When you’re injured, you’re the most important person in the world: Some years ago, I was hanging out in a bright desert wash with Tommy Caldwell and Dave Graham. That week, Dave had been griping about his finger, though he was vague about the precise affliction. Oddly, Dave continued to climb at a high level—onsighting 5.14a, among other feats that for any other person would be lifetime achievements or at least grounds for a shoe sponsorship with Climb X.Finally, Dave revealed the story about his “injury” to Tommy and me. On Terremer (V15), the Fred Nicole crimping testpiece in Hueco Tanks, a razor-blade edge sliced him. Dave showed us where by lifting a wedge of skin off his index finger.“Wait,” I said, a little disoriented. “So … you got a flapper?”Dave was exasperated. “You mean injury!” he said. “You don’t understand!” I never do. “It was so messed up, like, so, so crazy. I was running around, bleeding everywhere, yelling, ‘Shit! I just cut my finger off!’ I couldn’t believe it, dude. A horrible, devastating injury. I had literally cut my finger off!”Despite saying “literally,” Dave had not actually cut off his finger—yet he was complaining about his aggrandized flapper to Tommy Caldwell, who had literally cut his finger off with a circular saw years ago. I looked for a reaction out of Tommy, but this tightlipped cowboy of El Cap just smiled.
To anyone who had to put up with me moaning about my 'finger injury' in Ceuse this summer, I sincerely apologise...
Pair of punters ...
Quote from: i_a_coops on September 27, 2013, 03:38:12 pmTo anyone who had to put up with me moaning about my 'finger injury' in Ceuse this summer, I sincerely apologise...Reminds me of my (nameless) partner at Ceuse last year. He'd gone with the goal of redpointing Carte Blanche and, after very many days of hard work and progress, he was finally at the point of sending after having fallen from the top the day prior. The big moment arrives, he warms up effortlessly in two halves, pulls the rope and has a 15 minute chill before the crush. During the wait he decides to go for a shit in the trees and emerges back at the crag half-blinded after stabbing himself hard in the eye on a pointy stick. Cue a stumble down the trail, trip into A+E, and two days sat around Gap looking like a pirate before flying home empty-handed.