Today, we’re picking up right where we left off with Petch Pietrolungo—climber, AMGA certified guide, free soloist, and the local legend of Lover’s Leap in California. If you missed part one of this conversation, I highly recommend heading back and starting there—it’ll give you a deeper appreciation for where we’re going today.

In this second part, we dive into Petch’s journey to becoming an AMGA-certified guide and how he launched Lover’s Leap Guides back in 2003. We take a close look at stewardship—what it really means, why it matters, and how we all can contribute to protecting the places we climb, even if we’re not out there building trails or replacing bolts.

We also get into Petch’s relationship with free soloing—not as some reckless pursuit, but as a practice that’s deeply personal, calculated, and, in his case, something he attributes to saving his life. He walks us through what it takes to move through the mountains with that kind of confidence, including a mind-blowing day where he soloed 112 pitches… and how those skills and systems carry over into offering large days of climbing to his clients.

Finally we close the conversation off with a deeply personal look into Petch’s battle with alcoholism… how it impacted his life, and his decision to live sober and fully present moving forward

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Resources

Petch's IG

Hire Petch As A Guide

Today’s episode brings us to one of California’s most iconic granite crags: Lover’s Leap. If you’ve ever climbed here, you already know what makes it special—600 feet of mostly vertical granite laced with splitter cracks and wild horizontal dikes that jut out up to a foot. The featured nature of the rock makes the climbing feel surprisingly secure and approachable, even on steep terrain. But beyond the rock itself, there’s another reason Lover’s Leap is such a memorable place—and that is the local legend who’s made it his home: Petch Pietrolungo.

Petch is the founder and operator of Lover’s Leap Guides, the longest-running local guide service in the area. But beyond that, he’s played a huge role in protecting and maintaining the area—working with the Access Fund, CRAGS, and the Forest Service to preserve trails, support nesting raptors, and ultimately give back to the climbing community If that weren’t enough, he’s also put up more than 50 routes at The Leap—ranging from 5.5 all the way to 5.12d—and some of them have already become modern classics. It is safe to say that Petch is a true steward of the land.

But what Petch is maybe best known for besides his contagious level of stoke for climbing is his deep relationship with free soloing. For him, it’s not about risk or ego. It’s a methodical, meditative experience. It’s also very efficient—Petch holds a personal record of climbing 112 pitches in a single day. That same love for big linkups spills over into his guiding, where he offers “birthday pitch” days—where clients climb the number of pitches that match their age. Some have climbed over 50 pitches in a day.
But Petch didn’t always live in the small town of Strawberry. He didn’t even start as a climber.

This is part one of my conversation with Petch—and in this episode, we go way back. From his early days as a surfer to a near-fatal rappelling accident that shaped his relationship with risk. We explore his eight month climbing road trip that took him to iconic places like Red Rock Canyon, Joshua Tree, Devils Tower, and the Wind River Range. A trip that would eventually land him in the small town of Strawberry and his now home crag… Lover’s Leap.

We close off this part of the conversation with his firsthand account of the 2021 Caldor Fire, and how close it came to wiping Strawberry off the map.
This is the first time Petch has ever spoken publicly about his life on a podcast, and I’m honored to bring it to you. So without further ado, here is The Leap’s local legend…Petch Pietrolungo

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HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW & GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EPISODES!

For a little as $5/mo!

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Don’t forget to check out our full video episodes on Youtube!

---

The TCM movement is growing but we need your help to spread the word! Word of mouth is one of the best ways to support the show.

Share an episode with a friend.
Post about the show on social media.
Jump into Reddit threads or Mountain Project forums and tell people what you’re listening to.
Tag the show, tag your favorite guests, help spread the word.

Please rate and review us on your favorite podcatcher.

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We are always looking for new guests. If you or someone you know would be a great fit for the show please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can reach us on IG or email us directly @ theclimbingmajoritypodcast@gmail.com

---

Resources

Petch's IG

Hire Petch As A Guide

Today I sit down with Denis Langlois — father, climber, and dedicated route developer. Like many of us he balances climbing with a busy life of work and family. Denis found that bouldering gave him the most freedom. It let him climb on his own schedule — quick sessions, solo missions, and total flexibility.

One day, while commuting to a job site, he passed through a narrow canyon next to his home town in in British Columbia, Canada..and something caught his eye… boulders — tons of them. Unclimbed and Untouched. Denis knew he had to come back.

Fast forward to today — thanks to his vision and the help of a few committed locals, the Fraser Canyon is now home to more than 80 established boulder problems, ranging from V0 to V10, with development still ongoing.

In this episode, we dive into the deep and layered history of Fraser Canyon — from the Gold Rush to its roots in Indigenous land. Denis shares his personal journey in climbing, how he fell in love with the area, and what it’s been like developing a climbing destination from scratch.

He’s also teamed up with video producer Jesse Wheeler to create a beautiful short film about the canyon and its development — be sure to check that out after the show.

I love having route developers on this show — these are the folks literally giving back to the community by creating more places for us to climb and they usually do so out of their own pocket with their own passion… So if you’re ever heading up to Squamish, looking to avoid the crowds and try something new, make a stop in Fraser Canyon. Check out the boulders, soak in the views, and if you can, give Denis a shout — as I am sure he’d be stoked to show you around.

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HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW & GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EPISODES!

For a little as $5/mo!

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Don’t forget to check out our full video episodes on Youtube!

The TCM movement is growing but we need your help to spread the word! Please share this podcast with your friends and family. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to support the show. If you enjoyed the show we’d appreciate it if you could rate and review us on your favorite podcatcher.

We are always looking for new guests. If you or someone you know would be a great fit for the show please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can reach us on IG or email us directly @ theclimbingmajoritypodcast@gmail.com

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Resources

Kaya Climbing App (Download For Route Information)

Short Film: Gold Rush: The Nuggets They Left Behind

Denis' IG

Jesse's IG