Whenever I take new people to the gym they always ask me what that smell is. IT’S THE SMELL OF JOY, PEOPLE. LIVE WITH IT.
Abandoned
When you travel, it’s important to make sure those you are responsible for are taken care of.
(TBH, I’m way more worried about how I’m going to survive without climbing for a couple weeks…)
Opposites
We’re not opposites. We’re complementary.
Close, But...
It’s not ALL about the send.
Not A Real Climber
As a plastic-pulling gym rat in Southeast Michigan who only relatively recently started leading and only rarely ventures outdoors on to real rock, I’ve often felt like I’m not a “real” climber. But you know what? I totally am, and so are you.
Unsympathetic
My short friends are so unsympathetic.
Warning Signs
There are certain climbers who are my canaries in a coalmine. If I see them fall on a route, I immediately pretend it doesn’t exist.
The Crux
My project is getting taking down this week. Fortunately, routesetter Bronson was on hand to document one of my attempts last week, the results of which I reproduce here:
Take This Route From Me
It’s always bittersweet when your project gets taken down… but sometimes more sweet than bitter.
Clip It Real Good
I’m off to a citizens comp at my friendly semi-local climbing gym this afternoon! Wish me luck. My goals are to finish in the top-half of the women’s intermediate division and to beat my previous best time on the speed wall (36 seconds).
Green-Eyed Monster
One of the things I love most about the climbing community is how supportive and encouraging everyone is. On the outside, anyways…
The 7 Stages of Projecting
I think I’ve made it to “testing”.
Focus
I don’t project routes as often as I should, but when I do, I invariably spend much more time telling people how my project is going than I do actually projecting.
Check-Up
Any of my fellow female climbers have this happen to them regularly?
PS - While my bruises are all (accidentally) self-inflicted, domestic violence is no joke. For help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Project
We don’t choose our project. Our project chooses us.
Age of Ondra
So, the Reel Rock 13 films were screened at my gym last weekend, and I’m anticipating this…
Reachy
I love my friendly local route setters. Even the tall ones.
Evolving Shoe Preferences
I currently have five pairs of climbing shoes (all of them Tenayas) and yet I do 95% of my climbing in what are ostensibly my warm-up pair.
Climber Resolutions
Happy New Year, climbing buddies! Hope you’ve all made rational and attainable new year’s climbing resolutions.
Climber Christmas Carols, part 1
Happy holidays to all my awesome readers! Hope you get some wall time during the winter break. I’m off next week, but will be back with more fun climbing comics in the new year!
