Day 270 - Climbing Virgins

motley crew

For some reason this photo makes me inordinately happy (and it's not even anything to do with the brilliant photo-bombing...).

This evening Anna and I took four of my colleagues from work for an introductory climbing session.

Ranj (guess which one he is) has recently completed both the Insanity 60 Day Workout, and the Insanity Asylum 30 Day Nutters Nightmare Painfest (available free to the clinically insane) or whatever it's called, and wanted to go and do something adventurous. 

He knows I'm into climbing (I think everyone knows that by now, eh?), so publicly suggested we could go for climb.

Having polled for interest amongst quite a small team, these four reprobates raised their hands and said they'd be up for it...and this evening, they all proved good to their word!

Lisa

In the upper left of this shot you can see Lisa, high above her comfort zone, yet pushing on brilliantly.  She did really well to finish this fairly long climb, and quite a few others!

Good job, Lisa!!

Ranj

Meanwhile Ranj, desperate to push outside his own comfort zone, pointed at a long, steep climb and said, "I want a go on that!" with that slightly insane look in his eye that he has these days.

The wall he'd picked went vertically for about 8 or 9 metres, before going into a slight overhang for the last couple of metres before the top...steep ground for beginners, but he was game so I happily belayed him. 

Sure enough he found the challenge he'd been looking for, and desperately lunging for the last hold, forearms screaming, he popped off for his first fall...brilliant!   Getting straight back on the wall, even more determined now to reach the top, he soon pulled on and got it finished.

This both inspired and encouraged Aaron up the same route...here he's approaching the bit where it starts to get really steep, and showing some good form along the way...

Aaron

Quite brilliantly for a first climb, Aaron cleanly climbed this hard Grade 5 climb...his forearms are going to be having words with him about it for the next few days!

Not to be outdone, Beki hopped straight on and fought her way up to the hard section at the top...

Beki

Here you can see Beki right in the steepest part of the climb, one or two moves away from the relief of the final hold. 

As soon as the steepness of the wall goes past vertical, it becomes very, very tiring very, very quickly...much of your upper body weight is transferred from your feet (which are no longer directly beneath you) and onto your hands.

Beki found her crux (the hardest part of a climb) right up near the top, but held on determinedly, making it to the top in style.

Then we got to do some bouldering, and I was quite pleased to flash a couple of hard problems (which means to solve the problem on your first attempt).

It was a great fun evening out, lots of friendly banter and mutual support and encouragement...and I think that shows in the genuine smiles in the photo above, which prompts me to match it with a smile of my own each time I look at it...

...and not just because of the brilliant photo-bombing...

:-)