Fresh off a record-breaking run at 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell, Nadya and Sean sit down with Ari and Rob to share how they approached the legendary 24-hour climbing marathon. From Sean’s disastrous first year of Oreos, Gatorade, and brand-new shoes to the meticulous (and sometimes improvised) strategy that helped Nadya smash the women’s points record, we dig into what works, what doesn’t, and why the right partner makes or breaks your experience. They also talk about the upcoming rule changes for the 20th anniversary of “Hell,” what excites them about a clean slate, and how community and stoke fuel their endurance.

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Follow Nadya on Instagram: @nadyavorotnikova

Follow Sean on Instagram: @seanvallefuoco

Follow along with all the Horseshoe Hell Fun: @therealtwofourhell

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Interested in signing up for the event?! Check out more details at https://www.twofourhell.com/

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Follow along on Instagram: @listentogroundup

Check out our new website: https://www.thegrounduppodcast.com/

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Most would call climbing for 24 hours straight crazy — doing it 20 years in a row is downright ludicrous. In the nearly two-decade history of 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell, only one team has competed every single year: Dick and Natalie Dower, better known as Leather and Lace. Over time, they’ve become true legends of the 24-hour climbing scene at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch.

In part one of this year’s Horseshoe Hell miniseries, we sit down with Dick and Natalie to trace the history of the event. From hand-written scorecards and early strategy missteps to record-breaking ascents and the evolution of the competition itself, they’ve been through it all. We cover what it was like in the early years, the tactics and grit it takes to keep climbing route after route, and their historic pushes that inspired new generations of climbers.

With the 20th anniversary on the horizon, Dick and Natalie reflect on how far Horseshoe Hell has come — and what still keeps them coming back.

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Follow Dick on Instagram: @dickdower

Follow Natalie on Instagram: @nadneal

Follow along with all the Horseshoe Hell Fun: @therealtwofourhell

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Interested in signing up for the event?! Check out more details at https://www.twofourhell.com/

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Follow along on Instagram: @listentogroundup

Check out our new website: https://www.thegrounduppodcast.com/

Sign up for the Mailing List!

What happens when an arborist and a dog walker swipe right and end up traveling the world on a shoestring budget? In this episode, Nettie and Dave, better known as the Climbing Backpackers, share their incredible journey climbing and dirtbagging across the globe. Hear how a ruptured Achilles and a spur-of-the-moment decision sparked two years of non-stop adventure, what it’s like living on £10 a day, and the wild experiences that come with climbing in places like India, Thailand, Laos, Turkey and beyond. From top-rope guiding in Badami to navigating crumbling crags and tuk-tuk rides, this conversation is full of stories, laughs, and insights into the nomadic climbing lifestyle most of us only ever dream about.

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Follow along on Instagram: @Climbing_Backpackers

Check out their adventures on YouTube: @TheClimbingBackpackers

Learn more about the Climbing Backpackers and their "Climb & Chill Weekends": https://www.climbingbackpackers.com/

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Climbing Destinations Covered in the Episodes

Badami, India

Batu caves, Malaysia

North wall, Thailand

Perlis, Malaysia

Thakhek, Laos

Huu Lung, Vietnam

Geyikbayiri, Turkey

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Follow along on Instagram: @listentogroundup

Check out our new website: https://www.thegrounduppodcast.com/

Sign up for the Mailing List!