C is for CLIMBING!

One of the items that has remained on my bucket list, collecting dust and rust due to time and my ignoring it, is rock climbing. I have always had a keen interest in learning to perfect this hobby, yet never took the first step to do so. However, I finally took the plunge. 

Before I go on, I would like to thank this blog for putting enough fire under my behind to force me  to get out and pursue my interests and passions. Okay; brown nosing complete.

I visited Stone Summit, which is a north of Atlanta, toward the Spaghetti Junction. For a day of climbing, it was $18. This price was for a day of climbing and all rental equipment, which included:

• Climbing shoes
• Climbing harness
• Belay device
• Chalk bag
• An awesome instructor
• The person that instructed me, Pete, is currently standing behind me. He told me to say that.

If I were to have had my own equipment, it would have been $15. That really isn't the most substantial information, but we'll go with it.

It took approximately one hour to learn all of the neat rope tying, how to climb, and how to belay. Here is a video of a guy, who is obviously a little camera shy and more than a little awkward, showing how to tie a figure 8 knot. 

After mastering this knot and ultimately receiving my belay certification, I was ready to tackle my first climb.

There are three different types of climbing to choose from at the Summit gym: 

• Bouldering:
• Referred to as "free climbing," as there are no ropes attached during the process
• Requires no knowledge of how to tie knots or how to use belay devices
• Routes are shorter, normally only ten to fifteen feet high
• Occurs over a padded mat called a crash pad so that a fall would not cause serious injury
• Rating of difficulty for the boulder climbs at Summit begin at V0 for the easiest
• Top Roping: 
• Has the rope attached at the top of the rock
• Protected by a belayer, who is attached to the rope at the foot of the climb
• Lead Climbing: 
• Climber does not have an anchor point at the top of the rock while cimbing
• Considered to be much more difficult that bouldering and top roping
• Increases mental challenge
• Has a potential for larger falls

The difficulty of each top rope and lead climb is rated from 5.6 for the easiest. I am unfamiliar with how far up it goes from there... but I remember someone mentioning a 5.14 climb, which looked similar to something Spiderman would do. I had the opportunity to enjoy bouldering and top roping, and said "awesome instructor" showed us his skills in lead climbing. 

Before I go any further, I would like to include a few pictures of me climbing.

 This is the beginning of my first climb. My friend, Kelsey, was belaying me.

This is my third climb, which was a 5.8. After much effort and struggle, I made it to the top! It was an incredible feeling.

Aside from being an amazing workout, rock climbing proved to be an excellent release. During the process, it is nearly impossible to think about anything else aside from climbing. I definitely think I have found a new hobby.

"Climbing is as close as we can come to flying."

-- Margaret Young, aviator and alpinist

Thank you to http://www.saharasafaris.org/inspirational-hiking-quotes for the above quote.