Just a little self-aggrandizement. I was belaying Bryan, a relatively new climber, from the heights when my pal Jack snapped this photo. The climb is only a 5.9 but its very long, stretching almost 40 meters.  I had already done my climb here, in addition to leading 3 other routes, and was feeling pretty manly.

It is rather invigorating up there, standing at the precipice. The wind in your face, the cliff to your back, and a half-dozen Koreans nearby on the trail to the temple in awe of our prowess, telling us how brave, good and handsome we are.

An hour or so earlier, Bryan and I are caught in a rather more pensive mood. We were relaxing a bit having just done a couple of hard routes when Ji-Gyoung, Jack’s girlfriend, took this picture.

It’s not often I’m in front of the camera. I thought I’d share.