Hiking and Climbing, Oh My!
This afternoon, I went to go see the movie "Hero". It was very "artistically" done - a little overdone at parts, but on the whole I enjoyed what they made. The story was pretty weak (as always with these flicks) but I don't consider it 6 bucks wasted.
After the movie, I decided (on a whim) to go hiking. I had my tevas on, some sweatpants, and a long-sleeved shirt. I hit a local hike. When I pulled up, there were around 10 cars parked at the base off of Rt 66. I got my lighter backpack out of the trunk and hit the trail. I had a really good time. In fact, it was such a beautiful day that when I got to the top of the ridgeline I took off my shirt and laid down on the rock near the ledge. There was a light wind and the sun was nice and warm and it wasn't too hot. The day was clear and not too humid. It was just plain nice.
I got up after that shortly after some people started talking to me, asking what this road was and what's that building. I hiked until the rideline took a dip to decend a bit before coming to the next "mountain", because I was really just up there for a little enjoyable jaunt after busting tail on Saturday. I spent some time in the quiet off the trail, looking at some trees and the clear blue sky, just sitting there.
There's something natural and right about being in the woods on a mountaintop all alone. I can look down on the cars below, watching them lead their busy little lives. Listening to their radios, consumed in their daily duties or troubles or desires. I can see them, imagine them all. Sitting in their houses, driving their cars, working on a holiday. It's an issue of perspective. Because I know this: most of the time, I'm right down there with them. I forget my place in the world, and this big wonderful universe is stripped down to my troubles, my cares, my worries, my duties. I sit in my car, listening to my audio books, and go to work 5 days a week. I get home, I eat, I play or work some more, and I go to bed to get up in the morning to do it all again. My life, spent working to maintain a "lifestyle", my hours drained away, like I'm strip-mining my life. But there's always the mountains, if I only choose to give them my time.
After the hike down, I got in my car and decided I was going to check out the local climbing crag. I drove over near the mall to where I knew the crag was supposed to be situated and lo and behold there were 4 cars parked off to the side of the road. So I pulled in behind them.
The ascent was steep but short. Right when I got to the cliffs (about 40-60 feet tall) there were 3 people climbing, a guy with a full rack and a couple of girls. They weren't very talkative or friendly seeming, so I moved on down the line after watching one of the women climb for a bit and met up with another set of 3. These were friendly, and warmed immediately when they discovered that I used to climb at Rumney all the time. The guy, Fritz, asked me my shoe size and when he found that I could wear one of their shoes asked if I'd like to climb.
I couldn't pass that action up. It was only a 5.5 I guess, but it taxed me in my current condition. I didn't fall, but I don't have the arm strength I used to have. Most of my groin flexability is still intact, so I was able to make some smooth moves.
I offered to belay and I belayed a couple of times for the Fritz. Since it was getting dark, he went to go take down the top-rope and I taught his female protege how to butterfly coil the rope. I'm still not sure if I did it backwards or not (not that it really matters) - I think I did it right.
Anyway, I left my name, phone number, and email address for them, so hopefully I'll be able to hook up for some climbing on the weekends. I've been considering getting a new pair of climbing shoes (some cheapos) and another harness (cheapos) since I can't seem to find my own. I'm almost certainly going to get a monthly subscription at Prime Climb in Wallingford, so . . .
Anyway, my hand strength is about nil. I didn't blow out my fingers or my arms, but I just didn't have the sack there. I was able to walk the climb simply because I knew what I was doing. Fritz said that it didn't look like I had been out of practice for the long years I'd told him about.
This was my first time climbing really since college. I did a little bit in the military but not really. I left college in 1995, so that's like 9 years. I said 4 years to be safe, but I certainly haven't climbed since we had Audrial. Give me a couple months, 3 or 4 days a week at the gym, and I'll be climbing 5.10 again. Or at least 5.9 =p. I thought I would be able to climb 5.9 right away, but I can see that I'm going to need to improve my hand strength and endurance before I do that.
Anyway, I'm pretty jazzed about climbing today. I had a good time and I'm looking forward to doing it again soon. Today was a perfect day for it too. Unfortunately, I won't be able to climb during the week after work outside because it gets dark too early. I considered leaving work early to climb, but that'd mean getting out at least an hour and a half before 5, and honestly I can pay for a months subscription at Prime Climb with the money I'd lose doing that. It just doesn't make sense. Next year =) I'll hit it while there's still light to see by.
After the movie, I decided (on a whim) to go hiking. I had my tevas on, some sweatpants, and a long-sleeved shirt. I hit a local hike. When I pulled up, there were around 10 cars parked at the base off of Rt 66. I got my lighter backpack out of the trunk and hit the trail. I had a really good time. In fact, it was such a beautiful day that when I got to the top of the ridgeline I took off my shirt and laid down on the rock near the ledge. There was a light wind and the sun was nice and warm and it wasn't too hot. The day was clear and not too humid. It was just plain nice.
I got up after that shortly after some people started talking to me, asking what this road was and what's that building. I hiked until the rideline took a dip to decend a bit before coming to the next "mountain", because I was really just up there for a little enjoyable jaunt after busting tail on Saturday. I spent some time in the quiet off the trail, looking at some trees and the clear blue sky, just sitting there.
There's something natural and right about being in the woods on a mountaintop all alone. I can look down on the cars below, watching them lead their busy little lives. Listening to their radios, consumed in their daily duties or troubles or desires. I can see them, imagine them all. Sitting in their houses, driving their cars, working on a holiday. It's an issue of perspective. Because I know this: most of the time, I'm right down there with them. I forget my place in the world, and this big wonderful universe is stripped down to my troubles, my cares, my worries, my duties. I sit in my car, listening to my audio books, and go to work 5 days a week. I get home, I eat, I play or work some more, and I go to bed to get up in the morning to do it all again. My life, spent working to maintain a "lifestyle", my hours drained away, like I'm strip-mining my life. But there's always the mountains, if I only choose to give them my time.
After the hike down, I got in my car and decided I was going to check out the local climbing crag. I drove over near the mall to where I knew the crag was supposed to be situated and lo and behold there were 4 cars parked off to the side of the road. So I pulled in behind them.
The ascent was steep but short. Right when I got to the cliffs (about 40-60 feet tall) there were 3 people climbing, a guy with a full rack and a couple of girls. They weren't very talkative or friendly seeming, so I moved on down the line after watching one of the women climb for a bit and met up with another set of 3. These were friendly, and warmed immediately when they discovered that I used to climb at Rumney all the time. The guy, Fritz, asked me my shoe size and when he found that I could wear one of their shoes asked if I'd like to climb.
I couldn't pass that action up. It was only a 5.5 I guess, but it taxed me in my current condition. I didn't fall, but I don't have the arm strength I used to have. Most of my groin flexability is still intact, so I was able to make some smooth moves.
I offered to belay and I belayed a couple of times for the Fritz. Since it was getting dark, he went to go take down the top-rope and I taught his female protege how to butterfly coil the rope. I'm still not sure if I did it backwards or not (not that it really matters) - I think I did it right.
Anyway, I left my name, phone number, and email address for them, so hopefully I'll be able to hook up for some climbing on the weekends. I've been considering getting a new pair of climbing shoes (some cheapos) and another harness (cheapos) since I can't seem to find my own. I'm almost certainly going to get a monthly subscription at Prime Climb in Wallingford, so . . .
Anyway, my hand strength is about nil. I didn't blow out my fingers or my arms, but I just didn't have the sack there. I was able to walk the climb simply because I knew what I was doing. Fritz said that it didn't look like I had been out of practice for the long years I'd told him about.
This was my first time climbing really since college. I did a little bit in the military but not really. I left college in 1995, so that's like 9 years. I said 4 years to be safe, but I certainly haven't climbed since we had Audrial. Give me a couple months, 3 or 4 days a week at the gym, and I'll be climbing 5.10 again. Or at least 5.9 =p. I thought I would be able to climb 5.9 right away, but I can see that I'm going to need to improve my hand strength and endurance before I do that.
Anyway, I'm pretty jazzed about climbing today. I had a good time and I'm looking forward to doing it again soon. Today was a perfect day for it too. Unfortunately, I won't be able to climb during the week after work outside because it gets dark too early. I considered leaving work early to climb, but that'd mean getting out at least an hour and a half before 5, and honestly I can pay for a months subscription at Prime Climb with the money I'd lose doing that. It just doesn't make sense. Next year =) I'll hit it while there's still light to see by.
posted by Adam Skinner at 9/06/2004 04:57:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home