Random thoughts

"Deflowered"

I've repeatedly said to different people at different occasions how I would love to learn how to set routes at Rockreation, just for the heck of it. I could imagine just how fulfilling it would be to see people try your route, and have fun on it.

I asked Jean-Michel more than a month ago if I could learn how to set, since he was the route god there. He answered with a blunt, accented, "No," and said it would be a lot of work for him to teach me how to rig the ropes so that I could set without any assistance. So much for that.

As fate would have it though, Tad was around when I asked JM, so when we bumped into each other again that same night without JM lurking around, he said he would help me. He had already finished his quota for March, but he said come April, he would have to set four more routes again. I would definitely be able to get some pointers from him then.

That was a couple of weeks ago. I didn't see Tad around the gym after that.

That is, until this weekend. I had wanted to go climbing but I had to work and Marc had to put in some time studying. But we decided to swing by the gym to at least see Mike, who was spending the afternoon there. As I walked in, I saw a short stocky figure, arranging black holds in the beginner wall.

I rushed in and gasped out, "Tad! You're setting!"

Cut to about an hour and a half later, I was the proud co-owner of a 5.8 route, aptly named Deflowered (Devirginized was not too good for the kids who usually climb that wall). And apparently, Rockreation might be losing one of its easy-route setters, so that will definitely be a fun opportunity for me. Whoopee!

posted by Cathy at 4:21 PM