After a Valentine's morning filled with roses, tulips and pink tri-cams we drove down to Rumney. In the parking lot the wind was howling and the air freezing. I was definitely wondering what the hell we were thinking going rock climbing on February 14th. I bundled up as much as possible and threw my pack on and we hiked up to Main Cliff. We could hear laughter from below and upon arriving found our friends Jay, Kayte, Pat and Madeline! The cliff being both overhanging and concave makes for a protected little haven out of the wind. It is also south facing, which means the sun is a welcome addition to the mix!
We decided to warm up on the classic, Underdog (5.10a), which was my first lead of the grade! Last season I was scared shitless on this climb, and cruxed out on it many different times. Saturday though, I was calm and collected and actually able to enjoy the moves and see the beauty of the climb itself! I found all of the good rest spots, and had no problems with moves that gave me a lot of trouble last season! It felt good to be warming up on something that seemed so hard for me not even a year ago.
I also got on my project to date, Peanut Man. I didn't send it, but I did get through the crux moves before my hands went so numb I couldn't even feel whether or not I was touching rock (I was... and not in the right spot). I was impressed that I not only remembered the moves, but was able to do them smoothly. It definitely wasn't easy, but it felt better than it had in the past which was super!
The sun leaves Main Cliff sometime around 2 or 3 in the afternoon and once this happens both the air and the rock cool off to the point of being uncomfortable and only climbable by the fully dedicated. We're not quite so dedicated so we decided to move on once the sun was gone and ended up at Bonsai (hooray!) which was dry to our surprise. This cliff, while overhanging, is not protected from the wind, so the temperature difference was impressive. I was cold just hanging out even though I was in the sun. Matt and I decided to get on my other project, Peer Pressure when we saw that the classic Masterpiece had a large ice flow at the top of it. Peer Pressure is a super fun 10d which kind of traverses up a corner system and had full sun exposure while we were up there. I was able to get through the climb despite my freezing fingers to the top! I think the next time I am there I will lead it! I've got all of the moves dialed, I just have to get it on lead!!
That night we went out for Thai (thigh) food with the friends we climbed with all day and had such a blast! I really love the friends Matt and I have. They're all incredible people who are forever entertaining and fun! All of that added up to be one of the best Valentine's Days I've ever had. It also very closely mimicked Matt and I's first date together where we went climbing all day, then swimming, had dinner and watched the sunset on the ferry ride home. So romantic.
The next day we woke up feeling tired and sick, but decided to go to the crag and climb anyway. There were a lot of our friends there Sunday too and it ended up be a really fun day despite the tiredness. I didn't feel as strong or as good as the day before, but I have come to accept that those days happen, and to really just enjoy the experience of being on the rock and to learn whatever I can from it.
We met up with Matt's parents for dinner on the way home, which was really nice. I think they really appreciated the opportunity to see Matt before he left on his trip. Speaking of which, Matt leaves tomorrow (Tuesday) for Spain!! I am excited and sad at the same time. Excited that he has this opportunity and will definitely have the time of his life over there. But sad because he's only been here for two weeks and I looove it so much. Living with him is such an awesome gift! He makes me happier than anything ever and having that at my fingertips has spoiled me rotten. I just have to keep in mind that it is only for three weeks, and then I am joining him there! I'll just miss the poop out of him until then.
I look forward to having some more rock weekends before I head out for my trip. So long as the weather is similar to what we had this past weekend I'll be out there as much as possible! We'll see what happens, but I am sure it will be great either way!
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