DISQUS

Rachel,

It's good to hear all of the details. Climbers everywhere need to stop and realize the gravity (no pun intended) of even the simple climbing tasks we do. It's easy to do repetative things w/out thinking them through because we have done them a million times. Just a couple of weeks ago my partner had tied his figure 8 incompletely, Last sat I tied through my leg loops only! I caught both of these before getting on the wall. Oh, and kind of funny that another partner forgot to rack up (maybe just draws, can't remember) until he went to place his first piece! Luckily he was really low. You have good advice that climbing partners need to check each other! After all climbing systems stress the importance of redundancy and it IS a partnership.

Thanks again for the reminder. I wish you the best!... and remember the truth that you have learned. The climbing system (when used properly) rarely, if ever, fails. It is almost always human error. When you are climbing above a bolt (or trad pro for that matter), think through your protection (if necessary test it!), and if you are sure it is correct then climb on with confidence in the system and yourself :)

Cool stuff! That riverside rail pic is great! Oh, and about the excel spreadsheet; I'm glad there is someone else as nerdy / nerdier than me that would do such a thing!

Looks like a good time to me! Especially the sunrise in LCC :) Here are some lyrics for you to ponder, sorry about the length. A good song that always gets me thinking about how great life can be and how fast it moves! I used to wish for the next phase in life "driven on without a moment to spend". Now I'm looking back wishing I could have just enjoyed the moment...


TIME STAND STILL
by: RUSH (yes, a good 80's rock band!)

I turn my back to the wind
To catch my breath,
Before I start off again
Driven on,
Without a moment to spend
To pass an evening
With a drink and a friend

I let my skin get too thin
Id like to pause,
No matter what I pretend
Like some pilgrim --
Who learns to transcend --
Learns to live
As if every step was the end

Time stand still --
Im not looking back
But I want to look around me now
See more of the people
And the places that surround me now

Freeze this moment
A little bit longer
Make each sensation
A little bit stronger
Experience slips away...

I turn my face to the sun
Close my eyes,
Let my defences down --
All those wounds
That I cant get unwound

I let my past go too fast
No time to pause --
If I could slow it all down
Like some captain,
Whose ship runs aground --
I can wait until the tide
Comes around

Make each impression
A little bit stronger
Freeze this motion
A little bit longer
The innocence slips away...

Summers going fast --
Nights growing colder
Children growing up --
Old friends growing older
Experience slips away...