1.21 Giggawatts

For a second time I've fucked up a foot while bouldering in Rumbling Bald, NC. I think of how it happened often, but it's really of no concern. It may have been my spotters fault, but it may have happened regardless. Maybe had he not thrown a crash pad beneath me as I fell (thus catching my foot, twisting it, and causing me to land awkwardly) I would have landed poorly and fucked it up worse. No ones fault, just an accident.

Rumbling Bald

Either way I'm out of commission for a bit. I can't turn my foot pinky-toe-down. But I can move it in other directions. I'll try climbing again in a few days, but if it doesn't go well I'll have to figure out what to do. In other news, I did find an old how-to rockclimb book authored by  Royal Robbins. In the final section of the book Robbins discusses ethics. Yes, climbing ethics! Fascinating, huh? Along with that book, I also found John Long' and  Jim Bridwell's autobiographies. Rad.

If there are peaks and valleys in one's climbing career, mine feels like it has been in a valley for a very long time, and I'm not sure how to get out of it aside from living under a hang/campus board 24/7. Maybe I should try that. I've been subject to dwindling motivation through the humid summer, one strange hand injury, a very badly sprained foot, and now another sprain. Every injury separated by a meek month of climbing. Not enough time to progress, just enough to realize I've plateaued a long time ago.

Bouldering is interesting enough and it's definitely forcing some thinking on my climbing style. Especially when I can muscle through a handful of V5s, but then get shot down on V2s left and right because I cannot finesse my way through the delicate moves.

Sport climbing is losing its flavor. I can't help but feel as though I'm in competition mode when I go to the crags to clip bolts. Or maybe its just because I'm around other people in general, not the actual sport. Maybe I should just do some trad climbing for a bit . . . but I need to climb with other people for that as well.

So, here I am, sitting in the Lake Lure Public Library, contemplating my next move. More bouldering, for sure, but what then? I need a job eventually, right? And though that I love the Red, I'm determined to never spend another summer there. 

Life.