^ my chalk bag and shoes on a rock in fontainebleau

one of the most challenging and exhilarating things i do is rock climbing. it started when i  was about two years old, when i found climbing up slides and on top of monkey bars more interesting than more conventional uses of these playground objects. the past few years have brought me to taller mountains, harder routes, and some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. the views are breathtaking, but are best when earned, and it is worth braving the cold, the wind, the rain, worth endeavouring through terror and cramped muscles, through sweaty fingers and aching toes to get to the top at last. ★