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Up a wall!
So, I went over and took the belay class at Planet Granite over in Sunnyvale today. I learned useful things like how to tie a rope to your climbing harness so that you don't go splat, how to handle a rope so that your climbing partner doesn't go splat, and I got to do a bit of climbing.
Climbing was interesting. It took a little while to get over the sheer adrenaline rush of, "I'm up a wall hanging off some teeny little hand and footholds!" I can tell that if I want to improve, I'm going to need to get a bit more willing to fall - intellectually, I've got complete faith that my belaying partner can catch me, but the hind brain is still going, "Gravity! Shiiiit!"
I think the strength I've been building through weightlifting served me well, although I still found a short climb surprisingly taxing. Although some of that was probably due to my tendency to take a death grip on my handholds while my brain was trying to cope with the whole falling thing.
Anyway, assuming I go back and pass the certification test (which really shouldn't be a problem), I'll be a qualified belayer, if any of my friends who climb need one.
Climbing was interesting. It took a little while to get over the sheer adrenaline rush of, "I'm up a wall hanging off some teeny little hand and footholds!" I can tell that if I want to improve, I'm going to need to get a bit more willing to fall - intellectually, I've got complete faith that my belaying partner can catch me, but the hind brain is still going, "Gravity! Shiiiit!"
I think the strength I've been building through weightlifting served me well, although I still found a short climb surprisingly taxing. Although some of that was probably due to my tendency to take a death grip on my handholds while my brain was trying to cope with the whole falling thing.
Anyway, assuming I go back and pass the certification test (which really shouldn't be a problem), I'll be a qualified belayer, if any of my friends who climb need one.
no subject
Now we can climb together if you like.
I'd suggest several climbing sessions (about five or six) and then sign up for Beginner Rock Climbing Class. Teaches you a lot of body mechanics and how to get more bang for your buck when climbing a wall.
I am so happy you got out and took the class.