by Maya Riley
I opened my eyes back up. “Are you about ready?” I called.
“Ready,” he replied. “I’m going to batman it on up to where I fell from.”
“Got it.”
He grabbed onto the rope that was the climber’s side, not the one on the side that was attached to him, but the one that was running along the wall and through all the bolts and anchors, and braced his feet against the rock wall, and pushed and pulled himself up.
The higher up he went, the lower I went toward the ground. I could have pulled the lever on my Grigri to let out some slack and slowly lower myself to the ground while he remained hanging in the same spot in midair, but for some reason I didn’t. I hadn’t understood it, but maybe subconsciously I knew that I’d needed to have that talk with him.
The short conversation was helpful, but it would still take a lot of time and healing to even begin to mend this family. It was actually a good thing he decided to join us. I think he needed this even more than I did. Perhaps my mother was the same way too.
My feet touched the ground at the same time he reached his spot. I continued to take, and he hung there with his hands reaching behind him and digging into his chalk bag.
After some rest, he began again. He started climbing and before I knew it, he was already tapping out at the anchors. “Lower!” he called down, and I pulled back the lever on the Grigri to lower him back down to the ground.
Once he touched down, I noticed the smile that lit up his face. “That was one of the greatest things ever,” he exclaimed. “I haven’t felt like this in years. I feel like I could take on the world.”
I gave a small, tiny chuckle. “Before you take on the world,” I cautioned, “how about you start small. Say, with the Carbolitas?”
“Oh, you’re funny,” he teased. “You’ve still got your mom’s sense of humor.”
I smiled. “So, who’s next?” I asked. As soon as Steve had his knot undone, he passed it on to my mom. She was next, and I just remained hooked into the Grigri.
I expected her to go really slow, but she didn’t. She sped up the wall in no time, and I raised my eyebrow when she came down. Sure, her and Steve had been doing better on this wall than expected, but she was really flying up it more than she should have been.
“Yeah, I’ve been climbing for the last year,” she admitted.
I nearly choked on air. “Excuse me?”
“Like I said. I knew you were going to climb. I was just worried and wanted to be with you. So, here we are.”
Steve looked at her like she’d grown three heads.
“Alright you guys, let’s check on the others. It might be lunch time,” I interjected. We cleaned up our route, rope, and gear, and moved on over to where the others had taken up residence.
We found them only a few routes away. J.D. was climbing a couple grades harder than a practice route. We were supposed to be taking it as easy as possible, but of course he had to do something more. I smiled. He tapped out at the anchors and then hooked in his slings and cleaned the anchors. He took out the draws on his way down, and once he was on the ground again, pulled the rope through the bolts and packed up.
We sat there, enjoying our meals of water and trail mix, before heading back for our final night in this spot.
The straps of my pack dug into my shoulders as I stood downstairs by the door, waiting. How was it that I, the girl in this situation, was ready and waiting on all the guys? All they had to do was roll out of bed and walk downstairs.
They were all awake and getting ready, I’d heard them. What I didn’t understand was what was taking them so long. This was certainly not a day of patience for me.
If Jenna were here, even she’d be standing next to me and tapping her foot. She’d stayed overnight with Dave and his friends. With the extra people sleeping in this cabin, it seemed like the reasonable thing to do. Gary had gone over, too, claiming he was the sixth wheel with my harem. They thought they were so funny throwing that word around.
After talking with the other climbers we came across yesterday, we determined that we’d be the only ones continuing up today. Most others were only going to make it this far and stay here, while others wanted to hang out around this level some more. It was a nice little vacation spot, but it was a bit too people-y for me. Which was strange, considering just how social of a sport climbing was.
Feet pounding down the staircase alerted me to my first companion. I looked up and saw Pete staring back at me. I smiled as he got closer, and he greeted me with a kiss, his glasses bumping askew at the awkward angle. He had to take half a step back to readjust. It was so adorable. I secretly loved when things like that happened.
A knock sounded on the door behind me, and I turned around and opened it. Gary was standing there looking like he’d been ready for hours.
“Are you guys about ready?” he asked, annoyance clear on his face. “We were going to head out about an hour ago, what’s taking so long?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea. I’ve been waiting on everyone else too. The guys have been getting ready for ages, so I’m about to go make some more coffee,” I replied, and headed into the kitchen and filled the coffee pot with enough coffee grounds and water to fill up a mug. I hit the start button, pulled a mug from the dishwasher, and waited. As soon as the coffee maker light turned off, indicating it was done, I poured some into my mug and added a bit of sugar. The others had no idea of the coffee magnificence they were missing out on right now.
I stirred the liquid with a spoon, watching as the sugar mixed in with the deep cocoa brown liquid, and the coffee aroma reached my nose. I then brought the cup to my lips and let the steam warm my cheeks. The smell of freshly heated powdered coffee was going to be the best smell of the day, especially since I had nothing but a sweaty climber smell on the horizon.
After another moment, I tipped it toward me and slowly sipped the hot liquid. It ran past my lips, over my tongue, and down my throat. I stood there and let the caffeinated goodness comfort me, washing away my fears and worries down to the last powdered grain.
The sound of a throat clearing interrupted my moment of bliss and I held the mug firm to my mouth, not wanting to break the flow of coffee, and turned to the kitchen doorway.
My guys were all standing there, watching and waiting, and past them I could see Mom and Steve in the living room, talking with Gary and Jenna.
I’d been waiting for them for over an hour. They could wait just a bit longer while I finished my coffee.
It only took a few more minutes for the mug to be emptied. I hadn’t made the water so hot that it was undrinkable without immediately burning my mouth.
I pulled the mug from my lips and set it in the sink along with the spoon. There was a cleaning service set to come in after us and prepare this cabin for the next guests, and they’d take care of this too.
“Alright, you guys ready?” I inquired, as I walked toward them and they got out of my way to let me pass.
“Yup, just waiting on you, pretty girl,” Carson informed me.
I looked at him and squinted. “I’d been waiting for you guys for over an hour. You have no right to complain about waiting less than five minutes for me,” I scolded.
Carson chuckled. “I know. It’s just fun to mess with you.”
I walked over and linked my arms through Jenna’s and Gary’s. “Alright, let’s head out.” We filed out the door. It was a little awkward at first with our arms linked, but we did some sort of side shuffle, so it worked out.
It was about a two-mile hike to the wall. There was a small ranger cabin to check in to when leaving this level, and two people there to monitor the base of the wall. It would take an entire day to get us all up the next leg of the climb. We were a fairly large group.
The rangers greeted us as we approached and one came down to talk to us. He gave us a run down of all the safety advice, and told us they had a first aid kit and a chopper on standby if needed. Hopefully we wouldn’t need it. My mind flitted b
ack to the memory from seven years ago, when my parents and I were airlifted out of the mountain range without my brother. I shuddered and shook my head free of the memory.
I never wanted to ride in a helicopter again.
We set our packs down where we’d start climbing and began to unpack. Dave, Stan, and Carrie were already harnessed up and roped in, and ready to start ascending. They were going to get a head start on us on this route. There were a dozen of us total, so it could take awhile.
Dave was on belay while Stan was clipping cams, bells, and nuts to his harness to set the route.
“Ready?” Stan asked, chalking up his hands and reaching for the first holds.
“Ready,” Dave replied. “Climb on.”
Stan placed his hands and feet on the rock holds and began to climb, with Dave spotting him from below, hands up and ready to break his fall if needed. He started out smooth and strong, quickly gliding up the wall with careful foot placement. He set cams and bells into the cracks, testing each one to make sure it held, before adding a draw and then the rope.
He was already on the third draw point when J.D. locked himself into belay mode, and Gary was handing me the rope to tie in. In a motion practiced countless times over, I looped in with a double figure eight knot and got ready to start climbing. Carson popped up in front of me and kissed my forehead, before placing a helmet on my head and strapping it into place. “Be safe, pretty girl.”
It was dawn, and the added light made it easier to see than using only the fluorescent lights from the ranger station. We wouldn’t even need our headlamps.
With each movement careful and precise, I pulled and pushed my way up the rock face. Sharp rock pressed into my fingertips and scraped against my arms, but I paid no attention. I was focused on one thing, and one thing only—making it to the top.
Once I made it to the start of the second leg, I anchored myself in and waited.
Next up was Carson, and J.D. continued to belay him while I watched from above. I looked over to see that Stan was anchored in and Carrie was already halfway up their route, making steady progress.
Carson made it up and he belayed me for the second pitch. It was three pitches up to the next part of the mountain where we’d rest for a day before continuing up again. I was now at the top of the second one, with one left to go.
The climbing went smoothly, and my confidence was skyrocketing. I looked down below and could only make out who was who by the colors of their helmets and any shiny things they may have had hooked to their harnesses.
Gary took over belaying and sent Jenna up next. I watched her movements from above, and saw the familiar flicker of excitement reflected in her sky blue eyes.
Next, Gary belayed my mother. I watched her slow and careful movements, and she was joining Carson at the top of the second pitch in no time.
J.D. went over to the other route and sent up Dave, and then Stan belayed J.D. from the beginning of the second leg, while J.D. cleaned the route as he ascended the first pitch.
Jenna sent up Carson, and then my mother. One by one, the group was all making it up. Gary cleaned the route as he went. I was terrified for him, because if Clif had left in one piece of equipment, then it could have saved his life. I hadn’t been able to convince Gary to do that though, he’d have to leave one behind on each pitch and didn’t think it was worth it, saying he trusted us enough to never let go of the rope. So, no pressure.
The belays were repeated the rest of the way up. It took several hours and was past lunchtime by the time we got everyone up the routes. It was midafternoon, and we were anxious for some snacks. Our stomachs growled in agreement.
The first pitch of the route went smoothly, it was fairly simple. The climbs would only get more difficult from here.
“First order of business,” Gary stated. “Food. I’m famished.”
“Told you that you should’ve put some snacks in your pack you could reach,” I told him, while I unbuckled my own pack and set it on the ground. “Let’s see what the shack up here has.”
“At the very least, they may have trail mix. I know that’s what we all have in our bags already, but tourists don’t go up this far,” Stan commented. “But, food is food.”
Sitting down, I leaned back against my pack and folded my hands over my stomach. The others did the same. “Let’s just enjoy this for a moment. I want to celebrate each feat, no matter how big or small,” I offered.
“We can do that. I checked in with the ranger station since we’re a day behind with the extra rest day, and we’re the only ones climbing this part today anyways. Tomorrow we have a rest day, then climbing again. Except the next will be a five-pitch route with three lines,” Carson informed us. “It’ll be fun.”
“So, Carson is your name, right?” my mom asked him and he nodded. “Tell me about yourself. I’ve been here for a couple days now and don’t know anything about any of you, other than you’re climbers.”
“That pretty much sums us up,” Carson replied. “But, yeah, I work at a distillery. It’s good, I have flexible hours, and can climb all I want.”
“What about the rest of you?” she inquired, probably hoping for an answer that was something she’d approve of. She may be on this climb with me now, but that didn’t change the expectations she’d been trying to drill into my head over the last few years.
“I’m a veterinary assistant,” J.D. answered.
My mom looked at him in surprise. That was right, my bear of a man worked with kitties and puppies. I knew it shocked a lot of people when they found out and it was always fun to see.
“That’s lovely,” she said. Well, at least she was being nice, or trying to I guess. “You’re J.D., right?”
“Yup,” he responded.
“What does that stand for?” she asked.
“John David.”
“That’s nice.”
He shrugged again and smiled.
“I’m in med school,” Dave piped up, and I wanted to laugh my butt off. My mom had immediate interest and of course she’d think I was banging him too. But no, he was with Jenna. None of my guys had the kind of job my mom was trying to sniff out. Sorry to disappoint her, but I really wasn’t sorry at all.
“I work at a law firm,” Stan said, making all of this even more hilarious.
“I worked at the same law firm, which was how I met Stan,” Carrie added. “We were in the break room one day talking about how we never saw the light of day and wondered whether or not the sun still came up every day. So we went outside, walked down the street to the climbing gym on our lunch break, and signed up for passes. We met Dave our first day there, when went back later to climb,” she explained. “Turns out, the sun still does rise every day.”
“What do you mean you ‘worked’ at one? What do you do now?” My mom inquired.
“I did, up until recently. I finally accepted the office workplace isn’t for me. So I left, colored my hair blue, and now I’m climbing, trying to figure out what to do next.”
My mom gave a slight disapproving look, but nodded and continued. “How did you meet Cam?” She asked, mostly to Dave and Stan.
Dave answered, “We were on our way here and stopped at a gas station. Cam was at the pump next to us. It was just luck.”
My mom’s face fell as she realized I wasn’t actually with these guys as well. I’d only known them for a few days. “Well, that’s nice. You seem to have grown close.”
I had to keep from spitting out my water. She was implying something she had no idea about. Of course I had to say something.
“Not as close as Jenna has,” Gary commented, beating me to it, and everyone laughed when they realized what was going on. My mother blushed, and went back to drinking her water and looking out at the view.
After a while, we got up and found an area to pitch our tents in. The area was small, but it was still perfect for us. I was really looking forward to this next rest day. After this, we’d be sleeping on the wall itself.
&nb
sp; It was later that night, and everyone was outside making fires and boiling water to add to their astronaut type camping meals. I’d snuck back to my tent to grab a jacket since I’d gone out there unprepared and it was a bit chilly.
Rough hands grabbed me by the waist and lifted me slightly up into the air. Before I even had a moment to let out a squeak, I was landing on the sleeping bag and being covered in the few blankets we had. A weight descended upon me and I fought to poke my head out. Once I did, I was looking straight into Ryan’s smiling face.
“Hello there,” he said.
“Fancy running into you here,” Carson called from my other side, and I turned to see an equally grinning face filled with mischief.
I narrowed my eyes and looked between them. “I know you’re both up to something, I just don’t know what.”
Ryan planted a searing kiss on my lips, one filled with lust, and I kissed him back.
A moment later, fingers grabbed my jaw and turned my head, and Carson’s lips were on mine next.
I now had an idea of why they followed me up here.
Carson’s kiss burned my mouth with passion, while Ryan’s hand traveled down my stomach and found the hem of my shirt. His hand dipped under it, and trailed up my stomach with the backs of his knuckles. His gentle touch tickled as it went up.
Ryan’s hand was halted by my sports bra. “Love, do you have any bras that are not sports bras? These things are not fun to constantly get off,” he grumbled.
“Yeah,” I laughed, “tell me about it. Trying to get both in and out of one is like swimming in a lake filled with piranhas.”
“So, about your bra stash,” he continued.
“No, I didn’t pack any normal bras because this is the Carbolitas. My boobs would pop out if I tried to climb in a normal bra,” I explained. Guys had no idea of the true horror women faced when it came to wearing the right bra for the right activity.