Joe Blaylock

So as some of you know, I've been climbing at Planet Granite in Belmont with Anami since shortly after the beginning of the year. I've gotten to be not so bad, too. I've certainly met my new year's goal of .10b's.

Anyway, PG has this rule that you have to pass an elaborate series of trials involving fire and flesh-eating beatles in order to be allowed to climb on lead, or to belay leaders. (Not really. actually you just have to be safe and not suck.) Well, today I passed, and I earned my lead card. I even got to climb with a couple guys there for a while. It was nice.

It's like starting all over again. The fear and the methodological rigor necessary to check it - just like when I first started toprope at the Evansville YMCA with Paul, in 1999.

very very tired. more later.