Birmingham boulders team

Joe Ortega

Owner | Head Setter

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

It was actually built by climbers.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Anything that is sandstone! Especially Rocklands South Africa, Joe’s Valley Utah, Fontainebleau France, and the Southeast US. My favorite climb is usually the one that I’ve climbed most recently.

What are you nerdy about?

Star Wars, movie quotes, tools and construction, and surprisingly enough, sewing.

George Evans

Head team Coach | Setter

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

The opportunity I have to share what I love with others, and 2 dots.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Toss-up between Apocalypse Prow in at Lost Cove in NC and The Wasp at the Heaven Boulders in Arkansas.

What are you nerdy about?

Apex Legends. I have a problem.

MElysa sauter

General manager | MARKETING COORDINATOR | SETTER

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love how welcoming and authentic the community is. Everyone is so supportive & friendly!

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Fortune at Stone Fort in TN. It’s got quite a full-value pistol squat! But honestly I just love all of the southeastern sandstone and everything at the New River Gorge in WV.

What are you nerdy about?

I'm extra nerdy about plants, astrology, crystals and cats!

Will mcdonald

Welcome desk | Setter

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

Good Setting. Good People. Good Vibes.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

I just moved to Bham from San Francisco and haven't had a chance to climb outside around here yet, so I'd have to say either Hueco Slap at Castle Rock in Santa Clara or Shipwreck at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. I'm stoked to check out HP40 and Moss Rock ASAP!

What are you nerdy about?

The Thirty Years War.

LACy jones

coach | party host

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love problem-solving with strangers whenever I climb! This is true of the climbing community in general, but the friendliness and community is even more apparent at B2.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Hmmm… I don’t have one yet!

What are you nerdy about?

I’m the nerdiest about murder mysteries and true crime!

Adrienne salemme

welcome desk | party host

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love everyone you get to meet when you are in the gym!

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

I’ve actually never climbed outside, but I would love to.

What are you nerdy about?

I am nerdy about pole vaulting and books.

Jace Baines

instructor

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love the friendly atmosphere! There’s almost always someone new around the gym that’s super friendly and awesome to hang around.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

One of my favorite outdoor climb is groove rider (V4) out at Horse Pens 40. It has eluded me for so long but am in love with that climb.

What are you nerdy about?

I’m pretty nerdy about plenty of things honestly. More specifically anything sci-fi/fantasy related. I’m also super nerdy about tools. I love to learn about a new tools or specialized tools.

caroline grady

party host

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love the community and always seeing a friendly face when I’m there! :)

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Either Scales or Radiology at Hospital Boulders!

What are you nerdy about?

I’m super nerdy about backpacking, bikes, cheese, and clovers!

Wesam Nasser

Instructor | COACH | assistant to the regional manager

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

The B2 Forge.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Difficult to answer… There’s not really any one climb but what come to mind would either be “Pope With a Cowboy Hat” - V4 at HP40 or “Reignition” - V8 at Moss Rock.

What are you nerdy about?

Anything MCU, Most Anime, Pretty much all genres of Video Games

carl nesbitt

Welcome desk | Coach

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I really love the community and the uniqueness of the gym.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

I haven’t had the opportunity to climb outdoors yet, but I’m looking forward to it!

What are you nerdy about?

I am nerdy about track and field, science, music, and history.

Jack Richey

Welcome desk

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I definitely love the routesetting and community the most!

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

My favorite outdoor boulder is “No Parking on the Dance Floor” at Hospital Boulders.

What are you nerdy about?

I am a very big Star Wars nerd!

Devin Tanksley

social media coordinator | welcome desk

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I really love the culture of the gym. It’s very relaxed and welcoming, unlike stereotypical gym culture.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

I haven’t climbed outside yet, but I would really love to get out to Moss Rock and Little River Canyon!

What are you nerdy about?

What am I not nerdy about??? Anime, photography and cameras, STEM, cars. You can just call me the thinking man.

artsen craft

Welcome desk

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love this local gym and everything that comes along with it (including Marshal dog)

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Fire Bowl (V2) @ Hospital Boulders

What are you nerdy about?

Gosh all things artsy and crafty! Like photography, jewelry making, and graphic design!

STephanie Leary

Welcome desk | party host

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

The people! Everyone is so cool and welcoming. I used to be so nervous about messing up and trying new boulders but the climbers here really helped me face that fear in order to grow!

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

I haven’t done as much outdoor climbing as I’d like but I currently enjoy going to Moss Rock with my buddies!

What are you nerdy about?

I LOVE music! I’m mainly into the lyrics and metaphors but I’m always down to talk production, performance, or literally anything else music related!

Houston Howard

front desk

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love the community & all of the awesome sets :)

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Definitely Supa Coola at Hp40!

What are you nerdy about?

I’m the nerdiest about Lord of the Rings, sports, & computers!

Tony Ortiz

front desk | party host

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love the community! I’ve been able to make so many new friends thanks to B2.

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

My favorite outdoor climb is Hero at Hospital Boulders!

What are you nerdy about?

I’m definitely a bit of a music nerd. Follow my band @sequoia.trail on IG!

nina cole

yoga instructor

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I love how B2 is an amazing gym for all levels of climbers, and also a very open and welcoming environment; me and my whole family of little kids love to come play up the walls here!

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

Truth is, I haven't ever climbed outside all that much. When I lived in NYC we did some exploring in the Gunks. I'm originally from Utah so there was a lot of outside adventuring and casual climbing that was had. Now, my family of little kids is excited about exploring outside bouldering in this area; Moss Rock feels like a magic place for the littles to scramble around while we parents have fun climbing too. What I actually really love is that climbing is simply a good reason to go outside and to BE, outside.

What are you nerdy about?

I am consistently nerdy in my full-time career as a brand strategist in creative advertising agencies; I love my job because it allows me to broadly take in the world through the lense of how humans interact with the world through the lense of businesses/ brands, psychology and culture. I'm also of course very nerdy about all things related to yoga! From asana practice on the mat to meditation practice on the cushion, or even while doing the dishes and sweeping the floor, I love how a yogi-mind and way of being gives a calm grounded center from which to approach daily living.

trevor Hauenstein

acro instructor

What do you love most about Birmingham Boulders?

I started climbing in high school back at First Avenue Rocks, and B2 has kept that same vibe that makes me feel relaxed and nostalgic. Part of that is the very social and inviting environment!

What is your favorite outdoor climb?

I really enjoy Moss Rock because it is so close. I can’t pick one though because I’ve found so many fun climbs there!

What are you nerdy about?

I am a HUGE Lord of the Rings nerd. I know more useless trivia about that fiction than I do about almost anything in the real world.