“Freeing El Cap is something most climbers want to do when they get to a certain level. The beauty, history, height and hard nature of the climbing make freeing El Cap an ultimate climbing goal. There’s nothing else like it.“
-Hazel Findlay
In this awesome article from eveningsends.com, Hazel Findlay, one of the world’s best trad climbers (male or female), shares her story of the day she sent Golden Gate. Golden Gate is a 41 pitch 5.13b on El Cap in Yosemite.
Hazel’s experience freeing El Cap is an inspirational story of discovering that sending big, scary trad routes comes down to facing big question marks. Her story is a great lesson in learning to trust yourself.
Hazel says it well….
“I’m still learning the mental games of climbing and what I’m slowly beginning to realize is that it’s better not to think about whether you’re a good climber or a bad one, or whether you’re better or worse, or stronger than the next person. It’s just about trying—and trusting yourself.
If being a full-time climber was what I wanted to do, I had to try. If freeing El Cap was what I wanted to do, I had to try.
If you forget about the question marks and just take the gear for a walk, you’ll have an experience, some kind of experience, and that’s what climbing is all about.”
This article is definitely worth a read and hopefully will be a good reminder to trust yourself and not shy away from trying something just because of question marks…..nice work Hazel!
CLICK HERE: The Day I Sent Golden Gate
(photo courtesy of eveningsends.com)
