Rocks, rocks, rocks, rocks...
Oct. 1st, 2003 12:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kickahaSo this past week I found out that we have a kick-butt climbing wall here at UNC. 30'x80', routes ranging from 5.5 to 5.11+, crevices, chimneys, ribs, you name it.
Tonight I got belay certified... actually, it was the first time I ever *used* belay equipment. We used to go rock climbing in high school at what's now the Pinnacles State Park in WA... freestyle. Ie, no equipment. We didn't know any better. Heck, we used to wear *deck shoes* because they were lightweight and grippy.
So today was quite different... ropes? Harnesses? Those aren't things I normally associate with outdoor sports.
But it was a lot of fun. Belaying down the wall, letting yourself just kick out into space, was a *WHOLE* lot of fun, and it's amazing how utterly fearless you become when you know that you *cannot fall*.
So I made three ascents. Nothing spectacular, I took the baby routes, a 5.5+, a 5.6, and a 5.7. And I made it to the top on the first two... my shoulder gave out on the third. (And my hands, and my forearms, and my biceps, and...)
I think this is going to be *incredible* therapy for my shoulder, and a great way to get my upper body back into shape quickly.
Oh, and one more thing...
owwwwwwwwww....
Tonight I got belay certified... actually, it was the first time I ever *used* belay equipment. We used to go rock climbing in high school at what's now the Pinnacles State Park in WA... freestyle. Ie, no equipment. We didn't know any better. Heck, we used to wear *deck shoes* because they were lightweight and grippy.
So today was quite different... ropes? Harnesses? Those aren't things I normally associate with outdoor sports.
But it was a lot of fun. Belaying down the wall, letting yourself just kick out into space, was a *WHOLE* lot of fun, and it's amazing how utterly fearless you become when you know that you *cannot fall*.
So I made three ascents. Nothing spectacular, I took the baby routes, a 5.5+, a 5.6, and a 5.7. And I made it to the top on the first two... my shoulder gave out on the third. (And my hands, and my forearms, and my biceps, and...)
I think this is going to be *incredible* therapy for my shoulder, and a great way to get my upper body back into shape quickly.
Oh, and one more thing...
owwwwwwwwww....