Name: Keller Rinaudo
Age: 21
Primary residence: Cambridge, MA
Yrs climbing: 3
Height: 5’ 8’’
Weight: 140

How did you start? I guess I got involved with the wrong crowd in high school. My parents told me to stay away from it, but the cool kids were doing it and I just wanted to be a part of the gang. It was all pretty harmless at first. It was just a daily thing, you know? I had it under control. But one thing led to another, and I had to be hospitalized. It’s pretty much been non-stop ever since. Wait, what does this question have to do with climbing?

What's your most memorable climbing experience? Climbing with Eugene Kwan, who has nearly died three times at Rumney in his brief (1+ year) climbing career. After a ground fall on his first day of trad-leading (and outside climbing for that matter), he was next lowered off the end of a 20m rope and fell 25 feet, but remarkably sustained no injuries. Then, weeks later during a storm, a huge tree fell off the top of the cliff and landed on him, breaking his neck and trapping him for hours. But the fire department chain-sawed him out from under the tree and Eugene is still climbing strong today. Inspirational, to say the least.

What did your mother say when you started climbing? She said that I was a mistake. What’s new?

What do you think of trad climbing? It makes me feel old. Everyone knows that God made beautiful rock faces so that we could drill bolts into them, put tick marks on them, and hang perma-draws.

What are you reading? I don’t read. I always meant to learn, but… you know… My friends told me that 1984, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, and White Noise were mind-blowing, though. Also, Infinite Jest.

What are you driving? Whatever car my friends will loan me

What's your favorite food? A farmer’s burger and a chocolate milkshake at Plain Jane’s Diner after sending your project at Rumney in New Hampshire. Nothing ever tasted so good…

Do you watch TV? All the time. Pretty much 24/7 actually. I don’t know what it is but I just can’t get enough of it. It’s pretty awesome. I love it.

Do you climb indoors a lot? Not nearly as much as I would like to. Mainly I just have to climb outside a lot. I’m not complaining or anything, but obviously climbing outside can only get you so strong, and then when I finally do get the opportunity to climb inside I’m always frustrated by my performance. Nothing beats the awesome feel and crazy movement of real plastic.

What other activities do you participate in? I go to school. I study. I manage a climbing wall. Sometimes I sing to myself softly when I think that nobody else is listening.

What's the hardest sport you've tried? Swimming.

Do you have a hero? Warren Buffett
Why? He’s the smartest, funniest, and most honest guy around.

If you could only climb in one place for the rest of your life, where would it be? Rumney, NH.
Why? China Beach

What's the most over-hyped area? Yosemite

What's the most under-hyped area? RMNP

Can you do a 1-arm pull up?
It depends on how angry I am.

What do you like about Bluewater? They make awesome ropes and care about climbers.