Fun

None of my training days for the challenge were much fun, so today I took it easy, and climbed for fun. I redpointed White Cougar and played around on some other stuff.

Young and Older

One of the things I've always liked about climbing is the variety of people I meet. Saturday was a perfect example of this: I met Andre DiFelice, a 16 year old crankenfrank from Colorado, and saw an old friend Doug Englekirk who's 45 and still cranking. Elijah, Bob Banks, Hawk, and Paul were also climbing.

It was about 85 degrees and the day went well. I managed 23 laps on 15 minute intervals. Next week I'm targeting 20-26 laps depending on weather. These training days are getting a bit monotonous, so I'm glad there's only one left before the real deal.

Thanks to Bob and Paul for the photos.

Elijah on Chips


Me on the final, scary clip of Old Shatterhand


Me on The Old Pro Skill


Top clip on Pro Skill


Doug on Anchor Punch


Andre on Chips


Me on Anchor Punch

Tuesdays at Damnation Alley (aka The Shed)

Training on Tuesdays is 2-3 hours of climbing on the wall followed by an hour of stomach and upper body exercises. Photos courtesy of Bob Banks.

Front Lever:


Climbing:

"Like Jogging to Work"

Elijah and Normal Guy worked on Atreyu, the variation that climbs Chips Ahoy to the jugs, then traverses right and finishes on strictly Ballroom. It's probably 13b or 13c. NG was complaining about the start on Chips, which you really have to get wired to have a chance on the variation, and Elijah told him "Hey, I hate jogging. The two finger section on Chips is like jogging to work." Watching Elijah on the finishing throw of Atreyu weight 197 was awesome (pic).

The Tor greeted us with great weather once again. My 20 laps went down pretty well on 15 minute intervals. (Laps: Power, Sea twice, Chips three times, ProSkill three times, Shatterhand three times, Cougar twice, Hell twice, Anchor twice, The Natural, AutoMagic.) I've learned a lot about the strategy of ordering the routes. Also, I've improved my diet so that cramping hasn't been too much of an issue. I added my estimated start times for the day of the challenge to my spreadsheet.

Many thanks to Elijah, Brian, and NG for putting up with my belaying requirements. Thanks to Brian and NG for the pics.

Me on The Old Pro Skill


Me starting Chips Ahoy


Me finishing Chips Ahoy


Elijah on the finishing moves of Atreyu (Strictly Ballroom)

Week 6

Today showed how weather will be the largest factor in my challenge. It was 72 degrees, 23 degrees cooler than last week, and climbing went great. The goal for today was to cut my intervals to 15 minutes and do the same 17 routes as last week: Power, Sea, Chips three times, ProSkill three times, Shatterhand three times, Cougar twice, Hell, The Natural, and AutoMagic. Much to my surprise, I completed all the laps and still had energy at the end of the day.

Crappy video of me on the Sea is all we shot this week. (Yes, that is Belt belaying me.) Next week is 20 laps on 15 minute intervals.