Rock Climbing at Table Rock
Twice Up Two-Pitch
By Lynn Setzer
Finally the time came to approach the rock face. We were climbing a route on Table Rock called Two-Pitch. Pitches are segments of a route. This climb contained two major pitches. I tried to bargain with Burton that maybe I'd learned enough for one day."You haven't had any fun yet," he replied. Plainly he wasn't going to let me off the hook that easily. "We'll climb to the first ledge and eat lunch." Burton and I tied into the rope, and he commenced climbing while I belayed him. Burton placed carabiners and chocks to secure the climb and clipped in the rope. When he shouted "off belay," it would be my turn to climb up behind him. It would also be my job to clean the route by removing the carabiners and chocks he had placed.
Finding a handhold on Linville Gorge rock
"Off belay," I heard him call. I swallowed. The moment of truth had arrived. Was I really going to climb like a spider up that mountain? I had faith in the equipment, Burton had seen to that, but did I have faith in myself?
I found my first handhold and foot placement, and then I found another, and then another. I was at the first carabiner.
"How did it feel in your feet?" called Burton.
"I didn't feel it in my feet," I yelled back."I used my arms."
"Then go back and do it again," Burton called.
"What? I gotta go back?"
"Yeah, you need to learn how to use more of your foot, not just your toes, and not your arms."
"But that's giving up ground, Burton. This was too hard to do for me to give it back."
"Go back down. You have to learn how to use your feet more and your hands less."
"OK," I sighed and started back. He evidently meant what he said.
I started back up again. Burton was right. With better foot placement, I was relying less on my arms and more on the big muscles of my legs. I had more power and better traction. Finally, I made it to him.
"Whoooo-hoooo!" I yelled. I had climbed my first pitch. I now stood about 20 feet off the ground on a dirt-covered ledge. Not quite El Capitan, but not a bad start.
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