Sunday, July 5, 2009

1 week off climbing + 16oz. coffee


In a cyclone of words and stirring, passionate expressions that I, by and large, want to express, I try to imply the craziness of what boils unfathomably deep.  It’s immensely uncalled for or might even be just musings of a deranged, simply, distant mind.  It’s just plain insanity. How in the world do I find myself in such situations that sometimes deprive me of the little quiet I need?  It’s almost impossible to think about anything else.   The many things that go on, the unrelenting social sparkle, political junk and the occasional devilish impulses do try to derail a perfectly flawed persona.

No matter the thought, it’s always impossible to recall everything that goes on in a span of a few minutes and try to remember what it that got me so neurotic in the first place.  Maybe it’s an exercise or maybe it might be that I’m trying harder than usual to just run out of energy.   The whole effort comes to no fruition and seldom becomes something useful anyways.

I can’t wait for tomorrow when I get back on those crimps and slopers and long reaches, or the occasional dyno.  Thoughts would fade and marginal sanity is restored.  My batteries get charged and once again I’m able to capitalize on some fine good moments to reload my whole spectrum a further.  Centering becomes so easier when I’m out climbing.  There is a solitary mindful approach and that relieves me of the relatively hasty multi-tasking environment I’m drenched in.
"Familia Manson" - Rodellar, Spain
A small gash
First layer of taping before trying again
Embrace the pain and take pleasure in the few seconds of immense effort.  With changing some words, fitting in the word “climbing”, I quote…"To be a climber is to be a student of pain....at climbing's core lies pain, hard and bitter as the pit inside a juicy peach...If you never confront pain, you're missing the essence of the sport. Without pain, there's no adversity. Without adversity, no challenge."  Ah, yes…someone whose view on singularity that refreshes mine.  There is indeed a vast, deep and intense focus related to pain.  In this confrontation there is peace and therein lies one of humanity’s greatest gift.  It’s frailty and weakness.  I am therefore weak and I have to admit that.  It’s a hard lesson learned with numerous failures and a small percentage of successes.  These victories, hard earned and shortly lived, fully restores you on a level equal to others.  It destroys ego.
Final product after trying again and again . . .
As anticipated this stroke of reflection ends and so does my caffeine high.  What’s next is to come around tomorrow, awaken to a new day that once again would try to re-administer several new vitamins and minerals to chew on.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

High on the Edge

High on the Edge


There is no doubt that climbing has been a big part of my life.  Sometimes though I hear climbers say theyve been climbing for more than half of their lifetime and this makes me feel like a baby.  I would love to find myself answering the unavoidable question, How long have you been climbing,  in the same manner someday.  11 years seem long but for me I havent even touched base of what I would consider the full immersion into climbing.

Ive been out there hanging onto these edges  for a full 11 years and a half but I feel not much really has there been any full-on expression of what the experience is like.  At least not locally.  There are competitions and rock-trips but those are mostly appreciated only byclimbers.  What meets the public eye is a thin layer of ice, never whats beneath it.

It just occurred to me, maybe, maybe it wont be too bad to publish some cutting edge climbing photos that would tell stories in single frames.  A lot of photos have been flying around in local web pages and its kind of like in a closed loop.  It might be good to share some of these experiences onto a bigger circle.

I guess that’s the whole point of having this kind of an event.  Photos are meant to be seen and to have each photo convey a feeling, solicit a reaction or deliver a sensation is an even bigger accomplishment. To see past beyond lighting, color and effect would be a great effort. It is much like being able to appreciate fine art and the whole package of emotions the painter puts in every stroke.