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| Falling from here would be traumatic! |
We didn't do much climbing today. I can tell a summer full of climbing is starting to wear hard on the group and people are getting injured and exhausted by various excursions, climbing related or no. We intended to go to Central Oaks Area but it turned out to be more of a bush wacking and scouting trip than a climbing trip. A few of us climbed Simple man, the boulder at the end of our round about path. By the time we found Phantom Crack? (question mark necessary to describe the climb) we were much too intimated by the simple lead and decided to leave it for another time.
It was worth making the hike, though. I led Robbins Crack for the first time (the climb I injured myself on the past on), and this was Alex's first time top roping outdoors.
Click here for more photos>>
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| View from the Central Oaks Area |
The first thing we did was try our hand at
Simple Man in the Central Oaks area.
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| Jason on Simple Man |
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| Jason on Simple Man |
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| Jason on Simple Ma |
I felt like this route was so sketch because it would have been easy to fall down a rocky corridor if I came off the route.
Then, much to my chagrin, we went over to
Robbins Crack. Nick wanted to feel like there was a good reason we brought our cams. The implication was that I would lead it. Ahhh. If you remember right, this is what caused a
bruised face and some broken dreams not many weeks ago.
I actually got so scared at first I couldn't do it. Maybe it was the memory of the roped face, maybe it was just overall poor confidence with leading. I placed my first cam, and I got scared and bailed. I am glad Patrick was belaying me because he is a pro.
The only reason I was able to do it eventually is because Jason set up a
pinkpoint for me. I don't think that is embarrassing at all. I know how to place cams, I know how to climb sport, but I've never made the connection enough times to not be scared stupid when I'm doing it. And not having to place gear saves me valuable seconds when I am still getting used to holding a position. I am not looking forward to another milestone on this.
Anyway, happy day. I finally led Robbins Crack, despite it being so easy on toprope.
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| I'm climbing in! |
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| Falling from here would be traumatic! |
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| Pulling Pieces while repelling. |
I hurt my hands something awful.
Then we moved onto Black Finger where I didn't so well. I was bleeding like whoa and It hurt to put pressure on the tops of my hands.
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| On our way to blackfinger |
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| Scoping out Blackfinger. |
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| Ow my hands. |
I don't know how much climbing is in my future. I start my masters degree in mechanical engineering at SDSU on Monday, august 25th. I'm scared and worried about how much it will eat up. Maybe it will be adventure climbing.
Talk to you again soon,
Maria
