#multi pitch

You know what I like about multipitch climbing ? 

I like that I’m here. Here and now. Belaying. Climbing. Looking for the next move, looking for the next spit. You have to be present so you stay safe. You have to keep moving and you also have to breathe. To take the time to look at the view and be like “I’m so lucky to be here I’m could cry. But we still have 9 pitches to go, so let’s move.” I love to feel like the world doesn’t exist, and at the same time everything matters most - if we make a mistake, we could get hurt, we could die, if the weather change, we could be in serious trouble. If we’re good enough, we’ll be back in time before the storm to enjoy a beer and brag about the beauty of what we’ve just done. 

It contains two 6+ (5c+) pitches, which were quite spicy, especially the first one: big insecure moves on really bad footholds and afterwards a precarious traverse on small holds and bad footholds. I read that in another climbing guide book this pitch was graded as 7-/7 (6a+/6b) which makes a big difference... and sense :)

It was cloudy so the sun has not burnt us alive. The difficulty was moderate so that we could enjoy the adventure and the views without any difficulties :)

Since I got my own trad rack three months ago, I haven’t really climbed anything harder than 5.7 and I’m not upset at all.

(Photo courtesy of Barrett Redmond)

Everything I’ve done in my short climbing life so far seems to have built perfectly to this point. Like most people (I assume), I started out with indoor bouldering. Requiring only shoes and a chalk bag, bouldering is the most accessible form of climbing. The perfect learning grounds. Starting at zero climbing strength and thus tiring out quickly, bouldering is ideal since it allows you to build the necessary muscles in short sessions instead of more time-consuming trips outside. (A caveat: I had incredible access to a mediocre bouldering gym five minutes from my apartment during this time, so my experience may have been unique). Over this time, I built up strength and technique and was regularly spending two-hour sessions in the gym after a few months.

After about 6 months I was introduced to outdoor sport climbing on a school trip and with friends made on that trip, got into it on our own. Borrowing gear sucks though. I mean it’s great, but it sucks. I felt like a mooch every time I wanted to go climbing. Eventually, I finally bit the bullet and bought draws and a rope: only about $250 but still a lot of money to a college student. This opened up my world! Now, instead of being the guy that was always asking to borrow gear and climb, I was the guy offering gear to go climbing (in return for a belay). I was climbing three times a week outside and the other days, inside. At that time I just wanted to climb sport. Bouldering and Top Rope just weren’t doing it for me anymore.

Then I got my rack.

(Photo courtesy of Barrett Redmond)

Since I got my own trad rack three months ago, I haven’t really climbed anything harder than 5.7 and I’m not upset at all. Now, my sole focus in terms of climbing is fun, cruiser, tall, multi-pitch, trad routes. It’s just so damn fun! Putting what I’ve learned from bouldering and sport climbing together, it seems like a perfect culmination in terms of climbing while also bringing out the adventure and expedition side of me that previously had only been released through watching videos. It’s everything I didn’t know I wanted.

This is not to say, however, that I’m complacent in climbing 5.7 all the time. Having only four multi-pitch leads under my belt, I’m still getting the hang of things and will push my trad grade in due time.

I know it’s cliché, but it’s really not about the grade for me. I just love the feeling of diving into the woods with a buddy, finding the (right or wrong) route, and fumbling my way up it. If it happens to be hard, that’s cool, if not, that’s cool too. Sharing the sentiment of one of my good climbing partners and friends, I know in my heart that multi-pitch climbing is really the best way to enjoy a mountain.

I’m sure this phase of my climbing will pass just like each has in the past. Just like everything, this, too, shall pass. We Float On. I’ll want to send hard sport soon enough.