July 8, 2008

  • Climbing 101

    People ask me a lot about my climbing and why do I do it and so on. So this post is dedicated to those questions and some explanation of why I like to "Boulder" or in normal people talk "Climb Rocks."

    I think the the one of the best things about rock climbing is meeting people. You get to meet people where you travel, another bonus of climbing, from all over the world. You swap stories about places you've been and you got this scar and that. Let's face it we all love stories and to hear a great one about some awesome climb someone did, if they are a good story teller, is almost as if youre there with them in the moment. Well I have a good imagination and can picture myself there... it fun to learn about people and their inspirations for climbing. Which leads me into my next commonly asked question.

    What motivated me to risk life and limb to climb a freaking rock? Easy it's fun. Dont knock it till you try it. Its like when your a kid and the things are too hard to climb and you wish you were bigger and strong so you could climb it. Guess what? Now you can! Plus Acting like a kid is fun and you get to just have fun like the good ole days.

    Being a kid is interesting as we focused only on what we were doing since our minds were not developed enough to multitask thus we only had one thing on our mind. Having fun. Well, when you climb, it is fun. As an adult I have to worry about a job/rent/my car/etc... and when I climb I focus on only one thing. I hope I can "stick," grab on to, that next crappy ass "hold," or thing to grab. Focus is there and there are no outside worries.

    What if I get hurt what will you do? I will heal. I will get rehabilitation. I will train. I will climb again. I will get hurt again, hopefully not, and the cycle repeats. Just like any other thing we do in life. We do it cause its fun.

    You could kill yourself. Yes, same thing with going to work each day as I will be driving, and I can die there too. Or, at least I died do something I loved with my friends around me so I dont have to be alone.

    There's nothing like the climbing community when it comes to friendliness and support. They are some of the coolest people around and are always willing to lend a hand and help you out with things. Having people cheer you on to finish a "problem," or route, you are doing that is super difficult is great. Bottom line is that Climbers are very caring people. And the friendships you make last a lifetime.

    Excerise. I dont think I need to explain this, but you get to know your body very very well. Its limits and what it can and cannot do. You find out that you have muscules that do things that you had no idea. You learn to use your feet as if they are another set of hands. You also start to get connected with the outdoors and eat healthy too.

    Dieting. I mean eating different things. You tend to eat more nature foods and steer away from junk food, but beer becomes an essential element to climbing as it relaxes you more and some people even climb better. Plus climbing drunk is really fun too...hahaha... be careful tho.

    Having something that can:
    a) Focus your mind,a nd give you mental strength
    b)Make Great Friends
    c)Travel the world
    d)Excerise your body
    e)Give you Awesome Stories to tell about.

    =

    Priceless...