We had to do a little regrouping at first. It was a new team. My good friend J climbed with me, and each of us had belayers who I had not met before. P and A were very cool, though.
It is pretty awesome how J finds these good, patient people to help me. And she found another last night while we were climbing.
J kept telling me she was not as aggressive as my other climbing partner. But when we were on the wall, I didn't want to stop she was cheering me on so much.
One thing we had to tweak. I realized halfway through that J was saying this leg and tapping one. I didn't feel it, so she began smacking the wall next to whatever leg. J also lets me get away with using my right leg too much. I need to work on the left leg.
We started on a regular wall and that felt almost easy. I tried to ignore all the kids zipping around the walls who probably weren't born until after I turned 30.
Then it was time for the Chimney.
Unlike the other walls I had climbed, this one had both a negative incline and an outcrop.
Negative incline means that the wall leans a little out so parts of the wall are farther out than the bottom. The other walls had been straight or leaned a little back so the bottom was farther out. Instead of just worrying about climbing, you have to worry about staying on the wall.
Before we started, J kept telling me that it would not be bad if I didn't do this on my first try and that I could always try again.
The way I look at it, though, is I don't want to have to climb through all the negative incline, only to be outdone by the outcrop or whatever. J says "All day baby!" I suspect it doesn't really mean this, but I will succeed at most things if I am given all day. And I took a rest or two on the Chimney. P held me steady so I was safe.
7 comments:
go you!!! that is SO friggin awesome. and i'm totally co-opting that - ADB. you rock.
"Dude, that's so hardcore," says your nephew.
Here is my friend J's full ADB phrase: All day, baby! there isn't anything I can't do & I could do it all day! ADB!
and J is the one who is hardcore. And awesome.
Matt, I have this phrase on my fb with your pix, "Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it." This is ALL YOU!!! All day, baby! There really isn't anything we can't do, ever, and we could do it all day! ADB!!! You are a superstar!!! Fantastic climbing Friday night. And you should add in there how you smeared on the corner of the chimney. You didn't even need to use the holds! That's awesome. ;) Woohooo! ADB!!!
I totally smeared and did not even notice. And then I forgot what you call it.
Dude! you rocked on those climbs! You've got a belay from me anytime I'm there!!
P.
Thanks, sorry you are going to be out of town for the next go-round, Paul.
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