Tuesday I went climbing during lunchtime with a couple of friends.  If you're climbing hard, it's nice to climb with two others because that'll give you a couple of minutes of downtime when one of them is belaying the other.  Still, if you want to climb more frequently, it's better if you can pair off with just one other climber.

A female voice came over the PA system: "Attention Planet Granite members and guests.  There's a climber at the front desk who's looking for a belay partner.  Come by the front desk if you can help."

A slight pause.  Then, "Oh, and this climber's awesome."

We looked at each other as our bullshit detectors pinged.  What was that last bit for?  Was this climber so terrible or repulsive that he needed that obviously insincere recommendation?

Whatever.  My buddy Charles decided to toss the loser a line.  I (jokingly) reminded him, "We'll decide who's awesome around here, and if he doesn't cut muster, he's out."  Honestly, the three of us are no great shakes, but it's fun to cop an attitude if you can.  Charles headed off to the front desk (behind the wall), and later came back alone saying, "He wasn't at the front desk anymore.  They'll find him in the bouldering area and he'll come by."

A little bit later, a tall and strikingly beautiful co-ed walks up and asks, "Are you the three climbers who're available to belay another climber?"

I was the one not tied in to a rope at that particular moment, so it fell to me to pair off with her.  I'll take one for the team.  They can thank me later.

She allowed me to climb first, and I went up a 5.10b with no difficulty.  A 5.10c would have been trouble, though.  She made some appreciative comments, then decided to warm up on a 5.11d, and waltzed up that thing like it was nothing.  (If you're not a climber, that essentially means I was revealed to be an amateur in the presence of a genuine athelete.)

Climbing turned out to be excellent.  She was strong, graceful and fun to watch on the wall.

Aww, geeze.  She was awesome, after all.  The P.A. announcement was no lie.  I was the one lucky to be climbing with her.

I go climbing during lunchtime a couple of times a week with my colleagues.  Last week, I wore a t-shirt from an old fund raiser for Stacey Li Collver.

It's a great shirt with the front designed by Lynn Hill.

I heard the voice of a woman calling out, "I know that shirt!"

I turned around, and it was Stacey.  She was there climbing and preparing for another fundraiser.  (Details coming, when I get the flier again.)

Her story is inspiring, here's an excerpt from the Lynn Hill link above:

In August 2003, Stacey was diagnosed with a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). By that time, her case was already in an advanced state. At the time of diagnosis, she was put on supplemental oxygen, and she was told she had approximately two 2 years to live unless she received a lung transplant.

Fortunately, in November 2004 Stacey did receive a double-lung transplant at the Stanford Medical Center! She was taken care of by her mother, Laura Jeanchild and friend Dave Allen with special attention to nutrition. After a lot of rehabilitation, Stacey was back to climbing indoors 3 months after surgery! However, within the next week she had a major setback, and fell ill to CMV virus, pneumonia, and influenza all at once and spent nearly 2 more months in the hospital. She was released from the hospital in April 2005 and is now making a second recovery. Six months post-transplant, she started hiking and indoor climbing again.

While the transplant was hailed as a success, she continues to battle post-operation complications and has amassed enormous medical bills. Survival rates for transplant patients remain at 70% for the first year, and 50% for the first five years.
Stacey Collver is widely known within the community as the tiny climber who encourages others through enthusiastic coaching, patient mentoring and by leading though example.

I'd seen Stacey at the gym before, I even remember "that girl with the oxygen tank" from a few years ago.  It was good to finally meet her and to be able to exchange a few words.  Please visit her organization, The WindSong Foundation.

I try to climb at the local gym a couple of times a week. I'd always been afraid of the tallest pillar, which usually has 5.11s through 5.12s on it. But there's a lowly 5.10c (or d?) route towards the highest top-rope-able anchor in the building.

There's a picture of the pillar here.

Anyway, I gave it a try today. I warmed up on a couple of easy routes, abandoned all hope, and powered my way up it! I was blown afterwards, but I'm happy!

Yea, me!

Climbing yesterday with Ted at an indoor gym, I grabbed a hold that wasn't bolted in tightly enough, and it spun and I fell. No problem, I climbed back up to it with a wrench, and tightened it back in place.

Ted took his turn, and when he got to that hold, I said, "Don't torque that hold, or it'll spin and throw you..." (I had to think of a good simile. Like what? Like a drunken cowboy? No. That'd be him, not the hold. Like a Brahma Bull? Good, but doesn't carry an intrinsic punch. There's always, like a two-bit-hooker. But a two-bit hooker wouldn't necessarily spin and throw you. Aha!) "...like an undercover police officer pretending to be a two-bit hooker."

He was disgusted. I laughed. It's stupid, I know. Guess you had to be there.

It's taken me a couple of weeks to upload them, but here are some pictures from our latest trick to Red Rock Canyon, Nevada.