So far this year the Shawangunks, or the "Gunks" of NY have been a pivotal part of my climbing season. This past weekend marked my third trip out this year, the first trip holding my very first trad lead (No, I haven't written about that yet. It's stewing... give me time!) and this past weekend hosting a mini east coast tweetup - or #NovGunksEx according to @ajsilver...
Photo by Dave F.
Our crew consisted of @BillUrbanski, @PartickGensel, @Taxnerdatplay, @AJSilver, @MtnSquirrel, Laurel's family, and friend Sara + kids. It was so awesome to see everyone together for the weekend. I'd never met Laurel in person. I was delighted to discover she is shorter than I am :) Always looking for ladies I can learn from. I get to see her again this week in Joshua Tree. We all spent quality time on the rock and at the camp site, proving again to ourselves that climbing is so much more than climbing.
My biggest take home message from this weekend was the ability to bail. I'm new at the trad leading thing, and while I want to try as many things as I can, I often get myself into places I can't get out of. That's frustrating for me. As usual, it's the fear standing in my way, not the climb. I lead all but the last move of a 5.6 (good for the sand bagged Gunks), the first pitch (off route) of Madam G, and bailed off of the second pitch of Easy V in the dark. All were legitimate places and reasons to quit, and I didn't have to leave any gear. I just got really frustrated at my failed attempts to grow. It didn't hit me till the drive home - those weren't failed attempts. Three months ago I would have laughed at the thought of leading trad. Now I'm bailing off of a Gunks 5.6. I've grown so much. Not every step has to be big, it's the fact that I keep pushing myself.
I'm sitting in bed right now, all packed for JTree, thinking about the steps I'll take there. As always, my priority is people, but after meeting all the bodies behind the avatars, I wouldn't mind trying my hand at a nice 5.7 crack...
:)
My biggest take home message from this weekend was the ability to bail. I'm new at the trad leading thing, and while I want to try as many things as I can, I often get myself into places I can't get out of. That's frustrating for me. As usual, it's the fear standing in my way, not the climb. I lead all but the last move of a 5.6 (good for the sand bagged Gunks), the first pitch (off route) of Madam G, and bailed off of the second pitch of Easy V in the dark. All were legitimate places and reasons to quit, and I didn't have to leave any gear. I just got really frustrated at my failed attempts to grow. It didn't hit me till the drive home - those weren't failed attempts. Three months ago I would have laughed at the thought of leading trad. Now I'm bailing off of a Gunks 5.6. I've grown so much. Not every step has to be big, it's the fact that I keep pushing myself.
I'm sitting in bed right now, all packed for JTree, thinking about the steps I'll take there. As always, my priority is people, but after meeting all the bodies behind the avatars, I wouldn't mind trying my hand at a nice 5.7 crack...
:)
