Friday glee has very small hands

[rydra_wong]

The Friday post of glee is where you get to tell us about your climbing-related happiness this week.

It can be a new achievement or adventure, or just that you climbed and had fun; it can be that your favourite climbing wall is expanding or that you bought new rock shoes or that you found a cool ice-climbing vid on YouTube. No glee is too small -- or too big. Members are encouraged to cheer each other on and share the squee.

To enhance this week's glee: Ashima Shiraishi is more hardcore than you. Note: she's recently sent Chablanke (V11/12). Aged 9.

I would like to be her when I grow up.

Comments

[astridv]

I'm celebrating the return of the outdoor bouldering season. And I discovered a website which marks interesting buildering spots in my home town. This is my favorite (I discovered that spot on my own). It's a fake!ruin which used to be part of the old zoo and housed owls; it's made of sandstone and it's perfect for climbing.

I'm currently working on a route round the structure... I have managed 1/3 so far, but the remaining parts are difficult! Lots of challenges. :)

[rydra_wong]

Oh, that's wonderful (both the site in general and the building -- I love the idea of building a fake!ruin just for owls). And yay outdoor bouldering! I'm determined to get outside a lot more this year.

[cofax7]

I have new shoes! they are wonderful!

[rydra_wong]

Yay! The Miura velcros? Tell me all about them!

[cofax7]

Well, I've only worn them twice so far, but they're really comfortable, and the rubber is stickier (and softer, sigh) than on my old Saltics. The heel is a little looser than on my old shoes, but not enough that it seems to make a difference. I like the velcro fastening system: you get really fine control on the level of snugness.

I think I could probably wear them outdoors on a multi-pitch route, but I suspect I would chew through the rubber on the rand really quickly. I'll probably resole them in something a bit harder, when the time comes.

[rydra_wong]

*nods* I haven't found the rubber on mine very durable, but that may be due to my tendency to drag my left toe rather than anything else.

But they are lovely shoes, especially for tiny edges; I can stand on things I just can't with my other (also lovely) shoes.

ETA: Sportiva's website tells me that the Miura lace-ups have different rubber from the velcros, but I don't know how much difference that makes.

[georgmi]

Hi, all! I've been lurking for a while, but haven't had a lot to say. Been climbing for about a year now, all indoors so far.

Last night, though, I finally worked myself up to try some 5.10- routes; I've been on the eights and most nines for a while, but I have surgery coming up in a couple weeks and will be off the walls for at least three weeks, and I decided I was going to climb a ten before that happened.

I am now bruised and scraped and sore, and entirely failed to get more than halfway up any of the pitches I tried, but I am pretty sure that if I start when I'm still fresh, instead of waiting until I'm starting to get tired, a minus is in reach, and if I pick the right one, maybe even a plus. Woot.

[rydra_wong]

\o/ Hi and welcome!

I am pretty sure that if I start when I'm still fresh, instead of waiting until I'm starting to get tired, a minus is in reach, and if I pick the right one, maybe even a plus.

Oh yeah. Try it first thing next session (well, first thing after warming up on some easier stuff), and I bet you'll be amazed by the results. I'll cross my fingers for good luck with that and with the surgery!

[rydra_wong]

I was brave and went bouldering at a new wall (I love my regular wall dearly, but because of that I am determined to force myself to vary things; otherwise my brain is prone to decide that All Change Is Bad).

New wall was fun; it will not replace the Arch in my heart, but it has scary high top-outs, which I know I need to work on.

[emperor]

If the weather holds, I think Sunday may be first trad of the year :-)

[rydra_wong]

Yay! The weather around here is glorious too.

[astridv]

Speaking of Ashima Shiraishi, have you seen this one? The Insiders. Four climbers, Ashima is one of them. Kickass gym they got there, too!

[rydra_wong]

I have seen it, but since you linked it I may just have to watch it again. *g*