Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Vienna stood and held out her hand to pull Shabina to her feet. Shabina’s family was wealthy. She would have had the best of counselors. If she said this was what she needed to do to keep moving forward, then they were one hundred percent behind her.
“This is a great boulder with an easy climb for you to start with, Shabina,” Stella said, indicating the one they had warmed up on. It was overhang but with large juggy holds on it. Stella was sure Shabina would have success on it.
Shabina stared at it with great trepidation and then shook her head and indicated a tall boulder. “Maybe that one.”
Vienna’s breath caught in her throat. The boulder Shabina had gestured toward would be considered a “highball.” In a way, she understood. Shabina was used to rope climbing. She didn’t boulder or use crash pads, and the gymnastic movements that were used on overhang climbs weren’t as familiar to her. The other boulder was a tall slab with pretty good holds and feet, but it wouldn’t be a clean fall if you came off the boulder.
“Just try this one, honey,” Stella encouraged. “It has fewer moves and is a way safer fall if you come off. You can top out easily.”
Shabina watched them place the two crash pads beneath the overhung boulder before she reached up, stretching to reach the large holds to pull her body up. She found a foothold with her left foot, missed with her right and then found a little ledge to put it on.
“Keep your hips toward the wall and keep lots of body tension so you don’t swing out,” Vienna called out. “Now get your heel on that hold right and reach up for the jug.”
Vienna stayed close, as did Harlow and Stella. The others surrounded the boulder, calling out encouragement to Shabina. As Shabina went to heel hook the hold Vienna suggested, her left foot popped off and she was now hanging from the jugs with her feet dangling in the open air. Since the boulder was fairly short, her feet were only dangling a couple of feet from the crash pad. However, Shabina seemed to be unaware of this fact. She started to panic with real fear.
“I need to come down. I need to come down.”
“Okay, we got you. Just drop,” Vienna said, keeping her voice very calm.
Instead of dropping, Shabina started to panic more and kicked her feet about with a little scream. She was clearly terrified to drop.
Immediately the girls moved in closer and Vienna grabbed her waist with her hands. “We’ve totally got you. Calm down, we’ve got you. Just drop, honey. Let go.”
“No. I can’t. Vienna. I’m going to fall.” Shabina flailed her feet around even more, panic making her voice high-pitched.
Vienna tightened her hands on Shabina’s waist, casting a quelling glance over her shoulder at the other women, who were trying not to laugh. “Babe. Let go. You have to trust me. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
With a little scream of fear, Shabina opened the death-grip she had on the rock and dropped the less than two feet to the crash pads, guided by Vienna’s hands. Shabina looked shocked when she dropped softly to the ground only a couple feet. The fear melted to laughter. “I was only that high off the ground? I was so terrified. I guess I don’t like falling.”
“That wasn’t falling, that’s just letting go. You can practice that. Next time look where your crash pad is and try to fall softly with your knees slightly bent. You ready for another try? We’ll help guide your hips if you come down again,” Vienna said. “This is actually better for you than topping out. Like practicing a downclimb. The more you come off the rock and learn to trust the pads and your spotter, the more confidence you’ll have.”
“I guess so,” Shabina said, still a little reluctant.
It took a lot of encouragement and Shabina coming off the rock several more times, but each time she managed her fear a little bit better and they could see a change come over her. Once she wasn’t as afraid to fall, she was more focused on the climbing part of it. She was soon at the top of the boulder with a smile on her face, and they all cheered, proud of her that she’d accomplished so much.
* * *
• • •
Their next destination was the Pearl Boulder. They made their way up to the beautiful boulder, delighted to have it to themselves. The Pearl sat right off the trail in the sunshine. The south face contained the classic route for which the rock was named, along with the V3 Clam Bumper, which went up to the right of Pearl. It was easier than the classic line, but in some ways a little more intimidating as it was slightly taller and the landing for the Pearl was better. The Pearl was Stella’s current project, and since it was also her bridal shower, they had all agreed that she should get on it after they had warmed up.