A Double-Post Sort of Day

I realize that I haven't posted anything about climbing in a while. That's probably because I don't care to share my achievements (or lack thereof) often. I''m at the point where my success is mine, not one I want to expel to be gratified by others.

After working the route nearly the entire summer, Chainsaw Massacre (5.12a) finally began to give way. Within the course of a week I was making such noticeable progress that I sent it after probably close to forty burns total. Though it's probably my proudest send in difficulty, it's not the one I am most proud of sending. That, for some weird reason, is actually a route called Girls Gone Wild . . . Woo! (5.10d).

Why is that?

Probably because when I first came down here, the people I climb with often now, those I would even call friends, watched me chuff all over that line. It was more of send for nostalgia's sake. To remind me where I was months ago.

And now, since I dominated Chainsaw, I'm left with people urging me on to work 5.12b's, which I'm not sure I have even any business on. Super Best Friends is on route that I may be able to get in a few goes if I'm in the right state of mind. I think I have the physical ability to climb the route, but not the mental capacity. Every time I get to the same high-point, the place where I fall, where the route would begin to let up, I say to myself "what the fuck are you doing on this route?"

I think for the next few days I'll spend some time working easier routes in the 11c/d range, if only to get some of the mental motivation as well as the experience and technique.

We'll see how things go.

On November 20th I'll be headed out for Las Vegas, Nevada to spend Thanksgiving at the Desert Rose Rssort and climb every day in Red Rocks. That will surely get me excited for climbing.

But like I said, we'll see.