5 Juli - Lead

Today we went climbing with Michele at what has become the usual spot in Hesigheim. Michele picked us up at about 11 and off we went. I forget how easily I can get out of shape for climbing. My head gets me the most and I panic, making it that much harder to climb. My arms get pumped pretty easily too and my fingers start to burn. Michele is a very good climber and I try to climb what he climbs which may be part of the problem. I always forget to take it down a notch when I am climbing with someone better than me... maybe it's pride or something.  There is this one climb that is his favorite because the rock is still rigid and not polished from so many people climbing it that I find really challenging. I did it last time we were there, but it was a struggle. Problem number one is the first clip is about 15 feet off the ground and is not an easy ascent to get there. I tried, but just when I was in reach of the clip, I had no way to let go with one arm to clip in. I hung on too long willing myself to do it until I nearly fell. Luckily Michele is at least 6 feet tall and with arms outstretched was able to let me sit in his hands to bring me down. I was so embarrassed and therefore kind of shot after that. We did climb a little longer though. Michele led this one route and secured the top anchor so Skylar could climb it. Then Skylar belayed me on the climb to the right of it because the rope angle changed when the clips were taken out. This route was so polished my hands and feet kept slipping off of everything and I was cursing the rock while Skylar and Michele laughed at me and said I wasn't going to get any ice cream if I didn't climb it. Well, put my ice cream at risk and I scampered up the wall about as clumsily as possible, but I made it. Then luckily (for me because I was wrecked at this point) it started to rain a little, so we decided to go. Definitely not my best climbing day.

They teased me a bit more that all I could get at the ice cream place was a glass of water and they were probably right, but I promised to get to the gym more often and make it up :)

Michele dropped us off at home and we made dinner and went to bed. I was so sore.