The Purple Panther Walk

     When Dudley got a rock wall in 2011, I was absolutely ecstatic! Being a hardcore rock climber, I couldn't wait to give this one a shot.
     I later found out that Sepor, the ropes directpr (Sepor is "ropes" backwards, get it?! Knee-slapper!), made one of the 5 routes especially difficult. He considered it a 5.10, and at the time, the most difficult route I had climbed was a 5.9.
     He decided that the first camper to climb it clean (no falling, using unmarked handholds, or resting on the rope) would get to name the route. Seeing that no one had been successful yet, I jumped on the opportunity immediately.
     I signed up for the rock climbing skill session and thought it would be a piece of cake... I was wrong. The first day I only made it half way. I made it a bit farther the next. The day after that I made it all the way to the top, but I didn't make the final free jump to the last handhold before ringing the bell (no possible way to reach it otherwise) and I fell.

     I worked hard and strategized. My cabin and skill session-mates were a huge support. I eventually made it! There was a point near the end when I didn't think I'd make it. Then I heard my friends cheering me on, and I pushed myself. It paid off. I felt so excited and accomplished when I finally rang the bell at the top of the "Purple Panther Walk," as I later named it!