Well one week may not seem like a lot, but when starting anything new it seems like getting the ball rolling and committing to it is often the hardest part. When the Rock Climber’s Training Manual showed up on our doorstep I was excited but also intimidated. This is by far the most comprehensive training program we have been involved with, and so far it’s quite motivating. A lot of the most valuable parts have been more mental than physical. For instance how to set appropriate goals, subtle things to think about when climbing to improve efficiency, and ways to evaluate your climbing weaknesses and seek out exercises to bring them up to par.
Robyn hiking in to Tiers of Zion just above Golden, while not considered a winter crag it provided shelter from the wind which was worth sitting in the shade for.
Halfway through another mileage day. Mark my words, Tiers of Zion will rival Canal Zone in popularity this summer..
Excellent views over Clear Creek Canyon.
Lacing up for another mileage day. Working on a weakness… slab climbing.
After 40 feet of no holds you get to climb out onto a protruding band of quartz. I wanted to use the word xenolith there to sound smart but i’m not sure that’s accurate…. Pops? Cat Slab has some super quality rock and challenging slab.
Cat Slab has a couple loooong routes as well as multipitch. We got on several rope stretchers today – even with the 70m cord.
Looking down from the anchors of a super tall 5.10 at Cat Slab.
Over the last week Robyn and I have set long term goals and also some more immediately attainable intermediate goals. All of our skill practice will go toward addressing weaknesses identified in our self evaluations, and we are now in the first phase of our training a two week base fitness phase that ramps up the climbing mileage to help prepare our muscles for more taxing workouts to come.