Everything I Need to Know I Learned in IB Language & Literature Year 2 blog post 15

It was sunny yet cold outside as I tied into the rope and patted climbing chalk onto my calloused hands. Today was the day I would retry Arms Control at Pilot Mountain. The last time I climbed this route, I could not finish the roof and fell nearly twenty feet. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I placed my hands on the cool, rough rock and then moved my feet onto the wall. The first few moves were very hard. I grasped the tiny crimps and strained to move myself up the route. Soon, I was past the difficult start and onto the easy and juggy holds midway through the climb. Smoothly, I clipped each bolt and clambered closer and closer to the intimidating roof climb. I got to the rest stop on the route and sat back to steady my breathing before I attempted the roof. After a few seconds, I began to climb again and moved up right under the roof. I grabbed the huge jug and set my feet before the big move. I gritted my jaw, moved my right hand out to the slippery crimp and jumped with all my might for the big hold on the edge of the roof. Got it! Excitement surged throughout me, but I remembered that the climb still wasn't done. I clipped the bolt on the roof and traversed along the jugs until I was right below the chains at the top of the climb. I reached up for a great hold right by the chains and pulled myself to victory. I had completed the climb and had gotten my first 5.11 outdoors! Extremely happy, I lowered myself down the rope to the praise of the climbers below. Arms Control had given me a great deal of trouble, but I finally climbed it. 

Here I am on the crux move of Arms Control (5.11d)