SFS Climbing 2011 - Day 1

Day 1 began with a warning of flash flooding, and it ended with notice of a winter weather advisory that locations above 7,500ft. would be receiving between 6 and 12 inches of snow overnight. Did I mention that Estes Park, where I am staying, is at 7,522ft.? You know the weather isn't cooperating when even the guides don't want to go out in the stuff, especially when they start talking about avalanches. So today our guide decided that climbing indoors would be a much more valid option. I agreed.

After an hour-plus-long discussion on gear and equipment ranging from how climbing helmets and carabiners work, to how a neurotransmitter called substance p induces nausea in rock climbers who don't shake out their hands periodically while climbing, we decided to head into the city of Boulder to escape the elements and get an introduction to the technical aspects of rock climbing at the indoor gym at the Boulder Rock Club. After driving 45 minutes from Estes to Boulder, we began our lesson from Andrew Councell, a tall, thin, soft-spoken but very knowledgeable guide who appeared to be in his late 20s sporting a neat beard and somewhat messy sandy-brown hair. Over the course of the next 6 hours we went over knots, belay techniques, climbing strategies, and rappelling procedures; all information that we were told would come in quite handy during the next few days. As I looked around and observed the others in the gym (it was exceptionally crowded today because of the weather), I was amazed at the diversity. Most of the people climbing had body fat percentages that would make Gandhi jealous. You know the type. These were the kind of bodies you see on commercials for energy bars or Michelob Ultra, racing Lance Armstrong on bikes and then enjoying a beer on some metropolitan rooftop. However, I say "most" because I was equally impressed by the fact that there were also several men climbing who looked old enough to be my great grandfather, and there were women who could pass for Lane Bryant models. All of them were genuinely enjoying their time, and it occurred to me that this is a sport that might just be for everyone, given the right amount of basic knowledge and practice. It's a hobby that I certainly think will follow me back to Georgia.

Tomorrow the forecast is calling for more rain and snow, about a 60% chance all day, so I hope we will be able to put some of these newly learned skills into real-life action soon. More to come soon...