Jacking up my outdoor fun factor.

[OwenM]

Really wasn't sure where to post this, but since wanting to add the ability to rappel at some of the places I like to hike is what drove getting into it, might as well put it here.

Got a buddy of mine from work to give me a refresher on rappelling, and had to spend the day top-roping first. Climbing was fun, humbling, and I'm hoping not too addictive(don't need another hobby to dump thousands of dollars into!).
We were at Palisades Park near Oneonta, AL.

I'm a total noob to the rock climbing thing. He walked and talked me through setup for top-roping: proper anchoring, knots, etc. I made myself a set of instructional videos through all this, and have been practicing my knots so they'll be second nature.
I got to climb an easy wall twice, and then try one that was harder, but never really got started. Fell off 5 or 6 times, and the borrowed shoes were killing me.
These are from the "warmup" wall.

Baby step the first time rappelling. After getting used to it again(and being told to grow some balls), I went from 6 or 7 bounces on the first try to doing it in 2. Tame stuff, but a blast for me, since it was all new again.

Not sure about the climbing. I liked the challenge, the competitiveness, and the trash talk, but for me being stuck to the wall is best taken in small doses.
Rappelling is another story. That's something I've been wanting to add to some dayhiking trips, and will have the opportunity to do so frequently.
Definitely hooked on it, too.
We made a kind of fitness challenge out of it, since we stayed in one place, and were only using about a 43' wall-running back and climbing the rocks up to the overhang, rappelling down, then doing it again. We kept at it for 2 1/2 hours, and when my friend was ready to go, I told him that he better start taking the rope down before I got to it, or I'd be going again
Actually planning to make that a regular thing as a workout, because cardio has never been so much fun, and is usually something I have to force myself to do.
I've already contacted a place nearby(well, 1.5hrs away) where I can get certified, take an advanced course, a master's course, and a rescue course over the next few months.
So I guess I'm excited about it.

That was last week, and today I finished putting together a rappelling "BOB" of sorts, that I can just grab and go.
Had an old barebones Dana Design daypack that turned out to be the perfect size, though I'll have to do some figuring on integrating this stuff with my hiking gear.

A Black Diamond Momentum harness was the most comfortable of the several I tried on, and came as part of a climbing starter kit that was 40% off. Came with a chalk bag, chalk, ATC, and BD screw-lock carabiner.
Got a BlueWater Rescue 8 in addition to the ATC from the kit, a 150' BlueWater II+ static line, several lengths of webbing, and the Petzl helmet I bought for caving. It's no mystery what I'll be doing tomorrow.
Anyway, all that stuff will cram in the pack pretty easily, and I'm happy with how it worked out.

Got another little something today. I may not get a bunch of climbing gear, or be participating on big wall climbs, but will probably continue going with my coworker every other Wednesday if he's top-roping. Assuming we do it again, next week that second wall will not defeat me. At least it won't because my focus is on my toe instead of where I'm putting it. They were half price, and actually fit, too.

My instructor. I haven't done Aussie in 19 years, and wasn't going to push it on day 1, but I'm sure just rappelling the same 40ft. wall got boring for him pretty quick.
[youtube]E_aO1DuHcPw[/youtube]
Descending the wall I couldn't get started on. He made climbing straight up the part with the least holds look so easy.

Loads of fun. There's lots of places that I like to go that will be a whole new experience next time around. Another bonus is that it's a beginning for gearing up for the slot canyons I want to check out next year, and maybe even some vertical caving in the future.
If you haven't tried climbing or rappelling, give it a shot. I didn't want to climb at all, but...well, crap, I already went and bought climbing shoes!

 

[jds1]

I'm glad to hear that you had such a great time on the rock. You'll find climbing to be a very addictive sport. As soon as you hang out at the crags for a while and meet some climbing folks you'll be hooked. You'll love the friendly competition and the feeling of your skills developing every time you get out. Before you know it that "every other Wednesday" will turn into two or three times a week and the rest of the time you'll be walking around thinking through the next set of moves on your current route obsesssion. On belay!

Jeff

 

[mtnfolk mike]

right on man.. great stuff... i love rockclimbing and have done it on and off for many years... :thumbup: it is a very fun and addicting sport to get into...

 

[OwenM]

Thanks guys. My coworker told me I'd hardly ever meet an unfriendly climber.
There were two other guys out there during the climbing part(one also used to work where I do), but they left before we started rappelling. One of them met up with us later, and we went swimming at a local country club. Nice way to end 4.5 hours on the cliffs, and 2.5 hours of rappelling.
Met a couple others in the parking lot, another relative new guy getting coached by another experienced climber, and yet a couple more at my favorite outdoor store.
Then I found out one of the employees there is my neighbor, and he and his wife are climbers. When I'm "practice hiking" the hills nearby, I walk by his house every day. Instead of turning half of their full basement into finished rooms like most people would, they built a climbing cave with overheads so they can literally climb the walls and across the ceiling. Can't wait to see that.
I'm not a people person, and rarely make new friends. It was cool finding all these great folks, coworkers and neighbors who were right there all along, and how friendly and encouraging they were to someone just starting out.
I'm generous to a fault with friends and family, but it blew me away seeing people willing to not only let inexperienced people share their expensive equipment, but to give so much of their free time to a stranger(and seem to really enjoy it).
Getting hands-on training, walked through anchoring, tested on some knots, safety talks, and being able to participate in actually doing and double-checking everything from someone undoubtedly anxious to get on the rock was way beyond my expectations. Made me feel really confident in who I was with, and hopefully bolstered their confidence in me when it's my turn to rig things and belay<<I was not allowed to do these things, yet, told to watch and learn.
The people may well be what gets and keeps me into rock climbing.

 

[PayetteRucker]

It takes a long time to break in a good pair of shoes, and alot of climbing must be learned through experience, AKA the hard way. Body hardening-the balls of your feet, your fingers your knees and hands and nipples... it's a hard sport for hard people, but extremely satisfying and a heck of alot of fun. Rock climbing is an endangered sport. I say that because good walls that are legal to climb are getting harder and harder to find as land is bought up and more government restrictions are applied to public land. That's why people are so willing to give their left pinkie to help a new person get in on the sport. Looks like a great experience!

 

[jds1]

I started climbing in '81 and many of my original partners are still good friends today. There is something special that comes from sharing a rope, especially when your buddy catches you from a screamer.

Jeff

 

[OwenM]

I just got to do my first solo rappel..well, my first 30-something solo rappels and trips back up the ridge. 101 degrees, and storms moving in, so it was an awesome workout, if a bit hot. Temp dropped into the 80s in the last hour or so I was there, as the wind picked up, and the thunder and lightning started. If they hadn't, I might still be there...

Problem is that it takes me an hour to get there. Can't be running over there every day. There's a place that's only ~25 minutes away called Horse Pens 40 where people climb, boulder, and rappel, so I'm going to check that out next. edit: crap...didn't know what I was talking about. Bouldering with a crash pad only at that place. Just found out they don't allow climbing or rappelling, whether due to liability concerns or ill-suited terrain, I don't know.

I filled up a Wal-Mart bag with all the trash in sight, and just like on a hike at Cheaha earlier this year, it included a dirty diaper. What's up with that?

 

[OwenM]

You'll find climbing to be a very addictive sport. As soon as you hang out at the crags for a while and meet some climbing folks you'll be hooked.

Tuesday I'm taking a combination climbing/rappelling course with the woman who told me about the place that offers the certification and advanced training I mentioned earlier, as it's something she's wanting to get into.

Wednesday and/or Thursday toproping at Palisades again with my coworker, and he's trying to get a couple of other people to go. Also said he would help me with bouldering after I mentioned Horse Pens 40.

Had forgotten that my best friend's girlfriend has been climbing for years.
Most of her equipment got trashed, 'cause she was living in Louisiana when Katrina hit. She's replaced some of it, but has only gotten to climb a couple of times in the last year. Already dragged out climbing books, a cragger's atlas she logs climbs in, and had me practicing knots with her.

In two weeks I've gone from having a blank social calendar to having three different people bugging me about climbing or rappelling with them.
It's kind of nice.
You should have warned me it was addictive, though

 

[jds1]

You should have warned me it was addictive, though

Hey... don't blame me for how much fun you're having! I've never had another thing take hold of my life as strong as climbing. Get ready!

Jeff

 

[mymindisamob]

Climbing was one of my drugs for many years. Too bad body parts wear out. Enjoy it while you can.:thumbup:

 

[glee]

Got a BlueWater Rescue 8 in addition to the ATC from the kit, a 150' BlueWater II+ static line, several lengths of webbing, and the Petzl helmet I bought for caving.

You know not to climb on that rope, right?

 

[OwenM]

Yes. My personal stuff is for rappelling. I got the shoes so I can climb with other people, but at this point do not intend to gear up for climbing myself.

 

[banana-clip]

Looks like fun.

My only experience with rappeling is Waco Tanks, Tx and it was fun.

 

[OwenM]

Been trying to stay busy, taking the kayak out on Monday, rappelling and doing my little "fitness course" about 45 times on Tuesday. Today we dropped the idea of taking the climbing/rappelling class that had not worked out for Tuesday, and joined my buddy at Palisades for climbing again.
Along with all this rappelling, I've been practicing holds on rocks, climbing ladders at work-including a 90ft. one, and changing the way I grip rails and rungs with my fingers. What weightlifting I've been doing has gotten into the 40 rep range with lighter weights. Just like he told me(and I was afraid would be true) everything has started to revolve around that constant challenge of being able to stay on the rock.
Today I got to experience locking in grips with my body weight, actually pushing off the wall, and at one point hanging upside down under an overhang 60-70ft. up by a toe hook and one hand. Those were things I'd see people doing in a magazine pic, and think "I could never do that".
Actually doing it was a huge rush, even if I didn't make it on top of that overhang.
Only topped one of three walls, but we were doing much harder climbs so my "mentor" could have a good challenge.
I've never regretted letting myself get out of shape so much, yet never been so thankful for maintaining to the degree I have for the last decade or so. Regardless, trying to beat those walls is one of the most rewarding workouts ever. Can't remember being this enthusiastic about anything in a long time.
Wish I'd have tried this 15 years ago in peak condition. Might have stayed that way a lot longer.
Going again in the morning. "Addictive" is indeed the operative term.

edit: less exciting, but got to do part of setup, anchoring for belaying, and belaying with a grigri for the first time. The fact that I'm learning and doing more each time, and that the difficulty is staying above my ability is keeping this both interesting and very challenging.