Do you climb?

Do you climb?

Rock? Trad? Sport? Boulder?

Ice?

Mountains?




Share any stories or pics...

 

Smith Rock...



Shasta...



Shasta again...



Shasta again...



My local ice spot...

 

Im checking out of the trad game. I like long easy multi pitch stuff (4th to 5.1), but I am all set on lead. TR and a six pack is where its at for me. I got the fear.

 

Owens River Gorge, CA



Rapping down Swan Slab Gulley's P3 in Yosemite...



Climbing in mtn lion country in Oregon...

 

Thanks Carter... Ive spent most of my 20s chasing grades. My climbing partner fell and didn't get up in the Adirondacks a few years ago, the day I was climbing in Owens in that picture... It messed me up. I had some multi pitch leading in Yosemite to do that week and I forced myself through it on a never-again mentality. Not been right since. Love me some boulders and short single pitch though. And oddly enough I will ice climb easy stuff without a rope no problem. Ice bouldering? And long easy stuff. Scrambles and such.

 

Yeah thing is I am mortified of heights. I hate ladders and roofs and ledges. I always thought it was a healthy fear when climbing---to make me want to be extra safe. If I could put two pieces of gear in instead of one, why not. I learned to control the shakes for a while in my calves, which taught me a lot about breathing and harnessing calmness, sucking it up and pushing through an otherwise auto response. It was this in-the-moment zen that I HAD and subsequently lost.

I liked crack climbing better than face climbing because its less of an exposed feeling, like I could lock into the crack and cam my hand. Its a false comfort I suppose having a crack versus a face, but when the wind is blowing you'd much rather be in a gully than an open face.

Mountains on the other hand. Get me above 8000' and give me an axe and my balls drop to my knees. Thats a fear I love.

And ice... I have no fear on ice and thats kind of ignorant. Between the crampons and the axes, you're climbing with tools. As a "modern man", there is a learned conditioned whatevered comfort we take in relying on machines and tools as being extra efficient. I can read good ice vs bad ice, but the tool does the work if you use it right sort of? Anyway, I just feel more at ease on ice.

Rock is the same every year. Do you know how surfing has that slot machine feel, where each set can be 7s and diamonds, luck of the draw nature to it. Ice is sort of the same way, but in slow motion over a season. Theres no ice cam, so the suspense is different. And ice formations are just beautiful.