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In It For the Long Haul

• January 2010
• Hi Steph Climb Training

Hi,
So I’m 16 year old female climber from Northern New Hampshire. I just recently visited Joshua Tree and it was my first real trip climbing outside of New England, The trip was amazing and I really loved the desert even though I’m a total ski bum at heart. I go to this school In bethlehem New Hampshire called the White Mountain School, we’re college prep, but have and amazing outdoor program where I can climb basically every day. We drive to Rumney at least once a week and I’ve only been climbing for a few years but have already been to so many places inside New England (Acadia, Rumney, North Conway, Pawtuckaway, and Cannon Cliff)
I was wondering about when you figured out that you’d keep climbing for most of your life? After J-Tree I’ve come to terms of it and its this strange feeling, maybe it was dyhydration or exhaustion but It felt really good to know that I’d hopefully be able to climb for the rest of my life…I was wondering what kept you motivated.

I know I want to keep climbing, but after Joshua Tree it just doesn’t feel the same to me climbing on painful crimpy granite instead of splitter cracks…I don’t know when I might be able to get to a different crag for some time, especially since winter is approaching soon…but if theres anything that helps you stay psyched for climbing, I’d love to here it.
Also, Have you ever been to J-Tree, and if you have, any favourite climbs?
Thanks
Victoria

Dear Victoria,
I hope you are staying warm 🙂 And that you have another trip planned to Joshua Tree! It’s funny reading your letter, because I started climbing when I was in college at University of Maryland, and also had a taste of other places when I did a student exchange to Fort Collins, Colorado, and had a hard time going back. To answer your question, I knew I’d be climbing forever the first day I went climbing. It just clicked for me, and I didn’t have any uncertainty about that. Over the years, if I have felt motivation for different climbing styles or different places, I’ve pursued them. This is one thing that has kept it exciting and fresh for me. Climbing has so many different facets to it, that I can’t imagine ever not having it in my life.

In your situation, where you are dreaming of another place that you can’t get to right now, that seems to me as the most motivating thing possible! I think it’s kind of inspiring to have some goal or place in mind, while you are climbing or training or even just planning. And just remember, there’s always some fun to be had–often the times when you aren’t where you think you want to be lead you to something even better…

I have climbed at Joshua Tree, but it was a very long time ago. I remember really liking the long traverse that’s kind of set by itself in a little canyon area.
I hope you keep climbing, and keep loving it, and get to visit everywhere you want!
🙂 Steph