What was your favorite/biggest climbing memory/achievement of 2020?

This year has been something else. It's almost over but there are still a few hours left (in the US at least)!

I thought it would be cool to end the year on a positive note, so post your favorite personal climbing memory or achievement here.

My favorite achievement has been actually climbing outside on real rock for the first time. I climbed casually in scouts as a kid, and did some gym climbing over the past two or three years, but it wasn't until February that I had the gear and skills to take it outdoors. I also led my first indoor route this year, and got into trad climbing. It has been a big year for me.

My favorite memory from this year has to be how scared I was leading my first outdoor route. I will never forget that.

Going back all the way to January (hard to believe it’s been only a year since then...) when my best friend and I spent 9 days in RRG. My favorite day was when we decided to do some easy multipitch (Bedtime for Bonzo). We got to the wall and hadnt the slightest clue where the route was, but saw a vaguely chalked-up crack and decided to try it out. I have never had my ass handed to me by a 5.4 crack like I did on the first 20’ of the first pitch, but it was 100% worth it. We were the only ones there, and it was a beautiful 60° day to be able to look at the rolling hills and gorges- not to mention, finishing the day at Skybridge Station! 

Took a couple longish breaks from climbing (March-August and then September-November), and spent a lot of time thinking about my relationship to climbing, risk, etc. It's hard to encapsulate in a single anecdote or achievement, but I'm really happy to be feeling happy on the rock again; it's a special feeling, and one that at several points I wondered if I'd lost. I'm also grateful to have had the opportunity to move out to a beautiful place (Joshua Tree) where I can find peace and beauty regardless of whether I'm climbing or not.

Sending Fish Crack and Separate Reality in a weekend was definitely the highlight for me!

I had been working both climbs over multiple sessions and it just came together so well. 

Putting up a climb no one could repeat and them calling it bullshit. I don’t care if it’s 5.8 or 5.15 it’s funny as hell

Climbing two multi-pitches in a day with a good friend!

Inadvertently I spent 4 months and 64 attempts on something that I never intended to be along term project. It was not the highest number I sent, and towards the end it became a grudge match. I hated it, was irritated by it, was tired of it, and when it went down I felt a little sad and empty. Now, 5 months removed, I look with deep fondness on the warm weekends in the quiet canyon, the weekly drives down, resting in camp, and my wife cleaning up every hard (for her) route around the project, including her first 12a and 12b after 25 years of climbing.

In retrospect, this was one of the most memorable summers in over 30 years of climbing despite lack of big numbers (for me) or sheer volume. 

Road tripping south to California for the first time and climbing the regular route on Fairview in a block, plus some other classics. Seeing Yosemite. Then heading south and climbing Fishhook Arete and the East Buttress on Whitney. Everything lined up perfectly that week.

Establishing the Grand Line boulders at Gold Bar WA. Lots of wonderful PNW moss scrubbing.

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/119113207/grand-line-boulders 

I placed 22 Peckers in a row! Twice! 

Mark Hudonwrote:

I placed 22 Peckers in a row! Twice! 

And lived to tell the tale!