A Turn for the Worse

Every year around this time I try to convince myself I should start training. This shift from my general anti-training stance is of course due to the onset of oppressive Swedish weather. Unable to climb outside on a consistent basis I begin to wonder how many trip to the gym it will take to actually learn to like plastic. My attempts in previous years turned into simply hanging out with friends and whining about the weather, occasionally making it past warming up before throwing in the towel. We'll see how things go this year. I should just put together a campus workout and dangle from a hangboard so I don't become super weak. However, I'll probably resort back to obsessively checking the weather and waiting for my annual escape to the States (Dec 9th -Jan 26th).

Swedish winters suck but there are small windows here and there. Between the driving rain and lengthening darkness I have managed to make it out here and there the last couple weeks. Hopefully we'll have a few more good days, just enough to stave off depression.

Here are some pics.

It gets dark pretty early so night sessions allow the working stiffs to climb during the weekdays, if it's dry.

Pontus on a new problem I put up in Årekärr

Johan in Branta Trappan

Branta Trappan

Took a short trip to Branta Trappan that proved quite productive. Three new quality problems where put up, Notoriskt S.T.O.R, Pengagrön lädersoffa, and Kristallklar. Kalle FAed all three, Geir repeated two and I only scraped up one, siting skin and general weakness as my excuses. Psyched to go back for Pengagrön lädersoffa as it's the best of the three.

Here are a few pics.

Geir on the first move of Pengagrön lädersoffa

Kalle on the FA of Pengagrön lädersoffa

Kalle on Kristallklar

Geir try a cool bulge that remains undone

Rolly Polly

Finally made it to a line at Branta Trappan I've been meaning to try for years. After a bit of effort I managed the FA, shaking my way up the spicy top-out in the warm weather. I'm calling the problem Rolly Polly after the the little creatures that we brushed away when cleaning the problem. Sorry little guys.

The area also holds plenty more but I think the harder stuff will have to wait for the temps to drop a bit. Granite slopers are so unforgiving in the summer. Good times.

Here's some pics.