Frugal AF
During college, Christian regularly smuggled out this fresh-ground substance from the dining hall.
What is Fountain peanut butter?
These metal loops with spring-loaded gates are the absolute workhorse of climbing gear, used to connect ropes, harnesses, and anchors.
What are carabiners?
This is the name of Christian and Sarah’s beloved home-on-wheels.
What is Romey?
Christian's absolute favorite author, this modern fantasy giant wrote The Stormlight Archive, Mistborn, and stepped in to finish The Wheel of Time series.
Who is Brandon Sanderson?
In the Italian Dolomites and most recently in Colorado, Christian climbed routes using this specific two-word Italian term, which translates to 'iron path.'
What is via ferrata?
Proving that absolutely no item is too personal to acquire used to save a buck, Christian famously did NOT purchase this essential plumbing fixture for the van brand new.
What is the toilet?
One requires just a crash pad, one uses pre-bolted hangers, and one requires placing your own protective gear. These are the three disciplines Christian routinely climbs.
What are sport climbing, bouldering, and trad climbing?
Christian loves camping for free. This type of land, concentrated in the western part of the country, allows for very flexible usage including camping for free.
What is BLM?
: This childhood favorite of Christian's is a fantasy novel about a boy and his dragon was written when the author was half the age Christian is now.
What is Eragon?
Christian studied abroad in this destination, widely celebrated as the culinary capital of France and second-largest metropolitan area in the country.
What is Lyon?
Because paying race entry fees goes against his core beliefs, Christian ran his first marathon self-supported in Tennessee, and ran his fastest marathon under this illegal, non-paying runner term.
What is bandit?
When a climber's forearms get so swollen with lactic acid that they can no longer grip the holds, they are said to be experiencing this 'inflated' feeling.
What is pumped?
Derived from a word meaning 'remote brush country' this is the slang term Christian uses for free camping in the middle of nowhere without grid electricity or running water.
What is boondocking?
In James Clavell's epic Shōgun, pilot John Blackthorne is shipwrecked in 1600s Japan and eventually rises to the rank of this elite warrior class.
What is Samari?
While living in Ireland, Christian braved the wild winds at this iconic, sea cliff destination on the country's rugged western coast.
What are the Cliffs of Moher?
Refusing to pay for an Uber to the airport, Christian ran 7 miles with his baggage only to arrive on far side of the airport, and bartered his manual labor to catch a ride to the terminal in this U.S. state.
What is Kentucky?
In internet slang, it’s a submissive man (which Christian obviously isn't). But in rock climbing, this 4-letter word is highly sought after as the blueprint to solving a boulder problem.
What is beta?
In plumbing lingo, clean drinking water is held in the 'fresh' tank, while dirty sink and shower water drains into this colorfully named tank.
What is gray?
The structure of The Hyperion Cantos—where a group of travelers take turns telling their stories on a journey—is a direct sci-fi tribute to this classic work by Geoffrey Chaucer.
What is the Canterbury Tales?
Often referred to as the 'Grand Canyon of the East and known for having some of the most difficult, unmaintained trails in the state, this North Carolina gorge is also Christian’s favorite spot in the state.
What is Linville Gorge?
Christian builds wealth using the Boglehead 'Three-Fund Portfolio.' Name the three low cost index funds he invests in.
What is VTI, VXUS, & BND?
To secure these points, name any two outdoor climbing destinations, whether in North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Colorado, or outside the US where Christian has actually geared up and climbed.
If you want to plug in a standard household appliance to a van's 12V battery system, you must run the power through this device.
What is an inverter?
This multi-generational epic follows a Korean family that migrates to Japan, starting with the resilient Sunja, and is named after a popular Japanese arcade game.
What is Pachinko?
Christian has traveled to 6 of the 7 continents. To claim these 500 points, you must name one country he has visited for each of those 6 continents.
What are .... a lot of countries!?