30 Days of Climbing

Today I climb in the morning. This is the earliest I've arrived so far, and I'm the first one here.

I work on a few regular problems and top out twice.

Then I move to this section of wall where I've never practiced before. Looks like it's for practicing sideways traversal over protruding rock faces. I attempt it several times, starting from the left and the right. It's a good challenge and I get tired.

I finish the morning by practicing on the slackline for a while. Once I am able to walk to the halfway point! I feel like I make significant improvements on it today.

Today I do not climb.

Today I do not climb.

Today I hit the gym at night. There's a party going on, but many people are done climbing and have moved on to drinking, so I have lots of space to myself on the walls.

I complete a V2, V1, V0, then tackle some other problems. I'm here with a friend who isn't climbing, so I don't hang around too long. I push myself to keep tackling problems without a break in between until I can't hang on anymore, and now I'm tired and finished.

Today I leave little time between work and my even plans.

Just enough time, in fact, to show up, complete a single problem on my first try, and leave.

Today I go to the gym around 9:50.

I start with my favorite V2. I like this one because of the fun movements and body positions going up, it flows nicely, and because of the thrill of climbing over the edge at the top.

After that I do a few other problems throughout the gym and a15-rep set of knee ups on the dip machine.

I find a new V2 that I like, but am unable to complete it tonight. I'm looking forward to tackling this problem tomorrow:

I try a V0, complete it, and while I'm climbing back down I jump off the wall and hit two of my fingers on my right hand on hold. At this point I am sure I'm almost done.

To finish the night I try a V0 that's on a significant overhang and complete it. Then I do another 15-rep set of knee ups.

Finally, I make eye contact with someone.

Today I climb in the morning before work.

The gym opens at 9 and I aim for that, but get up an hour late, and roll in around 9:50.

I tackle a new V2, which I can't complete, even after several tries.

Then I work on a V1 and finish it.

I also do my first exercise in the gym. I do knee ups in 2 sets of 12 reps each on the dip machine.

Today I hit the gym around 9:05.

It's going to be a quick session because of the roughness and sore spots I can feel in my fingers from yesterday.

I intend to pace myself so I can actually climb every day, especially tonight, because tomorrow's session will be in the morning at 9 AM.

I start by topping out a V1 in a part of the gym I haven't done much climbing yet.

Next I return to the V2 I conquered yesterday to make sure I have it. I top out on my first try, but I do have a moment of fear at the edge when I can sense my arms going numb from strain, and I know I either have to finish this fast or I'm going to fall and I'm not in a good position to fall. I'm either going to tumble backwards or my arms are going to scrape the edge. Fortunately, I think the fear of such a fall motivates me to summon the strength I need to hoist myself over the edge.

My arms are quite sore now and I walk around for a while. I check out the workout area and do a pull up, then return to top out a V0 that I've done before.

With three top outs and only 15 minutes of climbing I decide to call it good for today and save strength for tomorrow.

I go to the gym around 6:15 PM and climb for about 40 minutes.

I start by focusing on the V2 I tried yesterday. After half-dozen attempts or so I complete the problem and top out.

Next I try another V2, but am too tired. I move on to some easy V0's. I try a few V1's but am still too tired, and can feel my fingers getting raw. I know I should stop soon and pace myself if I'm going to do this every day.

Finally, I top out on a V0.

My gym has a slackline and tonight I step onto it for the first time. On a few attempts I'm able to take a few steps, but I don't get far out. I am looking forward to getting better at this!

Welcome to 30 Days of Climbing!

This is my climbing gym:

I'm in Portland now and I have a 1-month pass at The Circuit Bouldering Gym NE. It's my intention to go here every day for the remainder of my time living in Portland.

Tonight I boulder for about 20 minutes. I start with V2 problems, then drop down to V1, then V0.

Afterwards I sit on a bench, eat, and watch other people climb. This is my view:

I don't talk to anyone. Instead, I enjoy my time to myself.