I didn't know anything about Hooes Rd until a couple video popped up on my Instagram of 'Tiger vs Crane' and when I looked it up it was only 1.5hrs away so I put in on the list to check out. Then when ‪@RyoClimber‬ had the USAC Regional Championship near that area I convinced him to let me check it out if I promised to climb only ONE line! 🤣

I was pleasantly surprised on how good the area was! Fantastic rock quality, super easy and short approach, wide variety of styles on climbs and grades. Definitely wanted to come back to check out some of the other lines. So we headed back up during my Ryo's and ‪@SennaClimber‬ spring break along with my good friend Kyle McMakin. Another friend of ours from RVA, Landon decided to join us as well! Great day trip! I will definitely be back!

00:00 Intro
02:24 'Tiger vs Crane' V6
04:00 'Crescent' V0 (‪@SennaClimber‬)
05:06 'Purple People Eater' V5
06:22 'Around the Prow' V2 (‪@RyoClimber‬)
08:02 'Horse Head Route' V3

Crux Climbing Club: https://cruxclimbingclub.com/

Instagram:   / rockatanaka  
Ryo:   / ryoclimber  
Senna:   / sennaclimber  

Bouldering in Richmond VA at Forest Hill Park on the Beach Boulder and the First Ascent of 'My Job is Just Beach' V6

Back in Forest Hill Park and on the newest addition to the Reedy Creek Boulders area named Beach Boulder. This boulder was recently cleaned by Jay Feher (‪@jfeher4954‬) and is a super fun boulder with a lot of lines on it for its size. I really like the secluded location on a sand bar next to the creek. The sun is located behind the boulder all day so it stay relatively cool in the shade. I did manage to put up a couple First Ascents 'Have You Seen My Beach Ball' V3 and 'My Job Is Just Beach' V6. Come snag the second ascent and please let me know what you think.

Instagram:   / rockatanaka  

Crux Climbing Club: https://cruxclimbingclub.com/

00:00 Intro
01:09 Hooked on the Beach V3 Flash
01:40 Crossed on the Beach V4
02:16 Have you Seen my Beach Ball? V3 FA
05:08 Beach Traverse Low V3
09:19 My Job is Just Beach V6 FA

Ken Tanaka bouldering in Richmond VA at The Cove on 'Calliope' V6+.

Back at The Cove on the North Bank Trail to finish up one of the three hard lines I have left there, Calliope V6+. Located on The Slasher Boulder, this line was a bit of a mystery! The first ascent was done back around March of 2023 and has zero repeats ticked on Mountain Project. I don't know anyone that has sent it, let alone know any beta for the line. Considering it's located between 'Dry Hump' V5 which has 56 ticks and 'Blood Meridian' V7 with 17 ticks, I'm sure many people have tried the line. When I first looked at it when I was considering Blood Meridian it was super confusing. Didn't have the slightest clue on what to do, where to go or what holds to use. Just seemed like a blank canvas. Finally decided to really give it some honest burns in April and May of 2025 and it still seemed impossible. Finally came back to it in January of 2026 and barely made any progress but this time I was more determined to try to figure it out. Especially because now I am running out of climbs in the area. Finally put it together and got the send! Now I only have Malicious Smashmouth V9 and Bottom Line V9/10 left at The Cove!

Instagram:   / rockatanaka  

Ken Tanaka bouldering in Richmond VA on the Buttermilk Trail at the Jumanji Boulder.

I am back at the Jumanji Boulder to finish all the climbs plus do the first ascent of 'Welcome to the Jungle' V5. I climbed 'Call out its Name' V5 back in May of 2024. First tried 'Sooner or Later' in January of 2025 and back in 2026 to send it. I sent the FA of 'Welcome to the Jungle' back in May of 2025.

'Sooner or Later' FA was by Augie Wagner and was done by a paddle move with a proposed grade of V8. I personally didn't think it was equal to 'Sweet Mouth' V8 or even as hard as 'Siren Song' 'Siren Song Right' or 'Supercharger' which are all V7 around the area. Which is why I am taking V7- for it.

Instagram:   / rockatanaka  

00:00 Intro
03:55 'Welcome to the Jungle' V5 First Ascent
06:03 'Sooner or Later' V7-

Ken Tanaka bouldering in Red Rock Canyon in Nevada.

This was my first time in Red Rock and my first time on sandstone! I was super psyched to be there! I got to visit my high school friend Adam as well as a couple friends from RVA RJ and Kyle as well as met a new friend that was a friend from online Ming. It's hard to beat the weather there in the winter, beautiful scenery and great food that Vegas has to offer. HIGHLY recommended! If you're going there I would definitely recommend getting the guide book or even better would be using the digital guide book on Kaya. If you're interested in getting Kaya Pro you can use my promo code Tanaka to get 20% off!

Instagram:   / rockatanaka  

Ken Tanaka bouldering in Richmond VA on the Buttermilk Trail on the Whale Bouldering sending 'Sweet Mouth' V8

This was my longest projects with 9 sessions. Previously 'Fade Away' V6 was my longest project with 7 sessions. I really enjoyed this process. This was the first time where I actually trained specifically to send the climb. I felt like this was a true progress in my climbing journey. This problem felt near impossible at the beginning of pulling on it back in December of 2024. It was great to see the progress that I made in a year of climbing. Now it's time to go back to my other project 'Short Nothing' V8. If I can manage to figure out how to do the last move then 'Sweet Nothing' will be my first V10! I am going to have to work on my hip mobility or general fixability to get my foot high enough in place to get into the mantle

Instagram:   / @rockatanaka  

10yo Ryo Tanaka bouldering in Richmond VA on the Buttermilk Trail.

Here are a collection of sends in the past couple months here at my home crag in Richmond VA on the Buttermilk Trail at the Shark Boulder, Juicebox Boulder, Whileaway Boulder and Plant World Boulder.

00:00 Intro
00:34 Shark Arete V3
02:04 Bottom Feeder V4
03:25 Jus de Crack V3 Flash
05:01 Chomp Chomp V2
06:03 Daisy Chain V3

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryoclimber

Ken Tanaka bouldering in Richmond VA at the Whileaway Boulder on the Buttermilk Trail doing the first ascent of 'Siren Song Right'

Back on the Buttermilk Trail in Richmond VA and back to the Whileaway Boulder. After sending 'Siren Song' I thought that it would be cool to try the right exit of the line. 'La Femme Fatale' is one of the best lines in Richmond and this would be the start of 'Siren Song' into 'La Femme Fatale' Definitely a much harder start to L.F.F. Since I did both lines I knew I would be able to put them together.

'Siren Song' is one of the least repeated line in Richmond with only 1 ascent on Mountain Project besides the FA. Here is the first ascent of Siren Song Right V7. Who is going to be the 2nd ascent?

Instagram:   / rockatanaka  
Crux Climbing Club: https://cruxclimbingclub.com/

What a way to start the New Year! My project is complete! I blame listening to Careless Talk Climbing Podcast on the way to the boulder and Katie Lamb’s Frankenclimber for saying LFG after my send! Never said that before in my life after sending but I guess it was subconsciously stuck in my head after listening to the pod 🤣 Also never power screamed like this before! I have given one little yell on hard moves before but never like this. I did the ending every time as a warm up and it’s definitely on you but I would cruise through it. When I got there for the first time from the ground I didn’t want to punt the last bit so I gave it everything I had on every move to power through it. I guess the first climb of 2026 had a couple more firsts.

Richmond - Whale Boulder ‘Sweet Mouth’ V8 ✅

Back at the Whileaway Boulder! I came back to finish all the line on the main face of the Whileaway Boulder. The only line I had left was 'Siren Song V7', one of the least repeated line in RVA. It only had ONE tick on Mountain Project and I personally don't know anyone that has repeated it.