climbing

[spacefem]

I had a new years resolution to try the climbing wall at the YMCA this year, because I'd never tried it before. The first time I called they were like "want to sign up for billet class so you can learn to do this with a friend and NOBODY PROFESSIONAL INVOLVED?" and I said no thank you, I would like lots of professionals involved. so they told me to come to open climb, which we did. That's 1 hour on a saturday when any member can try climbing and YMCA staff does the billet work. I did get to climb several times, but we usually had to wait until the very end and one time we just let all the kids in front of us go and us grown-ups didn't have time to get a turn. okay, so open climb is for kids and I should be a big girl and learn to climb with just my family.

So this weekend marc and I got signed off to billet. I don't think marc trusts me to billet him... there's an anchor so I can tie my belt to the ground, but still a significant weight difference between us. When we'd go to open climb there's this gutsy guy who doesn't care if marc's descent causes his ASCENT, but he's extremely experienced.

we spent about two hours there at a class where we learned how to tie ourselves for climbing with this cool figure 8 knot, then how to hook a carabiner to a "grigri" when you're the billet (grigri a brand name word I just had to re-look up).

then you have to come to next week's class for a retainer check before you're totally signed off, to make sure you didn't totally forget it all in a cruel "I slept since then" incident. that is a great idea.

After learning all the ropes (ha ha, literally ropes) we each got to do the things for real. I was billet for a guy who volunteered to climb. then I offered to climb and my adoring husband of 15 years was my billet.

I climbed up about halfway, 15 feet or so, and said I was ready to stop, so the instructor said great let go! marc was going to stop me from falling to my demise (well... or injury). I believe in him, he believes in me, I trust him, we love each other. right? nothing could go wrong? I COULD NOT LET GO. I was like okay ready? marc said "ready!" the instructor said "yup let go!" I was like "okay I'm letting go, you got me?" marc was like YES I GOT YOU! ARE YOU SURE?

The way a grigri works, if marc is totally asleep letting go of the rope, I'll just hang there in the air. there's a thing you pull back and the person slowly descends. if you pull the lever back too fast, the grigri thinks you're freaking out and stops, and you hang in the air. in other words lots of ways to stop. one way to slowly descend. not so many ways for gravity to take over. I just didn't trust anybody.

when I let go all was well. I slowly came down. then I was standing on firm earth again looking way too surprised that it was all okay.

There's a 60 foot climbing wall at another Y that we can go to, josie will love that because this 30 foot wall is nothing to her. she just scampers up to the top. I do no scampering, and I wimp out around 1/2 or 2/3 of the way, my hands are tired and arms are tired even though the climbing guy says I shouldn't even use my arms, just legs. arms are for resting. I don't have it down yet.

this is a surprisingly good activity though... the first time I tried I said yup, I tried it. never doing that again. but the more I do it the more I see that yeah, it could be something to keep going.

Comments

[greghousesgf]

the last time I tried to go to the Berkeley Y it was still only open as a homeless shelter because of covid but that was some time ago, I have no idea if it's open in other capacities now.

[armiphlage]

EEEEEEEEEK

[senmut]

Haven't done climbing walls, but used to free-climb in the mountains. Curious how different it is.

[solteronita]

I used to really love bouldering, but the couple of times I tried high walls with belaying I had that same trust issue. I hated the getting back down!

So awesome that you're keeping at it!

[dandylover1]

That sounds quite interesting, though I do think it's foolish that they don't have a proper climbing class for adults. I can't understand the fear aspect, especially with someone whom you trust that much, but perhaps you'll feel more comfortable as you learn more. In any case, I look forward to hearing updates from you on your adventures.

[lepid0ptera]

My 6 year old was recently invited to a climbing wall b-day party. It was actually great because the belaying was all automatic so no human error involved! (Also called a fall arrest block). She was too scared to just push herself off the wall though, and climbed down every time.

[vysila]

I think that sounds like both fun and terrifying at the same time. Exhilarating. Not something I would ever do, mind you, but I am all admiration for those who try.

[adafrog]

Fun.

[ironphoenix]

(I think you mean "belay")

It's a bit of a mindf**k, but it's fine. Going outdoors is definitely more of a challenge, but a decently run gym is a pretty safe environment. Getting over, or managing, the fear of heights is an awesome feeling.