it took about 2 years of on and off rock climbing that brought me to a brightly pink colored problem that called to me while i looked for my next climb... checking out the tag, i see it's a v8. i had only done a handful of v6 and even less v7s up to that point.

finally...

a doable v8 problem was staring me down. competition style. not super crimpy. large boulders. slippery. hard to hold on to. after a few good looks at it, i understood the path i needed to take.

strange match start with no foot holds. smear. hard. get up on the first hold hugging it. then pull to get enough leverage to push down on that very hold. feels insecure but i get there.

next hold is far up and i can barely get my finger tips on it while in a strange frog legged position. i'm barely on the wall. i creep up with my fingers and achieve a hold which isn't too great but it's good enough to support me to get to a proper standing position.

the crux.

i need to get from here to another slippery large hold but it's a dyno. idk if can trust my hands enough to hold and stay on the next hold. no second thoughts.

i launch and reach the hold with my right hand first then left and now my body is swinging. need to get myself stable. whew... now i'm hanging with my feet smearing the wall.

there are 4 more holds to go but it's not as challenging as what i've been through. i just need to get up to the next hold.

i make it. and the next hold comes easier. then easier. then i'm there.

my first v8.