"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all" - Helen Keller
2013 has come and gone and it feels like it just flew by. Looking back at the year, there were tons of good moments with friends and family, as well as some great times spent with new people. Of course there were ups and downs and highs and lows. It's a cycle. You will always have a thing to cherish as well as a thing you want to forget. But for me, New Years is a time to reflect on the old and remember the accomplishments and proud moments made. It's a time to look ahead, a time to look for what you can improve on, and most of all, it's a chance for new adventure.
ATVing with family in Utah
Beginning in 2013, I travelled to Utah with my family. I visited three national parks, went ATVing, and even got some climbing in at Moe's Valley. A few weeks after that, I travelled to the Hueco Rock Rodeo, one of my favorite events of the year. This was my second time in Hueco (my first time in good weather) as well as my first time climbing on East Mountain and I couldn't have asked for a better time. I got the chance to meet so many new people and even got to stay a few days after, climbing some more! Straight after the Rodeo came Open and Youth Nationals, always another fun event.
Bouldering in Hueco
Open Nationals
Youth Nationals
A few weeks later I travelled down to Rocktown, Georgia for the first time. Excited would be an understatement and it was a chance to just climb with no expectations. I had no project I wanted to check off the list and the weather couldn't have been better. Unfortunately, I got injured the first day of the trip and tore the muscle fibers in my arm. I was out for a month and truly learned to have a new perspective. Although this was tough to deal with, I learned so many new things during this time and ended up gaining so much more than I lost. I learned just how important the little things are in life.
Icing my arm after getting hurt --still smiling!
Next came my trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, part uno. The summer before this, I had spent a month here and it always makes me never want to leave. During this trip I felt strong, much stronger than the previous summer, and I sent my project "The Kind Traverse" (v11)! I had climbed all day the day before and was exhausted, did not feel like I could climb at my best. I was psyched to get out and climb that day, but I really had no expectations and I think that's a huge part of why I sent. And because I didn't expect anything that day, that made the send worth so much more to me.
Kind Traverse
After sending Kind Traverse
I was home for a day or two after this trip and went straight to the Red River Gorge. For me, climbing at the Red is a constant battle of ups and downs. I still don't feel as comfortable sport climbing as I do bouldering, but part of getting better is working on your weaknesses. I love every minute spent climbing outside and whether it's bouldering or sport climbing, as long as I get to climb, I'm happy.
Climbing at RRG
After a trip down at the Red River Gorge, came my trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, part dos. See, I told you, it always makes me want to come back! This trip was exciting for me because I got to spend a lot of time climbing with my friends. I was there for a week and didn't have a single rest day. My body ached, I was tired, and some days were slow moving. But, my motivation level kept getting higher and higher as the trip moved on. Beginning of this trip, part dose, I didn't have a new project. When I was there, I just wanted to climb anything and everything. It didn't matter what I got on because every problem was so much fun. That's what I loved about this trip. No matter if it was v2 or v12, every problem was just as enjoyable. It was my fifth day on, and I walked over to try "European Human Being" (v12). It is a HARD problem and every move required a large amount of focus. After flailing and falling many times, I ended the day getting all the moves and was super psyched. Guess I'll just have to go back for Rocky Mountain National Park, part tres!
Me with my friends at the park
Returning back home from the park, it was time to start school and get ready for Triple Crown. Triple Crown is also one of my favorite events of the year! Getting to boulder on three different areas of southern sandstone is music to my ears! It's always a blast and this year was just as fun as the previous year. This past fall was also my first time competing in the Open Category and I managed to make podium. I was stoked! I also managed to get lots of new personal sends on my score card. Although this year only had two events (LRC and HP40), both were so fun and the energy was contagious. Can't wait for it again next year!
Triple Crown 2013
Before and after Triple Crown came some fun smaller comps along the way including a win at the Rockquest Cincinnati Open comp for the third year in a row! There were also some short trips here and there back to the Red and Colorado! I spent my birthday in Colorado with good friends and had the best birthday a girl could ask for. I also had a recent trip to Florida, which was nice to soak up some sun and enjoy the ocean. It felt great to slow down and relax for a bit, but I'm ready to get back climbing!
2013 was an amazing year and it kept getting better and better. I have no doubt 2014 will be great, as well! Some plans for 2014: Hueco Rock Rodeo, Open Nationals, Triple Crown, trip to Bishop, Joe's Valley, Southeast, Colorado, the Red, and more! Thanks so much to everyone who made 2013 so special. Thanks to my sponsors: La Sportiva and Organic Climbing for everything this year as well as everyone I got the chance to meet or climb with in 2013.
Cheers to 2014 and to a new adventure!
Happy New Year!!!
