In this episode I explore the spires and walls made up of pyroclastic breccia in Pinnacles National Park, and why the rock is notoriously chossy.

Link to the Blog: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Episode 9: Pinnacles National Park

The choice is yours for the next location that I profile! Click the link below to vote on my next location!

https://forms.gle/iqMx9VkkavR7i6TX8 

Reach out to me:
Link to the Blog: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

You Choose My Next Location!

Update on the Listener's choice on where I am going for my next episode. If you want to join me the weekend of April 23rd, or just reach out, hit me up on any of the methods below:

Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Link to the Blog: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

My Next Location As Chosen By You!

In this episode I pull back the curtain and let you in on my process of how I make this podcast as I work on my next episode

The Making of The Rock Behind the Climb

In this episode I talk about the geology behind the sport climbing on Mt. St. Helena and give a definitive answer to what the rock type is at The Bear.

Animation of the triple junction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBt-C-hgR5I
Link to the episode notes/photos/sources: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Episode 10: Mt. St. Helena

The Rock Behind the Climb is coming back with a legendary location

The Podcast is Back!

In this episode I talk about the complex geology of Mickey's Beach and why the crag is always changing

Link to the episode transcript/photos/sources: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Episode 11: Mickey's Beach

In this podcast I illustrate the struggle of protecting the erosive coastal bluffs in California through a story of trying to build a sea wall for just 1 home.
Link to the episode transcript/photos/sources: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

The Struggle to Protect the California Coastline

Giant Columns and the Great Wall of California. In this episode we head to Sonora, CA to talk about the geology that created the best crack climbs west of the Sierra.

Link to the episode transcript/photos/sources: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Ep.12 The Grotto

Sand Dunes, Rock Falls, and mountain splitting all interplay to create the wonderful rock climbing in Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. 
Link to the episode transcript/photos/sources: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Ep. 13 Red Rock

https://jazzhammer.blogspot.com/2025/11/trbtc-ep-14-volcanic-tablelands.html

0:00 Introduction
2:45 Town of Bishop 
6:13  Formation of Happys and Sads
10:13  Features of the Boulders
14:00 Jazzhammer Index

TRBTC Ep. 14 Volcanic Tablelands (Happy and Sad Boulders)

This week I talk about the geologic processes and features that created the unique formations at Castle Rock

https://imgur.com/user/TRBTCphotos - link to my photos from the area

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105733890/castle-rock-area - Castle Rock main page for climbing

https://baynature.org/article/the-rock-in-the-redwoods/ - Tafoni sandstone in the area

https://www.portolaandcastlerockfound.org/wp-content/uploads/GEOLOGY-AND-THE-ROCKS.pdf - article describing the weathering process

https://www.mountainproject.com/route/106647664/1-14-crack - 1 ¼” V1

https://www.mountainproject.com/route/106647630/indian-crack - Indian Crack V0

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/112439039/bald-rock-fork-recreational-preserve-brrp - red river gorge

TRBTC Episode 1: Castle Rock

This episode I travel to the Goat Rock Climbing Area of Sonoma Coast State Park, which turned out to be a lot more than what initially met the eye.

Pictures

https://imgur.com/gallery/Irkb0Kw - my photos of this area and of the climbs

Different Climbs mentioned in the episode:

https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105735995/mid-term - Mid-Term
https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105735977/skullcracker - Skullcracker
https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105735989/sunset-traverse - The traverse
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/111503528/mammoth-rock - holistic view of the mammoth rock

Sources

https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2018/3002/fs20183002.pdf - Marine Terrace

http://www.ncgeolsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2010-1_Geology-Sonoma-Coast_MASTER.pdf - General geology of the area 

https://baynature.org/article/goat-rock-state-beach/ - talk about the area including stuff about the geology and scenery

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Ice-Age-clues-near-Bodega-Scientist-thinks-2466058.php - mammoth rocks

TRBTC Episode 2: Sonoma Coast State Park

This episode I headed out to Deadman Summit in the Eastern Sierra for some awesome bouldering, featuring Volcanic Tuff rock. In the episode I talk about igneous rocks, welded tuff, and one of the biggest explosions the Earth has ever experienced!

Photos
https://imgur.com/gallery/WhBLo1s - my photos of the climbing at Deadman Summit, as referenced in the episode
Mountain Project Climbs
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106185356/center-block - Pig nose climb, some crack climbs, and deadman’s corner

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106185421/right-wing - Boulder problem “B” my profile photo

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106064816/june-lake-area - The rest of the June Lake area
Sources
http://the-great-silence.blogspot.com/2009/10/legend-of-deadman-legends-and-lore-2009.html 
The legend of deadman’s summit
https://geology.com/rocks/tuff.shtml - tuff in general
https://sierra.sitehost.iu.edu/papers/2012/Southworth.pdf - bishop tuff
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/long-valley-caldera/geologic-history-long-valley-mono-basin-region - long valley caldera
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/long-valley-caldera/long-valley-caldera-field-guide-inyo-craters - more on the long valley caldera

https://colosseumrometickets.com/building-materials-of-the-colosseum/ - roman collesium

https://blogs.agu.org/georneys/2012/11/18/geology-word-of-the-week-c-is-for-columnar-jointing/#:~:text=The%20fracture%20pattern%20that%20forms,other)%20shape%20and%20form%20columns.&text=Water%20can%20play%20a%20role,columnar%20jointing%20in%20lava%20flows. - columnar jointing 

https://www.nps.gov/depo/index.htm - Devil’s Postpile Columnar Jointing

TRBTC Episode 3: Deadman Summit

In this episode I deliver some announcements about the podcast and then continue the discussion about columnar jointing in the Bishop Tuff at Deadman Summit that I started last episode.

Blog! https://jazzhammer.blogspot.com/

TRBTC Episode 3.5: Announcements and Columnar Jointing Discussion

In this episode I discuss how the sierra nevada granite was formed and shaped for climbing, and use the Emigrant Wall and Kirkwood Lakes areas to talk about it.

Blog for episode notes, sources, and pictures: https://jazzhammer.blogspot.com/2020/10/episode-4-notes.html

Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Episode 4: Sierra Nevada Part 1

In this episode I continue talking about the Sierra Nevada Granite talking about exfoliation joints and the onion like sheeting, spheroidal weathering of boulders, and lots about jointing in general.

Blog for episode notes, sources, and pictures: https://jazzhammer.blogspot.com/

Check out HowNOTToHighline on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQvq-0fss4lNrmIz7gcPLtQ

Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Episode 5: Sierra Nevada Part 2

This week I discuss Joes Valley, Utah and why there are so many amazing boulders there. I also take some time to talk about the consequences of reopening the nearby coal mine

T-Shirt/Tank Order Form!! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjxRNUXePN2IgX9hzaOtQJkwL7qR0u8SE0YPFt6m7jh8LucQ/viewform?usp=sf_link 

Blog for episode notes, sources, and pictures: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/

Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Episode 6: Joes Valley

In this episode I am joined by writer Luke Mehall and climbing guide Roddy McCalley to talk about the endless slabs and cracks among the islands of boulder stacks in Joshua Tree

Link to the photos/blog/show notes: https://jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Link to Roddy's guide website: https://climbwithroddy.com/
Link to the Dirtbag State of Mind podcast by Luke Mehall: https://climbingzine.com/dirtbag-state-of-mind-podcast/

Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Episode 7: Joshua Tree National Park

This episode is the full, uncut conversation that I had with Luke Mehall about Joshua Tree and climbing in general. Luke talks about some of the crazy experiences he had while living in J-Tree for the winter of 2006. Snip bits of the conversation were presented in Episode 7: Joshua Tree.

Follow Luke in IG @lukemehall_writer 
Luke's Podcast: The Dirtbag State of Mind at https://climbingzine.com/

Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

Luke Mehall Joshua Tree Conversation

In this episode I talk about the strange formation of the serpentinite rock on one of the most quintessential bay area locations, the top of Mt. Tamalpais
Link to the photos/sources/show notes: jazzhammer.blogspot.com/
Email Me at: qtodzo@gmail.com
Insta: @Jazzhammer365
Mountain Project: Quinn Todzo

TRBTC Episode 8: Mt Tamalpais

A podcast that connects popular rock climbing areas to the geology that created them. I profile different rock climbing spots and talk about why their features and unique aspects exist, and attempt not to lose everyone in the process.

The Rock Behind the Climb

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