Climbing Obsessed

This semester I joined my university’s climbing gym

I’ve climbed off and on over the years, but never as more than a hobby. As a kid, I couldn’t get enough of it at summer camp and was often the only one not bored of going up and down the climbing wall until it was time for our next activity (riflery or horseback riding usually). The counselors even let me belay occasionally even though they “weren’t supposed to”.

A decade later, just after I finished up my undergrad, I seized my “last chance to be a camp counselor before venturing into the real world” and wound up in West Virginia teaching horseback riding, climbing wall, and ropes course. I remember my first few times up and down the wall, the jolt of fear as I leaned against the rope at the top, my inability to prevent my muscles from shaking. But somehow by the end of the summer that fear disappeared. I suspect it may have had something to do with spending 2 hours every couple of days in a tree helping kids clip in from one part of the ropes course to another. I also got to hike up to Seneca Rocks a few times with the kids and fellow rock-climbing guide Pankaj (who now owns a trekking company in India) where we would set up for an afternoon of outdoor climbing.

Bring on the Climbing

And here I am, four years later, getting back into it. And really getting into it. I actually know climbing terms now. Did you know there are climbing terms? I had no idea. And I’ve slowly but surely moved up from lower grades (which I had never paid attention to before) to the slightly more difficult ones. Our gym grades top-rope routes on the French system, and I just recently topped out on a 6B+ without falling! Woooo. Achievements! Yeah! For bouldering, I can’t remember the grading system because it also moves up by color. So I generally just go by that. I’ve recently started topping out on routes that are the fourth color from the bottom. Another big achievement for me!

Just so this post isn’t all about me bragging

Here are some cool training videos for climbers that I’ve been watching lately. And you should, too, if you want to get in good climbing shape! Or just want to ogle people who can do incredible things with their muscles. Yes. Only downside is, I don’t think my hands will ever be the same. Have already accidentally burst two massive blisters on my fingers and my nails are perpetually chipped and jagged…oh well. Gotta make some sacrifices for Spiderman skills :-).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0vOH_XGWFU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnbW_99eN3U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdX7KGGGtYk

Oh yeah, also this thing exists.