Climbing

Yesterday I went to a climbing gym for the first time and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The Island Rock gym was an awesome facility and was perfect for a total novice like me, with some incredibly easy routes right next to some exceptionally challenging ones, making it possible to watch veteran climbers on the latter and aspire to something greater.

I was awful, but I did at least manage to successfully complete one V0 boulder problem and one V6 top rope route. My hands are banged up and my forearms are achingly sore even today, but it was comfortably worth it. Aside from the enjoyable physical aspect of climbing, my favourite thing, especially as both a complete beginner and also an anxious child, was being able to overcome my fears and get all the way to the top of the wall, even though I have a healthy sense of vertigo. The trick, I have discovered, is not to think about it and not to look down!