Tuesday, September 8, 2009

On the Rocks

Last weekend I tried rock climbing for the first time. Feeling a tinge of nostalgia for the many Labor Day weekends spent sitting around campfires, I signed up to play leap frog on some sheer vertical cliffs with a hiking group I found on Meetup.com. I was able to hitch a ride to the cliffs with one member who graciously offered a front seat in his car. Five minutes into the trip a backseat rider asked, "Can I cut my toe nails?" Two hours into the trip, I awoke from a pleasant morning slumber to the sight of a beautiful sloping New Paltz, NY. Our first stop was a rock climbing rental place to pick up shoes and helmets. A 15-minute drive from town brought us to our final destination, a collection of cliffs in the Mohonk Preserve referred to as the Gunks.

Getting nervous for my first climb...lassie senses danger...

Before attempting the climb, several instructors ran through the basics: how to tie a figure-eight rope, how to belay, names for basic climbing equipment, and the signal calls between climber and belayer. I eventually learned that each cliff is rated on a scale going from 5.1 to 5.15 with 5.15 being the hardest. My first climb was a 5-5.

Not too shabby for a first-timer, according to my instructor, even though I screamed the whole way down. 

Finish! 


I felt so invigorated, and so relieved. My second and third climbs didn't turn out quite so successfully. I barely made it 10 minutes into both before my muscles started pulsating and shaking out of weakness. And yet, most of the pros climbed like it was nobody's business, going to the top again and again and again. Everyone from the group was so good-natured, it was hard to feel bad about my novice status on such a beautiful summer day. I think I could get used to this sport, even if it involves looking for tiny crevices in a gigantic piece of rock to support my entire body weight and offset the downward crushing blows of gravity.  

27 comments:

Angie said...

Wow, you're brave. :-)

Anonymous said...

Good for you. I go to new paltz and have Always wanted to rock climb there

gunks rock climbing said...

Good for you. I go to new paltz and have Always wanted to rock climb there

the gunks rock climbing said...

Good for you. I go to new paltz and have Always wanted to rock climb there

gunks climbing said...

Good for you. I go to new paltz and have Always wanted to rock climb there

Unknown said...

food job

Unknown said...

Great to see that someone still understand how to create an awesome blog.
The blog is genuinely impressive in all aspects.
Great, I love this blog.
http://www.mgmdomino.com/

Anonymous said...

Superb blog post thanks for sharing with us.

thanks,
Commodity Investment advisor
Commodity Calls

Best Mcx Calls said...

I wish, you reached on top, best of luck.

Crude Oil Best Tips Provider

jadegown.com.au said...

Where to Buy the Best Prom Dressesplus size evening wear
When it comes to buying prom dresses,plus size formal dresses finding the right vendor can be overwhelming. From the countless number of places you can buy prom dresses jjshouseonline to local malls stuffed with bargain-priced dresses, girls have a lot of options to wade through. But where is the best place to buy prom dresses?
View more dresses, please click www.jadegown.com.au
For more dresses information, please email at jadegown.com.au@gmail.com

beautygowns said...

So many stunning dresses here hochzeitskleider online

Clavonna said...


formal attire for wedding

wedding dresses under 1000 canada

canada grad dress

Whether you or your bridal party prefer cocktail or floor length, empire or drop-waist, strapless, sleeved or one-shoulder necklines– we’ve got hundreds of gorgeous styles to choose from! Our affordable bridesmaid dresses modest dressesare designed to flatter every member of your bridal party, no matter what style you prefer.View more dresses, please click:http://www.clavonna.com/
For more dresses information, please email at :info.clavonna@gmail.com.

Unknown said...

formal attire for weddingwedding dresses under 1000 canada

Unknown said...


berketex dresses

evening wear dresses

jacques vert dresses
Whether you or your bridal party prefer cocktail or floor length, empire or drop-waist, strapless, sleeved or one-shoulder necklines– we’ve got hundreds of gorgeous styles to choose from! Our affordable bridesmaid dresses modest dressesare designed to flatter every member of your bridal party, no matter what style you prefer.
View more dresses, please click:http://www.jadegownshop.co.uk/
For more dresses information, please email at :
csd.jadegowns@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Do you have a plan for wedding? Do you surprised by the high price of wedding dresses? Come to www.clavonna.com to have a look. It will not make you disappointed.
midi prom dress

Unknown said...

Are you tired of searching beautiful wedding dresses and prom dresses with high quality and best fit? www.clavonna.com gives you a surprise nasty dress

Unknown said...

Do you need to go to a prom? And you want to buy a beautiful prom dress but only to find all of these in the shops are too expensive. So come to have a look on www.clavonna.com. You will not be disappointed. new look prom dresses

beautydress said...

we created an easy to use advanced search feature that allows you to refine by designer, style, event, color, and price. For example, if you are searching for a long, red dress under R3000, select those options to get a collection of dresses
matching that description. View more dresses, please click http://www.beautydress.co.za. For more dresses information, please email at beautydress.sa@gmail.com china mall johannesburg wedding dresses

www.jadegowns.de said...

Ob Sie oder Ihre Brautparty lieber Cocktail- oder Bodenlänge, Reich oder Drop-Taille, trägerlos, Ärmeln oder Ein-Schulter-Ausschnitt - wir haben Hunderte von wunderschönen Stilen zur Auswahl! Unsere erschwinglichen Brautjungfer Kleider sind entworfen, um jedes Mitglied Ihrer Brautparty zu schmeicheln, egal welcher Stil Sie bevorzugen.
Zeige mehr Kleider, bitte klicken www.jadegowns.de
abendkleid weiß spitze

www.emilygowns.com said...

Regardless of whether you’ve chosen the perfect dress for your occasion or you simply have an enquiry about our collections or stockists, please don’t hesitate to contact our team.
View more dresses, please click http://www.emilygowns.com
milla nova wedding dress cost

www.jadegown.com.au said...

Only the most beautiful dressesevening dresses brisbane are thought for a perfect beauty like you!Let us buy sexy dresses harts dressesfor great day.
View more dresses, please click http://www.jadegown.com.au
beautiful lace wedding dresses

www.shillas.co.uk said...

View more dresses, please click http://www.shillas.co.uk. Only the most beautiful dressesevening dresses brisbane are thought for a perfect beauty like you!Let us buy sexy dresses harts dressesfor great day.
miltiway dresses for all ages

Anonymous said...

we created an easy to use advanced search feature that allows you to refine by designer, style, event, color, and price. For example, if you are searching for a long, red dress under R3000, select those options to get a collection of dresses
matching that description. View more dresses, please click http://www.beautydress.co.za. For more dresses information, please email at beautydress.sa@gmail.com
wish com wedding dresses

beautygowns said...

So many wonderful dresses adelaide formal wesr waiting for your option adele dress sydney,if you want to be a beautiful lady adult formal dress,please choose our dresses .

Panchangam said...

Online Hindu calendar 2017 showing Indian festival, holidays. Indian Calendar provides you with the list of Indian Holidays. Most of Panchang and festivals Information are available on Indian Calendar

Unknown said...

so beautiful dress,including english wedding dresses indian occasion dresses with split mermaid occasion dresses bridesmaid dresses unique if you want to know more Please visit our website http://www.glamchase.co.uk/

dresses said...

Beautiful girls, I know everyone wants more and more beautiful. Find a suitable dress, there are many styles,glamchase princess prom dresses reviews here are beautiful and elegant dress, do not miss oh meet.
View more dresses, please click www.glamchase.co.uk
For more dresses information, please email at glamchase@gmail.com