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Starting Over


By Stefani Dawn
Photo Credit: Lady Lockoff
We all love climbing. We are dedicated to it. We’d do it every day if we could. But face it, we’ve all been there - be it from injury, work demands, location, or lack of partners – we have to start over, again, and again, and again. And it sucks every… single…time.

Here goes!
 
Mmmm, ugh, pack heavy – Has it always been this heavy?
Mmmm, ugh, thighs burning… Damn, how is everyone else moving so fast? (huff puff) – Has this approach always been this hard?
Need… to… snack… need… energy.
What the hell? How did I forget to bring an anchor?
OK, yes, I’m totally ready to lead this  – I think.
(grunt, pull, grunt) Was that move always that challenging? WTF?
(grunt, pull, grunt)
Let’s put in a piece. How about this one? Nope. This? Nope. This? Nope. Shit. muscles, burning… OK, Stef, get a piece in now (fumble) This? Yes, finally (tug, tug) that’ll work…. I think (tug, tug, re-inspect, re-position, tug, tug). Muscles burning, that piece is bomber - I think.
 
Oh shit, I forgot this part’s run out. (Elvis leg) Breathe deep. (Elvis leg) Look up to where you are headed, Stef (Elvis leg). Ooooh, I’m taking too long to move (Elvis leg) Lead head, hellooo, where are you?! Muscles burning. Fuck. (grunt, pull, grunt). (Fumble) Shit, this system used to work for me, I can’t find my pro, why is everything in the way? (fumble, piece in, tug, tug, clip). TAKE!
 
Breathe deep. Shake out. Ouch, feet hurt. These shoes used to fit. What the hell? Look around Stef, next moves.
 
Oooh, high step. Ugh. I thought I could step higher than that. (Grab knee, lift leg, attempt to step up, grunt, fail, grunt, ass cramp.) Shit. I suck.
 
THE FOLLOWING DAY: Oh… so… sore.  

Yeah, it'll all come back :-).

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© COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK, COMMON CLIMBER, 2016-2019  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Writing
    • All Writings (List)
    • Adaptive Climbing >
      • El Capitan: Enock Glidden
      • My Journey to Adaptive Rock Climbing
      • Planning for Mt. Rainier: Adaptive Climbing
      • Resources - Adaptive Climbing
    • Alpine >
      • California Still Has Untouched Climbing Wilderness
      • Mt. Ogden Spanking
      • Mt. Whitney Whipping
      • My Common Alpine Epic
    • Equipment (writings) >
      • 8 Reasons I Carry a Full Rack on Every Trad Climb
      • Carabiner Strength Ratings
      • Climbing Shoes Fit
      • Guide Book Follies
      • Rope Buying 101
      • The One Item to Stockpile
      • Which Way Should I Carry My Trad Rack?
      • Why GriGris Suck
    • Facebook Feature >
      • FF: Trees & Climbing
    • Grades, Styles, & Types >
      • Bouldering-Falling
      • Bouldering Grade Advancements
      • Grading Climbs at the Gym
      • It's a F-ing Chimney
      • Onsight vs Flash vs Etc...
      • Top 10: Increase the Climbing Grade When...
      • Trad Climbing is for Chicken Sh*#s
      • WTF 5.7?
      • 18 Climber Types: Which Are You?
    • Kids >
      • Family Stages
    • Legends >
      • G - Todd Gordon
      • H - Hugh Herr
      • J - Saxon Johns
    • Other/Misc >
      • Climbing, Community, and the U.S. Presidential Election
      • Climbing Drinking Games
      • Climbing Gyms: The Gateway Drug
      • Climbing Hands
      • Climbing Resolutions
      • Demented Dirtbag
      • Don't Take Granite for Granite
      • Dorothy, We Aren't on Havana Anymore
      • No Health Insurance Changed How I Climb
      • Snakes and Ladders
      • Starting Over
      • The Bane of Northwest Climbing
      • Things of Stone and Wood
    • Poetry/Prose >
      • Anti-Social Climbers
      • Ice is Nice
    • Mental-Physical >
      • 12-Weeks to Onsighting a 5.8
      • How Auto-Immune Disease Affected My Climbing
      • Mastering Joy on Easy Street
      • Mind, Body, and Soul
      • Of Cartoons and Quickdraws
      • Push and Pull
      • Sorcerer and the Kidney Stone
      • The Devil's Game
      • The Taste of Climbing
    • Social/Social Media >
      • Climbing into the Fold
      • Diversity in Climbing is Not a Bandwagon
      • My Husband Climbs Stronger than Me
      • Fuck "Gumbies" and "Noobs"
      • Social Network Rescue
    • Safety and Skills >
      • Bolting and Ground-Fall Potential
      • Euro-Death Knot is NOT
      • Multi-Pitch Tips: Two ATCs
      • Sketchy Anchor Bolts
      • Sliding-X Anchor
      • Three Ways to Use a Stick Clip
      • Top 10: Climbing Best Practices
    • Themed Editions >
      • Joshua Tree Articles >
        • Bouldering: JTree Made Me Do It
        • Improv at JTree: Bad Bolts
        • JTree: Bolting Pressure Cooker
        • Joshua Tree: Heinous Approaches
      • Developers and Guidebook Authors >
        • Kevin Powell
        • Rock Star Groupie
        • Tony Calderone
      • Exploring Our World >
        • AUSTRALIA - Photographer - Diego Perez
        • AUSTRALIA - Profile - Julie Anderson
        • Book Review - Climbing Rock
        • CHINA - From Yangshuo, to Getu, to Liming
        • FRANCE - Verdon in Winter
        • GREECE - Meteora
        • ITALY - Dolomites
        • MEXICO - La Huasteca
        • SPAIN - Artist - Karmelo Onate
        • UTAH - This One Makes You Taller
      • Overcoming Boundaries >
        • Photographer - Brook Anderson
        • Profile - Louise Shepherd
        • Profile - Megan Banker
        • Profile - Shawn Axelrod
        • Rock Type 1
        • The Tape Job
      • Women's Edition >
        • Editorial - Women's Edition
        • Climbing is My Art
        • Mt. Logan Solo
        • Photographer - Michelle Ranee Johnson
        • Profile - Caitlin Schokker
    • Travel Stories >
      • Bliss: Climbing in the Blueys
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina Crag
      • The Legend of the ‘Unclimbable Cliff’
      • Vedauwoo, WY
      • Zone of Craptitude
  • Marketplace
    • Store
    • Climbing Addicts Colored Chalk
    • Climb-On Maps
    • Permagumby (formerly Crusher Climbing)
    • Dynamite Starfish
    • Heroclip
    • Neilico
    • NW Alpine
    • Rockytalkies
  • Reviews
    • Books >
      • Advanced Rock Climbing Book Review
      • Adventures at the Edge of the World
      • Hangdog Days Book Review
    • Equipment/Gear >
      • Belay Device Review >
        • Edelrid Mega Jul
      • Harnesses >
        • ArcTeryx-FL-365
        • Misty Mountain Cadillac
      • Packs and Bags >
        • Sukoa Chalk Bag Review
        • Trango Crag Pack
      • Personal Anchor Systems >
        • Camp-Daisy-Twist
        • Petzl-Dual-Adjust
  • Photographers
    • J - Michelle Ranee Johnson
    • N - Tiffany Nardico
    • P - Diego Perez
  • Locations
    • 2019 U.S. Rock Climbing Festivals
    • 'Round the World >
      • 20 World Destinations for Adventurous Climbing
    • Australia >
      • Queensland, Australia >
        • Kangaroo Point Photos and Beta
        • Kangaroo Point Review
      • New South Wales Australia >
        • Blue Mountains >
          • Blue Mountains Photos and Beta
          • Blue Mountains Review
        • Nowra >
          • Nowra Photos and Beta
          • Nowra Review
    • Mexico >
      • Potrero Chico Photos and Beta
      • Potrero Chico Review
    • United States >
      • Climbing Area Check List - U.S. >
        • Climbing Area Check List Part 1: Alabama to California
        • Climbing Area Checklist Part 2: Colorado to Michigan
        • Climbing Area Checklist Part 3: Minnesota to New Mexico
        • Climbing Area Checklist Part 4: New York to Wyoming
      • Arizona >
        • Queen Creek Canyon
      • California >
        • Joshua Tree >
          • Joshua Tree Tips
        • Mount Whitney >
          • Mount Whitney Photos and Beta
      • Idaho >
        • City of Rocks >
          • City of Rocks Photos and Beta
          • City of Rocks Review
      • Oregon >
        • Smith Rock >
          • Smith Rock - Photos and Beta
          • Smith Rock Review
        • Spring Mountain >
          • Spring Mountain Review
          • Spring Mountain - Photos and Beta
        • Trout Creek >
          • Trout Creek Photos and Beta
          • Trout Creek Review
      • Nevada >
        • Gun Club
        • Keyhole Canyon
        • Red Rock Canyon >
          • Red Rock Canyon Review - Yeahs and Neahs
          • Red Rocks Photos and Beta
      • New Hampshire >
        • North Conway, NH
        • Rumney, NH
      • New York >
        • Gunks Review
      • Utah >
        • Echo Canyon
        • Ferguson Canyon >
          • Ferguson Canyon Photos and Beta
          • Ferguson Canyon Review
        • Ibex >
          • Ibex Photos and Beta
          • Ibex Review
        • Maple Canyon >
          • Maple Canyon, Utah Photos and Beta
          • Maple Canyon Review
        • Moab >
          • Moab - Main - Photos and Beta
          • Moab -Main - Review
        • St. George >
          • St. George - Prophesy Wall- Photos and Beta
          • St. George - Prophesy Wall - Review
      • West Virginia >
        • Seneca Rocks
      • Wyoming >
        • Ten Sleep
  • Contributors
    • Photos by Contributor
    • Writings By Author >
      • B - Stephanie Bahnsen
      • B - Dave Barnes >
        • Dave Barnes Extended Bio
      • B - Keith Bell
      • C - Erin Collins
      • C - James Crump
      • D - Stefani Dawn
      • G - Leesa Gallia
      • G - Enock Glidden
      • H - Grey Hensley
      • J - Jonathan
      • K- Melissa Kline
      • K - Christine Kuebler
      • M - Rick Momsen
      • O - Maggie Odette
      • P - Emilie Pellerin
      • P - Brice Pollock
      • R - Monique Richard
      • R - Juan Rodriguez
      • S - Jeff Smoot
      • T- Frothy Thomson
      • T - Matt Tredway
      • W - Lani Wilson
  • Contact and Submissions
    • Dialogue
    • Mailing List Request
  • About Common Climber
    • Why I Started Common Climber
    • Welcome Dave Barnes!