Rites of Spring

2

Something Interesting 5.7 (pitch 1 +2 strung together)

March is NOT a spring month. It is still winter, and I always get fooled. Nonetheless, we've been having a spell of nice weather, and we got out again on Saturday. It was a lot chillier that we'd been led to expect; but (for me anyway) not uncomfortably chilly.

So am I a 5.7 leader these days? I'm not complaining (really), but that's kind of the way it felt... Ran it out ok up to the first crux. Then moved up and down, up and down.... placed some gear... clipped the pin to back up my (perfectly solid) gear. Could NOT remember how to do that crux move. Finally figured it out, moved on up. Not exactly terrified, but..... really felt (the lack of) core muscles and lockoff strength. Second crux, more or less the same story. Chicken, bwak bwak bwaaaak! It was fun and all, but I really LIKE being a good climber, and right now I'm not.


So...

After that pitch, C and I decided to bag climbing for the day and go for a little bike ride. (I would have been up for more, but C wanted a break; she finds early spring climbing very stressful, and it was kind of chilly) We went for a mellow 8 mile bike ride on back roads. It was nice and relaxing. And going around a corner getting back to our car, C's front wheel slid out on gravel and she layed the bike down and BROKE HER PELVIS.

I'm not going to share too much personal info; but... she's fine. Clean, stable fracture; healing nicely. Scary, and exhausting, but she should be up and at 'em again pretty soon. No fun at all though!