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I am a returning student from last year. I have never had so much fun climbing as I did this weekend, even though the weather did not cooperate and I was wet and cold most of the time.
Saturday, my leader, Shingo and I were on the rock before most . We got in the first pitch of Le Gourmet to Front C with no problem and very quickly. The summit was reached by Critter Crack, a more difficult climb and crack something I don't get to climb back home. Shingo would point out the crux and talk me though it, but because he could see me gave me instruction and encouragement.
We reached the summit and enjoyed the view with Duke, Maggie, and Mel until the rain came. Rapping down traffic jam in a downpour was interesting and Shingo helped 4 others down as well. The story was told over pizza at the front porch and we found out that most climbers only got in one pitch that day. I was hoping for the rain to stop so I could go back on the rock, but it did not.
Sunday we were the only ones that stayed to climb.
All weekend I wanted to climb Thais because I heard about the exposure from Caitlin Reynolds, but Shingo said it was too wet because it's the water run off. So we climbed Green Wall. My leader asked many times and in many ways how I handle exposure. But Seneca did not seem as high this year as it did last year. So we did Green Wall, that green lichen is something to see up close and the climb was a beauty.
We tagged the summit and rapped down so we could climb something else. I climbed the Burn with an audience and no beta from the bottom, though Shingo told me about the finger hold at the crux and showed me at one point it can be climbed with no hands. I went from a 5.4 to a 5.8 in one weekend. I learned so much this weekend the deepest respect for the leader, how to place pro because I had to get it out, and I have so much gratitude for my leader who took me on an adventure and taught me climbing skills and made me feel so safe.
I just want to thank Fred Gunther, Rick Huggins and Shingo for giving me the gift of knowledge to make climbing so fun.
Debbie Hornak