I’ve been climbing for nearly twenty years. In addition, I’ve become an avid trail runner. Letting these two passions take me to places across the entire country. These activities have also allowed me to share various parts of the country with my wife and son. If I’m running on granite I’m thinking about the climbs. If I’m climbing sandstone I’m thinking about the trail on the canyon floor. Often to return the next day to climb a route I found or run a trail I saw. Each feeds the other.
Chasing grades or projects is one way to assess your progress. These efforts allow us to see what our limits are and advance past them. Instruction is about expediting this process through accessing skills and tactics to succeed not only on current goals but future ones as well. With the primary goals being to have fun, minimize risk, and promote longevity.
It has been said that climbing is somewhat unique amongst activities in that it requires a near equal balance of strength, technique and mentality. Any one of these traits being out of balance can cause us to think, “I can’t.” Leaving our climbing experience tainted and incomplete. With an outside perspective it can be much easier to assess and provide suggestions as to which trait is out of balance. I look forward to helping you turn “I can’t,” into “I did.” -Dearric W.
