self help

No, I'm not talking about AA sessions or visiting the shrink here.  I'm talking about learning how to get myself out of a tough situations while climbing.  (Perhaps I need some other forms of help as well, but that should be discussed in another post, another day).

Max is starting to push himself on trad closer to his real climbing limit.  Two weekends ago at Cathedral he and Andreas went up Airation and I don't think I have ever heard Max make so much desperate noises before.  I was too tired to try it on TR, but I really didn't want to TRonsight it anyways.

With him pushing closer to his limit, I worry.  Not because I do not believe in his climbing abilities.  I think he is a SOLID climber.  But it never hurts to learn things that can prevent disasters from happening. The chance of me belaying him while he is climbing at his limit?  Extremely high.

So when the opportunity came through MITOC to take a self-rescue course with Mark Synnott, I signed up immediately.  How is it possible, that after climbing for all these years, that I never thought about taking this class?  I encourage any trad climbers to take it, because you just never know when you may need the skills.

We spent the whole weekend working on the basics, such as the munter-mule hitch, which looks extremely difficult in the book that I have.  But once we tried it a few times at the crag, it made a lot more sense.  I tied the hitches repeatedly until the muscle-memory kicked in.  Hopefully it will stay there as I go on my next adventure this afternoon to Yosemite!

It's going to be a big group of 10 climbers.  I think we are going to have a blast in the valley.  Carlos and Adrian will join the Eastcoasters (A1, Keith, Kristian, Carrie, Max, and I).  Brian and Nancy from SF will also climb part of the week.  Hopefully the weather will be much better than last year, so that we can try all the climbs on our tick list.  I think we are hopeful and there are lots of excitement with all the emails going around.

As A1 says on FB, "Even if we have to do Royal Arches 8 days in a row we're getting it"  
I hope that you guys can do it this time - in a day!

The best part, is to be away from it all and just focus on one thing and only one.  Climbing!

See you all later.