EP 02: Charm Bartolay & Wilson Adolfo — staying relaxed when projecting, naps, and traveling as a Philippine citizen

She’s from Manila. He’s from Iloilo. 

They both started climbing in 2017/2018. Met in Tonsai, Thailand during the pandemic. 

Now? They’re inseparabl……y best friends.

Introducing Charm Bartolay and Wilson Adolfo. 

Charm is from Manila, and travels around the world to climb. Turkey. Greece. China. And next up, Spain. She's a strong, technical sport climber who started in 2017. She's from Manila. 

Wilson Adolfo started in 2018! He's from Iloilo. He's climbed hard in Cantabaco, Danao, and Igbaras — his home crag. He sends his hardest after a nap... and might give you a beer after his send. 

Both have a lot to say about climbing at your limit and staying dedicated and psyched. Use the Chapters feature on your podcast app for the episode breakdown.

Links referred to in this episode

• Crowdsourced spreadsheet for climbing info in different countries 
• Charm on Blackfoot 7a+/5.12a
• Igbaras — Iloilo’s sport climbing area
• Ilo Ilo Climbing Community’s Instagram
• Improved belay platforms in Area 4 of Cantabaco — a project done by Cebu Rock Climbing and Global Climbing Initiative

People mentioned!

• Jo R Ala — former Philippines team climber who is starting Vertex Bouldering
• Doc Lu — climber from Cebu who described the moves on Blackfoot. And measures climbers’ pull strength and finger strength!

Charm on Instagram.

Wilson on Instagram and Tiktok.

New episodes every two weeks. With some breaks. Next episode is out 3/29/24.

Chapters

• 0:15 Intro & Announcements
• 3:36 Wanna be on the show? Or know someone? Email us rockandrockpodcast@gmail.com!
• 5:43 Charm's first project: Cafe De Wawa (6b+/5.11b)
• 14:43 Does # of goes on a project matter?
• 19:56 Wilson's first project: Blackfoot (7a+/5.12a)
• 35:59 "You have seen me post Blackfoot on my Instagram..."
• 38:04 How to relax: breathe, chew gum, and sing!
• 40:16 How to relax: feel that your heart is relaxed
• 44:14 How Wilson and Charm prefer to be supported
• 58:27 Wilson's experience doing indoor competitions
• 1:06:40 Why Charm is headed to Spain!
• 1:07:32 What inspired Charm to climb internationally
• 1:20:39 Charm's favorite place: Geyikbayırı in Turkey
• 1:24:11 Travel info for climbers on places like Greece, China, Philippines, Spain, and Thailand
• 1:26:55 What challenges do Filipino climbers face?
• 1:33:10 Uling Makeover! Improving the belay platforms at Uling in Montalban
• 1:33:45 Global Climbing Initiative funds crag improvement projects around the globe
• 1:34:30 Uling Makeover is inspired by Cebu Rock Climbing's improved platforms in Cantabaco
• 1:38:20 🪳 Why Charm & Wilson are ipis (cockroaches)