I’ve been writing for my friend and Editor of the Tahoe Quartlery, Kyle Magin, for a few years now. Generally when he picks a story idea and sends it my way, it’s right up my alley, but when he asked me to do a Q&A with Dave Nettle, a local climber and ski mountaineer, I couldn’t type yes and hit send fast enough.
All photos Reuben Shelton or Dave Nettle.
One of the things I’ve really come to love about living in the Truckee-Tahoe area is the outdoors community, and a series of slideshows, put on by Alpenglow Sports, is a shining example of that. I first came across Nettle at one of these slideshows (the series, I later found out, co-founded by Nettle), and I loved his attitude and approach to his world-class climbs, ski descents and adventures.
All photos Reuben Shelton or Dave Nettle. Midway up Mt. Asgard, Baffin Island.
To still be at it after 40 plus years, he had to be doing something right, so to get to interview him was an exciting prospect. I reached out, offering the option of a phone interview (which I prefer for spontaneity in questions and answers) or questions sent by email, which many people prefer because it lets them pick and choose their wording in response.
All photos Reuben Shelton or Dave Nettle. Approach to Mt. Loki, Baffin Island.
Nettle did me one better. He wrote back: “So, for me one of the main incentives to do any interview IS to get a chance to meet someone new and interesting and be able to have a face to face encounter. Let’s do an in-person … We can hit RockSport, climb a bit then grab a beer and kick things around.”
My jaw dropped. As a perpetually novice climber, an opportunity to climb with someone I so admired was once in a lifetime, even if it was only on plastic. Despite a young gym punk trying to correct Nettle on belay technique (I reiterate, Nettle has been climbing over 40 years, and add he is a professional rope rigger), it was a fantastic experience and a great conversation.
Click here to read the Q&A with Dave Nettle in Tahoe Quarterly – Eye to Eye: Dave Nettle
Sierra Outsider 