UKC

"Its getting late, I’m tiring fast and for a second I contemplate how easy it would be to simply relax, let go and allow myself to fall. But then a stubborn, competitive, sheer bloody-minded part of me yells an emphatic “NO!” that echoes inside my skull, and the tired, scared part cowers back to a dark corner of my soul. A fatalistic acceptance washes over me: if I fall then I fall – and it seems a distinct possibility - but it is NOT going to be because I wimped out and let go! The adrenaline surges. This is it: no half measures, all or nothing. If I don’t give it everything then I’m sure to fail....."....Hazel Robson (aka SecretSquirrel) climbs on!

http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=174

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:


Way to go girl! Good day had by all!

I like it a lot

In reply to drew harrison: She can climb, she's pretty and she can write. Sheesh, how can we get her banned from UKC?
:¬)

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

Nice desciptive writing!

In reply to Rosie A: Yep and she's also an ecologist. So apart from the ecologist box I cant tick any of the above - you're right Rosie - she should be banned!

Nice article SS!! Hope you do some more.

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

Good article. Makes me wan to climb on grit... almost

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

Nice article, very discriptive and had me feeling the climb along with her, she captured the moment well.

In reply to Jenn:

ROFL! Yes, me too.

Great article, it captures really well that feeling when you decide to go for it above your gear and with no great expectation of success. And the buzz afterwards...

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

Really good article, captured the climb brilliantly.

thanks guys.

*blushes*

In reply to SecretSquirrel:
Nice one SS, awesome writing, captured the moment very well.

In reply to SecretSquirrel:

Brilliant description, felt the same as you on that climb but couldn't have written it up as well as you have.

Well done on both counts.

In reply to SecretSquirrel:

Diamond Crack is a fight - and you've caught the essence of it beautifully. You also fought the good fight... and won! A glorious feeling. Thanks for sharing it with us,

Mick

In reply to SecretSquirrel:
I enjoyed reading that - thank you! Well done on the climb, too

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

If anyone asks me why i climb, i'll point them to this article... now we just need one that captures the adventure within the sport so briliantly as Miss squirrel's. Well done.

In reply to practicalcat:
I've climbed a a fair bit harder than that since but its one of the most memorable routes I've done.
I'm quite interested to see what i'd make of it if I climbed it now nearly a year later, might have to have another go next time i'm at Froggatt.

In reply to SecretSquirrel:

Youre famous now - can i be your groupie?

A really enjoyable, snappy, article.

I think you've put into words what a lot of us (well me anyway) think, when those fingers start to unravel, as the prospect of a fall looms closer extremely well.

Thanks for writing it.

Matt

In reply to SecretSquirrel: Very nice feature, I've sent it to Jo who led that route about 5 years ago with more or less exactly the same experience (and result!). She was still fizzing when she brought me up on second!

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com: Good to see an article by a punter about punter climbing. Jolly good show!

In reply to willhunt:

Uhhhh...it's by a climber about climbing and we have had lots of them and have got even more.

Keep your constricting labels to yourself....only kidding....a bit.

Mick

In reply to willhunt:
ahem - novice, thank you very much!
I'd only been climbing trad for about 3 months when I did that route. :0)

But I did write it because I'd posted in a discussion that it'd be nice to see more articles about the "ordinary folk" as well as those at the top of the game and thought i'd better put my money where my mouth was, so to speak.

In reply to SecretSquirrel: Good for you, really enjoyed reading the article. I post about my escapades on a bloggy type site. Dont think theyre as grand as whats usually on here.