July 6, 2008 - Stone Mountain/Pilot Mtn Weekend 6/27/& 6/28

Last weekend I climbed the Great Arch at Stone Mountain with Richard. Yes, that big arch in the pic above is it!

It was amazing!!!

We started on Block Route a 5.8. One pitch. Then The Great Arch started at the top of Block Route.
The Great Arch was 3 pitches itself. A 5.5 and it is slab.

Richard leading the first pitch:

I think it is so amazing how trees just grow at the top of the face like that...a bird planted a seed there, and it grew....just like my gutters on my house right now. ;)

Me cleaning on the first pitch of The Great Arch:

2nd pitch:

After the 3rd pitch (last pitch ) of The Great Arch, we went up the "scramble" to the very top (summit) where the hikers hang out.

The famous tree:

Views from The Summit:

See the hikers (above)?

After we climbed and chilled out on the summit, we rapped down and went to the swimming hole.

I sooo want a new backpack!

I really loved Stone Mountain! :)
I have so much fun climbing with Richard too!


That evening, we went over to Pilot Mountain and camped with Kevin and Matt.

Then on Sunday, I climbed at Pilot for the first time. This is a top roping crag. And it also has a few sport and trad routes and routes you set top ropes from above. (single pitch)

I hopped on a route that I can't remember the name of. It was a hard vertical 5.6 for a warm up. (not the usual slope slab) :p

The climbing at Pilot seems a bit more pumpy for me than the other places I have been so far.

(I wanted to practice to see what it was going to be like July 4th weekend up at Seneca Rocks in WV. I hear Seneca is pumpy and more vertical.)

I tried Gentle Ben. He wasn't so gentle after all...5.10
Even when I started over to the right of the route, the easier start!!! LOL

Kevin did his first outdoor lead that day. It was on Black Rain 5.9.

Kevin chalking up:

Kevin is a good climber. He is so solid and smooth. He has very good technique too. But I honestly don't think he would've done this lead though w/o:

Yep, you got it...MENTOS!!!

I LOVE these guys! They are a trip!

Matt top roping Black Rain:

Me:

A funny thing happened on the way out:

We were pulling our ropes b/c it was about to start pouring. I pulled mine, and yelled "rope"! ...and I bent over to grab my rope bag, and I thought I was clear of the rope. As I bend over, the rope comes down and literally spanked me! It hurt like a MF! lol Kevin was like, "OMG! Did you just get spanked by your rope?" haha

The weather sucked on the way out! It poured on us. Kevin actually had to leave his anchor. :(
The hike out of Pilot in pouring down rain is brutal, to me at least! Especially, going up the Three Bears Gully!
I was totally drenched when I got to the car, but it was still fun! :)

I drove home from Pilot in the crappiest weather, but not as bad as the hail storm I drove through on the way home from Table Rock the weekend before.

June 25, 2008 - I Lost My Virginity!

This weekend was the most amazing one ever! :)

I went to Table Rock to climb. I left work at 4 pm and Richard left Raleigh/Durham at the same time. We got up to Morganton, NC, right outside of Table Rock, at about the same time. It was a nice ride up too! Great weather!

It was right at dusk when we arrived at the picnic parking lot at Table Rock. We saw some climbers going up Table Rock with their headlamps on. They were doing some night climbing.

We set up camp with our headlamps and started a fire pit! We drank a beer or two and went to bed.

Saturday morning was awesome. It was a tad chilly when I woke, but warming up fast.

We got all our gear loaded and started the approach. Table was pretty busy Saturday. The weather was absolutely fantastic!

My first time there was back in April with Doug and Jason. It took us a little bit to find some of the routes. But we asked a few people. They were all friendly as usual.

We got on Cave Route. It's a 5.5. It was easy, but still fun though. It was a nice warm up for what was about to come. ;-)

This route was an onsight for Richard though! I flashed the first two pitches cleaning after him.

We get to the 3rd pitch...

I started goofing around. To get to the 3rd pitch, you had to walk off of the 2nd and hike up a little. There were several routes up there. Richard and I started goofing around. He took a pic of me holding a pink nut in my mouth as if it were a rose. lol Then as I was hiking up, he started joking, "There goes Sue, soloing her first lead." haha Very funny! (it was a scramble trail) We get to the bottom of the 3rd pitch of Cave Route, and he and I start joking around again. I started flexing my muscles and we were just having fun being silly.

I looked over the route, and I asked Richard if I could lead it. I told him I thought I could do it. Richard's response was, "I know you can do it." I was ready. It was well protected, and it wasn't a really bad climb to start my first lead on. I felt very confident on it too. It was a great feeling. Richard said I was so smooth, and I looked so relaxed. I felt cool mentally too. I wasn't whigging out like I thought I would if I were to ever lead something. I didn't fall or slip and I didn't hang or rest on any of the bolts. I onsighted my first lead. :)

I know that this is supposed to be a mixed route, technically. However, I felt comfortable on it, and I only used the bolts that were there.

A funny story on the way up...I am leading my first route ever, right? Well, these guys had gone up as we got there at the base. We were joking around and having fun with each other and had not noticed those guys were even up there. Anyways, the guide book says you should walk off. As I am past my 2nd bolt, someone yells out "Rope!" and a huge wad of rope comes straight for me. Before I could even say anything! I saw it, and took a deep breath and just held close to the wall. I remained very calm. I was fine. So on my first lead, I'm having to move this dude's rope out of my way. It gets tangled, and I had to get it all out of mine from below me. I was afraid to climb up with their rope that close to mine! lol Well, basically, it was on top of my rope. Rope is already heavy enough w/o having someone else's tangled up in it! I yelled up at those guys and asked them nicely if they could wait to do their rap. haha "I"m leading my first ever dudes, can you wait?" lol

After we were down, I wanted to go back and lead the other 2 pitches of it since I had just cleaned them. It was sort of addicting. I wand to lead some more routes. haha

We were at the top of the first pitch again, but this time I lead it. It starts thundering, and I knew the 2nd pitch was run out with only one bolt. Even though that 2nd pitch was really easy, basically a scramble, I still got freaked out. I was about to talk myself into it when we heard thunder...and I also really need to practice my belaying technique for belaying a follower, so we bailed.

I really enjoyed leading. I can't wait to do it again! :)

I'm slowly learning, but it feels great! When I lead the first pitch, I used my own rope too! :)

I did cartwheels when we got back to our campsite! lol (seriously, I did) My adrenaline was pumping so hard. When I first got down from the rap, I could barely have a conversation with some of the dudes down there. I was so freaking high! I seriously felt like I was on drugs. I was grinning from ear to ear. I LOVED it!

We met this really nice group of folks that were climbing and camping right near us. We climbed with them on Sunday. I love meeting new random people. So much fun! We drank a few beers with them that evening. And we hiked to the Chimneys where the top roping area was over looking Linville Gorge.

We met up with the guys we had beers with that night at Peek-a-Boo on Sunday. While we were waiting on that route, Richard lead the first pitch of Jim Dandy. He climbed up without me. I was talking to Mitch. Anyways, Richard yells out, "Hey Sue, now that I'm clipped to the first bolt, can you put me on belay?" I was like, "WTF?" And the guys were kinda laughing...but Richard is correct. As his belayer, there is nothing I can do for him until he clips into that first bolt or puts in his first piece. It just seemed weird not to have him on belay though.

Anyways, after he reached the top of that pitch, it was my turn. Of course, I wanted to lead this. :(

A weird thing came over me, and I decided to play a trick on Richard. I had reminded him earlier as he was leading up that I would need to change out of my approach shoes so he would need to give me a sec to do that before I started climbing. Well, my approach shoes are the Five Ten approach shoes with the climbing rubber. They stick really well. I asked Mitch, "I wonder if I could climb this 5.5 in my approach shoes?" I started laughing. His response was so cool. "You'll never know unless you try." I told him he was my kind of man. So I did it. lol

I didn't fall once! It was kinda tough though I admit, even though it was only a 5.5. I didn't have my toes!!! I had a big round shoe. That part sucked.

Mitch asked if he could lead Peek-a-boo. I wanted to climb it again and commit to the 2nd pitch move this time. So Richard told me to follow and clean, and he would go up 3rd. That way he could talk me into making the Peek-a-boo move. I was so scared! That move is scary. You basically have to lean out from a ledge over a gully and put your arms on the next wall. Then you have to get a good hand-hold and get your feet up and move over to that next upper ledge. That is the start of the 2nd pitch. Well, I did it this time. It helped having Richard there to talk me through it.

Mitch going through the Peek-a-boo move:

This is the Peek-a-boo move:

The view from the first pitch:

Mitch leading the second pitch:

My turn!!!

It took me a few times to commit. haha I didn't trust my right foot. I ended up making the move with my left foot first and leaning into it a little.

I did it:

So relieved!!! Whew!

This has been my scariest rappel yet!

After a certain point, it becomes a complete mid-air rappel.

The total rappel was over 200 feet, I think, but we had to rap over huge roofs! Jeez! You sit in your harness and get all the way to your tip toes and then push off. Then there's nothing for your feet to go on for a bit until the next roof. UGH.......

I still get scared rappelling.

I really liked climbing with Richard.

He motivates me somehow. I'm not really sure I would've lead that pitch that day had it been someone else. He's a really good partner. Hopefully, we will be going back out on the rock again soon. He wants to take me to Stone Mountain. :)

It's important for me to feel that trust with my partner or have a connection. The jokes, the sense of humor, patience, fun factor, safety, etc.

I am climbing up at Seneca Rocks in West Virginia July 4th weekend with a new partner from PA. I can't wait!

So I finally lost my virginity, and I lead something! :)

Maybe this is a taste of what's to come? Leading trad??? That's all that is in NC basically. If I want to lead, I've gotta learn trad. I'm gonna be a trad girl.

June 17, 2008 - May 2008 New River Climbing Trip

Memorial Weekend, I went up to the New River Gorge in West Virginia on a climbing trip with a group of folks from the NC and SC areas.

I really didn't know anyone! Cory drove up with me. She's from Charleston (originally from CT), and we had 5.5 hrs. to get to know each other on the way up! haha Then, there was Jill, I had climbed with her twice before w/ SheClimbs.

We saw this on the side of the road on the way up into West Virginia:

A cow was loose! hahaha

Out of a little more than 18 folks, I barely knew 2 of them. It was cool though. I really like doing things like this now. I met a lot of new great friends on this trip! I love doing new things and meeting new people.

You gotta step outside of the box!

I had never been to The New River Gorge before nor climbed there. It was an awesome weekend. It is a very beautiful place!

The New River:

I especially loved Summersville Lake though! So gorgeous! You can climb and then get in the lake if you wanted. It was a little chilly still for that weekend, but it would be an awesome place to climb in the summer.

The approach to the Lake was not bad, really. It so pretty! There is a gravel road/trail and then you hit several hiking trails and cross a small stream. There was a ladder we had to climb down to get in there, but it was cool. I don't like ladders though. Scary!

This is us on the approach, after you get out of the parking area and the gravel road:

Yes, we came down this ladder on the way to the lake approach.

I mean, seriously, I have never been on an approach this gorgeous before!

On the way out:

Yes, the ladder!!!

Bubba City was great too! The hike in and out was long though. But I survived.

This pic was taken on the way out after about 30 minutes+ or so of all uphill scrambling and hiking through the woods...and just when you are out of the woods and relieved, you get into a clearing and then you see this:

Ah, the wonderful powerlines!

Yep, I am getting a new backpack!!! :)

I climbed some fun routes and belayed for a lot of folks. Meeting new people...etc. LOVE it! I met some great people to climb with in the future too. Some great belayers. Some great friends.

These dudes got me on some hard routes. They motivated me though to try them out, and I did. I hopped on a 5.9, a 5.9+, a 5.10a and a 5.10b. I did not send them, but I tried really hard.

I hang dogged a lot but I got some of those moves. I was surprised at my strength and confidence, my technique and foot work was a little better. One of the dudes said I was very strong, and he said I had skills to become a good climber. I just need to work more on technique and get stronger in my legs/feet and mentally trust those feet. He said he was impressed with my determination though. I did not give up easily. (I do at my gym though, however) I like the belayers who get me on things I don't think I can do. They get me all motivated. He was very patient. They have faith in me, and it makes me have faith in myself. A good coach. He's a really good climber himself. I really liked his energy. (Faith = belief....if you have faith, it means you really believe that person can do it, and that makes me feel great up there when i'm climbing)

Our late night campfire jokes and talks...talking about our most embarrassing moments, etc. Our sarcasm and goofiness! Man, I miss all these guys! (I think my fav's were Richard, Kevin, Matt & Sutapa and Mike May. I also thought Angela and her husband, Jeff, were pretty cool)

Anyways, I want to tell you all which routes I actually sended and which ones I attempted with a lot of pain. haha

These were all top roped. These climbing areas are all mostly single pitch sport climbs.

At Summersville Lake, I sended:

Hippie's Dream (5.7), That Eight (5.7)

I worked on Souled Out, a 5.9, for like 30 minutes or so and gave up. I just couldn't get that one move over that ledge.

I also worked hard on She's Got the Bosch, I Got Drilled, a 5.10a. I was on this for a long time it seemed? It was hard! But I had a lot of fun though. I didn't come down from it b/c I was scared. I came down after being tired as hell from working on it over and over again. The crux...I just couldn't get those moves. It was really hard, but I'm glad I gave it my all though to try it out.

I also attempted Scoot Your Muffin, a 5.10b. I did really well on the start and got to that first ledge area, but after that, I just couldn't figure it out. It was just out of my league. I mean, I'm normally sending 7s and 8s. You know?

Even though I did not send a bunch that day at Summersville Lake, I was happy though that tried like hell on those harder routes. Quality v. quantity!!!

And it doesn't hurt to try out new things. You'll never know unless you try!

(I remember back in October at Crowder's I came down from my first 5.9. I came down b/c of fear though. I was scared to try. Now, I come down b/c I'm tired and have jelly arms and legs. haha It's funny how so much has changed. I was scared to try back then b/c I was afraid of falling. Now, I'm not as afraid of falling. I just go for a hold. I know my belayer's got my back. And this is all top roping. I'm sure that will all change though when I do my first lead. lol)

At Bubba City on Sunday, on TR, I sended:

Plumber's Crack, a 5.6. This climb was fun. There was a lot of stemming, etc. and footwork technique involved. I really liked it.

I also sended Butterfly Flake, a 5.7 and Shady Lady, a 5.7.

I attempted a 5.6 with an overhanging roof. I did not have a helmet on though, and I got scared. (I have already purchased a helmet since my return from The New.)

I did not like that 5.6 at all. I asked to be lowered.

But two routes over from that was a 5.9+ called Celtic Sun. After watching Richard climb it and Paul climb it, they got me on it. I did well on the start. But I felt insecure again about the helmet situation! So Jeff offered up his helmet. I just felt that I would have more confidence if I had a helmet on. There were a lot of roofs or overhangs. So Richard did a little 5 feet or more climb up to pass me Jeff's helmet. It worked. I instantly felt safer. Yay! So I worked that 5.9+ really hard. I made it to the crux too. But once again got stuck. I've really got to work on my feet!

Richard said he was impressed with my determination though. He said my body moves really well on the rock, I just need to work on my feet.

I talked to a friend in PA on the phone last night who gave me some more advice about the feet. I really need to work on my legs getting stronger and using my toes and feet. It's so hard to train my brain to go with the feet. Pushing myself up to the holds, instead of pulling myself up to them. My legs feel weak. I really need to get to work on this.

I bought my first rope, and I've got all my anchor items as well. I took a free SheClimbs top rope set up clinic on June 4. All we did was go over top rope set up over and over again all day. I wanted my own gear for this clinic. :)

I think I'm ready to start leading now too. Sport, that is. I want to go lead some 5s or some 6s soon. So I'll be buying quick draws soon....maybe!

Eric and I went on an adventure to find boulders in Columbia the other weekend!

Hilarious. Of course, we did not find any! www.rockclimbing.com actually said there were a few places here. We made the attempt to find them but to no avail. They just don't exist! We still had a blast hiking and hanging out though. We went over to Peachtree Rock Preserve.

Then later we walked at the river walk and went for a swim in the river...and just talked for awhile on the rocks. It was a very nice day!

Saturday, I tried to learn to wakeboard. I loved it. So much fun! I actually got up my first time! But I turned my torso too soon, and I fell. Then every time after I just lept falling. I feel twice on my belly and had to figure out how to get turned over. It's kinda hard when you're feet are attached to a board under water. So i did a front dive and flipped my body under water with my feet and board above the water. hehe I went with my neighbor and friend, Bobby. He's so super nice too. We're going back out soon. I cannot wait!