Boys Don't Cry
My hands hurt a lot!
I have been bouldering for the second time in a fortnight. I was a climber for about six years, and then stopped when children arrived. So I have been a non-climber / barely participating climber for nearly as long as I was climbing regularly. Anyway, I've been wanting to climb again for awhile, and it is good to start. But my finger strength is all since long gone. And while I was piddling about on V0s and struggling with the V3 that I (somehow) managed last week (and failing), I was watching two amazing climbers just bouldering around on the overhang and making it look easy.
So, a bit jealous. And a bit lonely, as my ole' climbing gang has moved to variously: the province of Northern Ireland; the state of Illinois; the country of Portugal; the county of Cambridgeshire; or realm of other consuming passions (children, martial arts). I may try Partners-in-Climb at Leeds Wall or see if I can reinvigorate any interest.
For now, my arms hurt. In climbing vernacular: "they are pumped".
For reference: http://www.climbapedia.com/en/grades/ - The best I ever led outdoors was VS, though I could top-rope E1 on a good day. At sport grade I could lead 6a+ and top rope 6c. I guess trying V3 bouldering routes is over-ambitious as I am trying to leap back in to the point I was six years ago. I need to brush the rust of my technique and build up my strength again.
I have been bouldering for the second time in a fortnight. I was a climber for about six years, and then stopped when children arrived. So I have been a non-climber / barely participating climber for nearly as long as I was climbing regularly. Anyway, I've been wanting to climb again for awhile, and it is good to start. But my finger strength is all since long gone. And while I was piddling about on V0s and struggling with the V3 that I (somehow) managed last week (and failing), I was watching two amazing climbers just bouldering around on the overhang and making it look easy.
So, a bit jealous. And a bit lonely, as my ole' climbing gang has moved to variously: the province of Northern Ireland; the state of Illinois; the country of Portugal; the county of Cambridgeshire; or realm of other consuming passions (children, martial arts). I may try Partners-in-Climb at Leeds Wall or see if I can reinvigorate any interest.
For now, my arms hurt. In climbing vernacular: "they are pumped".
For reference: http://www.climbapedia.com/en/grades/ - The best I ever led outdoors was VS, though I could top-rope E1 on a good day. At sport grade I could lead 6a+ and top rope 6c. I guess trying V3 bouldering routes is over-ambitious as I am trying to leap back in to the point I was six years ago. I need to brush the rust of my technique and build up my strength again.