Snog a Frog (Or whatever it's called)

Having the trust in Pete that I do when he told me to 'get up that route' I obediently did so. Okay, so I took the precaution of dotting a few men around ostensibly to 'catch' me if I fell but I wouldn't have fancied their chances had I done so. Anyway I was only going to the first bolt so why worry? I nervously stepped my way up feeling secure about where my hands and feet were placed but missing the security of a top rope on this type of route. Up I went and suddenly, if I stretched far enough, I could just get the extender through the bolt, the rope through the extender and there I was. Safe. Objective achieved. So why give up? Gingerly I moved up, carefully following chalk moves and looking for good holds, staring at my feet as I moved them carefully up the rock. So intent in fact, that I nearly missed the second bolt over to my right. Quickly I clipped it. Give up now? No way – this was proving to be far too much fun. Moving up, I spotted the third bolt and with guidance and encouragement from below I tiptoed over the crux, seeking out hidden recesses for holds and pulls and clipping it with disbelief. The top was so near, I couldn't believe I had nearly reached it. I wasn't going back down till I had. A few moves and I was there, fiddling round with slings and crabs, making sure I got the right bit of rope in the right place at the right time. Superb route. Everyone had told me I'd enjoy it but I hadn't really believed I could do it and here I was lowering off. It was only the following day when someone asked me how my first E1 felt that I actually found out what I had done.

Sarah