The drought is over and the flood gates have opened. Yes, there has been a 100% increase in climbing since my last post! Last week was we went out once and this week… well, we’ve been out twice in seven days!! Not exactly a big deal in terms of numbers I admit, but in terms of my climbing development, the significance of each of the trips has been… well, pretty significant.
The first trip was to Chamonix on Wednesday. What started as a business meeting suddenly morphed into three girls heading to join the hoards at Les Gaillands for a bit of afternoon rock fun (best business meeting ever).
Despite the fact that the place was mobbed, it was baking, and the routes were short, we had the best time. I didn’t climb particularly hard or well, it wasn’t really about that as such, more about a departure from the norm and the rewards that stepping into the unknown invariably always bring. It wasn’t planned, it just happened and this was a new experience for me.
Up until Wednesday I’d only really climbed with manfriend: he of large forearms, knot knowledge and pert climbing bottom. For all of the previous reasons, I love climbing with him but now I know what it’s like to climb with new people, and in particular what it’s like to climb with a group of girls. Without getting all ‘hands in the air independent women’, I have to say it was pretty cool. I borrowed unfamiliar gear, led routes I’ve never seen, held my own and most importantly, laughed. A lot.
To get out there and do it on your own terms with no pressure, great company and with the only real goal being to have a damn good time…….well, that’s got to be what climbing should be all about.