Rocky Mountain National Park (view from the hike)
For me, some of my favorite parts about climbing isn't just that victory smile after standing on top of your project, but it's about spending time with your friends as well as enjoying the process of bouldering or that 90% "failure" rate. I understand that bouldering has very little success rate of standing on top of that project and once you experience that small success rate, it is incredible, but at the same time the rest is not "failure" to me. It's about seeing the little progress made - getting highpoint, or getting all of the moves on your project, or just getting one move farther than before. To me, these little successes are part of what make me enjoy climbing so much. After spending another week here, I learned just that.
Lake Haiyaha in Lower Chaos
The first climbing day of Round 2, I went climbing in Emerald Lake with Angie, Meagan, Alex, and Kati and worked Whispers of Wisdom (v10). I have always thought this problem was very challenging and intimidating. Maybe it's looking at the committing top-out or terrifying slab down-climb. I would love to send this problem someday, but for now I've been working out the moves. I had worked Whispers with Angie back in June and found out a few weeks later that she had sent it, which is very very impressive! Working it with Meagan, I saw that she was super close on it. Knowing these 2 things, it was extremely motivating and inspiring. Working it again in August, I had stuck more moves than working it back in June, which was a personal highlight for me. And climbing with all these incredibly talented girls...double highlight! And, it was SO fun!
Dream Lake on the way to Emerald
Back in June, I had sent my project, "The Kind Traverse" (v11) and knew I wanted my next project to be "European Human Being" (v12). This problem suits my style well and I was ready and psyched to start working it. It was our hottest day of the trip, mid-afternoon, and I decided to go straight over to try it. Why on our hottest day and why mid-afternoon? Tell me about it, right... ;) Not the best conditions...but I stuck all the moves and it actually went really well! The move to the crimp after sticking the undercling was hard for me, so I decided to go to this intermediate crimp before and bump to the next crimp and that beta felt less extended and easier for me. I was really psyched after getting the moves and although it wasn't the send, just working out move by move was really motivating and exciting for me. The process of working that boulder problem out was my accomplishment for that day. I was satisfied and will be excited to train and come back stronger. So when the temps get colder and the next time I go back...hopefully it will go in the upcoming future!
Lake Haiyaha
"European Human Being" (v12)
"European Human Being" (v12)
Another highlight of the trip for me was spending time with old friends and meeting new ones. Two of the girls I stayed with, Laurel and Ivy, live in Estes Park and were so much fun to be around. I had met Laurel at ABS Open Nationals last year and ran into her while I was here in June and was so happy I got the chance to get to know her and have her become one of my close friends. We spent many hours laughing, climbing, and just having the best time. Another girl, Emily, met me out here and I had a blast climbing throughout the park with her. We all even jumped in the freezing cold Lake Haiyaha on our last day here, which was something I had wanted to do for a long time! Sometimes, it doesn't matter where you are as long as you are with the people that mean a lot to you. I was with my friends as well as being in one of my favorite places - can't get any better than that. :)
Hike up to Chaos
Great day up Trail Ridge
Right before jumping in Lake Haiyaha
Straight up G
2 thumbs up
On the hike
Posing for the camera in Lower
The week was coming to an end and it was time for me to head home and start school. It was time to say goodbye to the park until next season, which was very hard, but I left motivated as always and can't wait for my upcoming trips to the Southeast, Hueco, Colorado, Bishop, and hopefully Joes! Of course I was sad to leave Colorado, but I know that I'll be back again soon. After all, a trip to Colorado never seems to disappoint! Thanks to all the people who let this trip happen, as well as all the people who I had the absolute pleasure to either climb with or spend time with while I was there. Now it's time to start training for Triple Crown! Southeast bouldering...here I come!!!
