I used to climb rainbow routes because I didn't know much about rock climbing. Since there was no other factor in determining improvement, I'd time myself. The fastest I've scaled a 16 meter rock face was 8.5 seconds. I thought that was pretty wild. Ha ha me.
On my second visit, Dorisa taught me what color routes are.
I tried Level 4, which was the easiest but back then proved difficult for me because I wasn't used to sticking to a color. I managed to progress into Level 5 eventually, trying to go onto 6 but finding it bloody impossible.
Today, close to four months later with a body much stronger than before, I managed to scale two Level 6B routes in a breeze. Both routes required a lot of swing-jumps and by now, I have so much faith in my strength that I can do that without needing the insurance of the belay.
But that wasn't even my biggest achievement today.
My biggest achievement was climbing the 12 out of the 16 meter uneven wall face, the one I always looked longingly at when I take the escalator down. It starts straight, then has a 45 degree protrusion, a 30 degree incline, a 55 degree protrusion, and finally a straight end.
I made it to the third leg. I could have unhooked the belay from the setter and forced myself up. But I was running out of strength. I had to hang on and sit in the air for a bit. And that isn't conquering. Conquering is a straight route without break. And so I gave up, but I gave up proudly.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is,
I AM THE QUEEN OF ROCKS.
Free-climbing, I am coming for you.
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