This year has been a big year for me in the sport of climbing. About 12 months ago I started bouldering at a gym near ARI, in March I got to go see the Bouldering World Cup in Saitama, Japan, in April I did a little climbing at Railay Beach in Thailand, in June I went bouldering at the famous Shiobara boulders near Nikko National Park, in November I led my first sport climbing routes at Reimer's Ranch in Travis county, in December I led my first trad climbing routes at Enchanted Rock SP, and last week I got to lead part of a trad route in Zion National Park before heading to the Ouray Ice Festival in Colorado where I took an ice climbing clinic and got to do some climbs in the gorge where I met Steve House a climbing legend.
I have wanted to be a good climber for a while now, it's been and off and on kind of thing throughout college. I would get really excited and climb a lot at the gym, maybe go outside a few times, get pretty strong, then stop climbing only to pick it up again from the beginning a while later.
I can give you all kinds of reasons why, but I guess I just wasn't that into it. Now though, I am not just climbing (pulling myself up a wall) but moving forward in technique and learning how to climb in the traditional sense and protecting myself as I move up the wall which makes everything a little more real. I started trying this type of climbing to improve my outdoor resume but have found that I really enjoy the challenge and the exposure. Now it is not a matter of how difficult the actual moves are, now I get to think about where I will stand to place gear, or how I can get to the next bolt on the wall. It has added a whole new dimension that forces me to climb within my limits in order to safely protect a fall.
Over the next few months I hope to do a lot more climbing and I will keep you updated on those exploits as I move along in the sport. I hope you are all well.
Peace, Love, and Goof Food.
Mike
12 comments:
Glad to see you're taking it to the next level. I'm still stuck in casual climbing mode of college, and might never leave it. Keep it up man, and welcome home.
- Rob
Wow. Guess you'll have to change the name of this blog to "Climb with Mike." Sounds like you're having a blast, but please be careful so you don't give your mom more gray hair.
Love this week's typo, btw. "Goof food" is my favorite. Here's wishin' some back at ya!
climbingsounds exciting and something i would like to try!
-juss another pk(:
goof food- hah, halirous.
-juss another pk(:
Challenge and difficulties are something I love to overcome!
-juss another pk(:
I would LOVE to go climbing.! Sounds really fun.!
-Sticker's BFF = )
"Goof Food" -Oops, Someone made a typo.! Haha; Funny.!!
-Sticker's BFF = )
Overcoming some of the challenges in your life is going to lead to success in the end.! I know it.!! I'm pretty sure your future holds plenty of challenge-less (<--new word) moments.! Haha, = D.!
-Sticker's BFF = )
it looks like fun
lovin your blogs. sounds like your having alot of fun. i dont see how you can climb rocks that big without pooping in your pants. i would die and lo9se my voice at once. i dont see how you do it but keep it up.....cant wait to read some more of your blogs...
ms.huges 1st period
abeni bell
i think its cool how you are doing what you love but taking yourself to another "demision", as you say. someday i would like to travel around the world and do what what i love to do [shop].! i love your blogs semms as thoough your having plenty of fun.!
-Hughes bestie.!
Ki'Andrea G.
This looks so fun. I wish i could climb. But how do you do that? Have you ever fell before? Those are big rocks. But i hope you dont fall and stay safe
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