The day started out so positive, Jason showed up on time and we headed over to Steve #2's apartment with fritters in tow.

  I started eating the first fritter on the way up the stairs and then all hell broke loose.  #2 tried to 
explain what was going on amidst compliments of my fritter.  We had already lost one member of the support team and #2  was getting ready to pick up 
Kelsen.  Jason and I headed off to Alexis's place while #2 went to go pick up Kelsen.  I couldn't be too much happier though.  

I was eating my first Greenbush fritter in 2 years, my car sounded like a jet, and I was wearing a bright shiny purple jumpsuit.  Wonderful.

We arrived at the lake and after a brief intake of fritter, headed to the first set of problems on the list.  The first two went down without a 
hitch and both reminded me how good the bouldering can be at the lake.  Kelsen and #2 showed up as I was finishing the slab and we headed over to Steve's 
Eliminate.  It had been a while since i had done this problem so i had to get #2 to show me the beta again.  He's pretty good at that and 1 try 
later i sucked my butt in and sent.  With #2 festering about how he still couldn't do the next move i went over to clean off the top of Pinball Arete.

Definitely considered the mental crux for me since i hadn't tried the problem in 2 years i was a bit nervous.  The problem goes up an arete 
on small holds before busting up to slopers on the topout.  While clocking in at about V5 it was definitely not the hardest problem on my list but 
the landing makes it more than memorable.  Another boulder waits about 4 feet behind the arete to smack you around a bit and then push you into 
either a pit or another talus block.  Classic!  While i was cleaning off the topout holds Kelsen came over to give me a hand.  He told me to "Be careful 
and don't fall."  I said, with a bit of attitude, i was alright and asked him for his chalk ball and promptly bit the dust and skidded off the topout 
stick brush in hand.

"I'm Alright!  I think."  Kelsen quickly made his way down into the pit to see if i was still alive.  All i remember seeing was the boulder in 
back of pinball getting closer and then lying on the starting block.  After lying there for about 5 minutes talking with Kelsen and Alexis we all went 
over to where #2 and Jason were.  The only injury i could feel was in my right thigh but i could still walk on it so the challenge was still on!  With a 
stupid smile I told #2 that i had just fallen off of the top of pinball without pads and he promptly asked where all the blood was.  We showed Jason 
the problem and the landing and all #2 could say was "So, Pinball is off the list right?"  With that we headed over to Smooth Operator and Bud 
White.

It had been a while since i got shutdown on a V4 so it felt kinda good to get spit off of smooth operator so many times so quickly.  About 10 
tries in a blood blister started in on my pinkie finger.  It was really starting to feel like a birthday challenge!  I was so happy.  Kelsen was the 
closest to sending but none of us could muster the sketchy topout.  We went over to Show Me The Kind, another classic V4 that i hadn't tried in 2 years and 
proceeded to get shut down once again.  I had completely forgotten the beta and couldn't weight my right foot at all thanks to pinball.  My leg 
started to turn into a log and soon after i called the challenge a true and honest failure.

That night after completely freaking out about the fall i decided to at least try to finish the fritter portion of the challenge.  I ended up 
getting 2.5 down before i could take no more. I tend to evaluate my challenge by how i feel the next day.  If i hold 
true to that idea then this challenge was as successful as any of my others.  

I couldn't walk up stairs or move my head too fast.  My back was killing me and i was still full from the fritters.  2 days later i felt completely 
opposite.  I could move my leg again, my neck and back were doing fine and i was climbing again, albeit gingerly.  After taking one of the worst 
falls i've ever taken i was lucky to be walking, let alone climbing!

To make myself feel better i keep on telling everyone that if you complete a challenge it was too easy.  The redemption challenge will be coming 
soon though.  Just you wait.  We may even have a triple challenge coming up too. 22 5.12's at the lake in 2 days is sounding mighty tasty right now.

Steve