Valley temperature inversion and pollution episodes. Ben and Maura have done a lot of first ascents and established new routes, primarily in the state of Utah. They have both had some pretty close calls while climbing, but love it so much that they say it's worth it. Interview is part of the Utah Outdoor Recreation Project. Interviewers: Erik Solberg and John Worsencroft