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With new-found humility and determination, I set out
to do the easiest offwidth I could find in Squamish. Weighing
in at 5.9, March Of The Kitchen Utensils is found well
up a steep trail that leads around the backside of the Chief.
Although it is a full pitch of wide, corner crack, I was excited
to find that less than ten metres of the route promised any sort
of punishment. Roger and I set off with a half borrowed rack
of huge cams and big bros. Unfortunately, of the six large pieces
we lugged up the trail, only two fit into the crack.
I resolved to leap-frog the two good pieces and hope that
there were no serious changes in width. Upon reaching the difficulties
I was despondent to find myself in the same thrutching position
as my last offwidth effort. No method seemed to provide the upward
inching of success, until I attempted a chicken wing. In drawing
back my forearm, my bicep seized up in the crack. I nervously
locked off my upper body and rammed my foot into an ankle grinding
smear. I pushed upward and detected undeniable progress. I was
ecstatic! Over the next three or four body lengths, I repeated
this ceremony, oblivious to all pain, sweat, and growing potential
for a long, long fall.
I reached the top and humbly basked in the nectar of my first
offwidth success. Removing my left shoe produced a sucking noise.
While admiring the quantity of blood filling my shoe, I pondered
the long, long road ahead. |
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