Climb On

[erikred]

This is slowly becoming my Climbing Journal.

Went climbing yesterday with mkb_cbr. Started with a nifty 5.6 with a little two-wall action, then moved to the 5.5 that I had to cheat on last time. This time, success! I managed to power through some tricky bits and persevered through sheer stubbornness on the rest. It certainly helped that mkb_cbr has a belaying device that gives virtually nothing while you're hanging; on a regular belay, you can actually lose half a foot while you're getting your strength back, and if you're only progressing half a foot at a time, well, you do the math.

After that I wanted to assail a 5.7, on the basis that if I don't start pushing myself, I'm not going to progress. The 5.7 I chose had a sort of incline that made it potentially easier (since you can lean in a bit) but the foot and hand holds were tricky bastards. I got to do four things I'd never had to do before: 1) I lifted myself up with my elbow; 2) I got a foot-hold by reaching backwards and upwards and kind of hooking my foot(*); 3) I "found" a foot-hold on an adjoining wall that I had to stretch to reach; and 4) I rested by standing on one foot and leaning against the incline (a strangely comfortable position). When I made it to the top, I thought I was going to explode with joy. What a feeling!

(* Okay, try this: stand with your left hip against the wall; put your right foot flush up against the wall; put all of your weight on your right foot and bend your knee slightly; now stretch out your left hand straight up and your right hand out to the side along the wall and pretend that you have great grips with both of those; now, slowly bend your knee and lift your left foot up and back until it's about half-way between your knee and your butt and anchor your foot against the wall; when you feel like you're secure, lift yourself up using your left foot. Fun, huh? Now imagine doing that fifteen to twenty feet off the ground.)

I finished up with my old friend the 5.4. It's funny, but that was the climb that really made my arms sore. That's almost certainly a sign that I climbed it wrong, but hey, it gave me a workout.

Next climb is scheduled for Thursday night. I can't wait!

Comments

Re: Climb on...

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Well, you're already halfway up before you start climbing. ;) Unfair advantage!

Day drinking depends on Peter and whether or not he makes it through next week. :( Got an appointment on Tuesday morning that may be it. :( :(

Re: Climb on...

[erikred.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweetie. Hang in there.