Oh Red Rocks! I truely believe it is the reason we love sport climbing as much as we do. So far we have climbed the last eight days straight and I can say we are sleeping like absolute babies every night. The weather has been around 29 degrees everyday, which is lovely..when your not climbing. For the most part we have found shaded areas when the sun is at its peak but there have been a couple days where we have just been beaten by the sun, which is probably part of the sleeping like babies part. We have climbed hard so far and are just starting to feel a bit stronger, I have lead virtually everything I have climbed which is a big step for me, and Jeff is pushing himself everyday. We probably climb around 8 or 9 routes a day and most of them are around the 11 marker. I have redpointed (climbed on lead with no falls or takes) a few 11a's and some 10 d's and im just starting to breakthrough to the 11b's. Jeff is working some 12a's and b's right now and is one fall away on most. He has onsighted several 11b's and c's, redpointed 11d's and 12a's and is working on his goal for the trip which is a 12d called the gift at the gallery. My favorite wall so far is the sweet pain wall and the Gallery. There is just so much for me to work on that is in my range and It is nice to find my own climbing successes and have my own failures. Normally I have just climbed whatever jeff did because he was able to lead them and I would just toprope, but now I feel really comforatable on lead so I can work on my own projects and while I rest Jeff can work on his. Being at red rocks has really made me aware of my desire to be a stronger climber. I think that it is mostly because I am surrounded by women climbing the heardest routes here and it is motivating and inspiring to watch them. It is also partly because without being a competitive basketball player practacing in the gym everyday, I need something to push me to better myself in some aspect of my life. The great and different thing about climbing for me is that it is all individual, sure I have Jeff below me cheering me on and the people we happen to be climbing with encouraging me too, but in the end if I "fail" I am the one who ultuimately decides if it is a "fail" or just a great attempt and a fun climb. The thing I have been able to enjoy the most is that when I am working on a project, the only pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself...so I am learning to decide wether I feel like pushing hard that day and really trying to send the climb, or if I feel like just enjoying getting to the top and embracing the accomplishment that is in itself. Jeff on the otherhand is always pushing to be stronger. He has jumped on climbs that have taken him an hour or more to get up and is "out of his league" but when he comes down he is phyched that it made him that much stronger and has set a precedence of what he wants to be able to climb. The other day we hiked up to the alternative crag and climbed a 12b that was on a 65 foot roof. Im not gonna lie here, he got his butt wooped on it but when he came down he was planning climbs that would make him stronger and more able to complete it. I really admire that about him. I can get really discouraged and feel like I lost or failed, but Jeff just keeps pushing and looks at it like it is a new goal for him to work at. It probably sounds like we have been sooo intesne here when really the only part that is intense is the 20 minutes on the climb. In the nights we hang out with people we have met, we have done dinner and a movie a couple times, and our favorite thing is sitting in starbucks all night watching online episodes of our favorite shows..we are kinda sad though because we have no more modern family to watch, that is our favorite. We have also have kind of snuck into some timeshares and had pool partys after we climb..and maybe use the outdoor shower too...maybe. Overall we have had such a great time here so far and are planning to be here another couple weeks. Eventhough we are having the time of our lives, it is starting to set in how much we miss our family and friends, especially with christmas coming around. I have started to get a little homesick when I see pictures of my new baby niece and her beautiful Grandma! and my little nephew who is getting so big! I am stoked to keep climbing hard and living the dream, but I am also looking forward to coming home to my big happy families in snowy Canada to sip cocoa by the fire and enjoy micheal boltons christmas CD (mom you know you love him). We miss you all and hope that life, and exams, and work, and basketball are all going great, send us a note how your doing! Mucho love!
No comments:
Post a Comment