Fonz in Shaftoe this morning

This Saturday was another gorgeous day in the county (in Back Bowden) with good company. Too hot to climb really and not feeling strong, but great to be outside again.

It’s a shame indoor strength doesn’t (always) translates to outdoor crushing. The other day I climbed a problem at the wall, which I didn't manage before, which made me feel quite chuffed. This feeling faded rapidly when I realized it was ‘just an indoor problem’ I had done. One which I had set myself and which will be taken down in a few weeks time. Leaving no more than empty bolt holds, a blank wall and some holds on the floor.

Climbing a problem indoors will never replace the feeling of climbing a problem outside (for me that is). So even though I didn’t manage to bring my indoor strength outside this weekend, the feeling I got when I climbed among others ‘Little Pixies, Hard and Low and Weird Sisters (2)’ stays unbeatable by any outdoor victories. If only I had more time to climb outside....

....maybe it’s time to create some...

Instead of going to the wall this Monday morning, I drove to Shaftoe. With hardly any skin left on my finger tips, I spend the morning on ‘Arete land’. Doing some warm-ups, ‘Fingers’ and ‘Slapper’, failing on ‘Piano’ and ‘Clamper’, and making up some variants. No skin left I called it a day just before noon. Fluff (Fonz) and I drove back with this unbeatable feeling inside.

Fonz forming the Eyebrow of the Arete Land Bloc