Add writeup of Smith Rock trip from April 2009

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+[[!meta title="Rock Climbing"]]
+
+[[!tag climbing]]
+
+[[!img smith_rock_2009_04/carl_on_rappel.jpg size="300x300" class="left"]]
+
+In June of 2008 I started rock climbing at a local gym, and instantly
+got hooked. I still can't fully explain the fascination I have with
+climbing, but it certainly includes an aspect of solving a
+three-dimensional puzzle. When I started, the easiest routes in the
+gym (graded 5.7) were difficult for me, but satisfying.
+
+Within a few months I had already acquired a fair amount of [[gear]],
+and I had the chance to climb outdoors (on toprope) with a good
+friend, (Scott DV), who was rediscovering climbing, (having climbed in
+Idaho years ago). We both found that there is some fine climbing to be
+had in the Portland area. We were just disappointed that we hadn't
+started sooner, because Oregon's wet season soon started interfering
+with outdoor climbing.
+
+I got through the winter months by being lucky enough to find a
+climbing partner, (Scott D), willing to train with me 3 times a week,
+(and helping to motivate me to get up at ridiculously early hours to
+climb before work). We both took technique classes that took our
+climbing up a notch. By the time we were ticking off routes at 5.9, we
+took lead-climbing class and starting leading in the gym in January
+2009.
+
+An unseasonably cold and wet month of March kept us in the gym, where
+we kept at our routine, leading at 5.8/5.9 and toproping at 5.10-
+(with several 5.10+ projects). In April, the sun finally came out and
+we took the first chance we could to get outdoors with a [road trip to
+Smith Rock](smith_rock_2009_04) and some of the best climbing in
+Oregon. Our first experience leading outdoors was very satisfying,
+(and very different than in the gym), with each of us succeeding at
+5.8 leads.
+
+Back at the gym two days later, we decided that if we're going to
+start leading at 5.9, we'd better be working 5.11 in the gym. So we
+started working our first 5.11- project. It was grueling, (and we
+didn't make it through the crux without cheating with some weight on
+the rope), but we did get to the top, and it was a blast.
+
+One of my favorite things about climbing is that the routes are graded
+on an open-ended scale. It's fantastic to know that no matter how much
+I improve there will always be routes ready to punish me and put me
+back in my place.