Climbing.

So this summer Justin and I have both dived into climbing pretty hardcore.  Now when I say this it doesn't mean that I am super buff now and able to pull up my entire body weight with just my fingers.  Some of those people out there are just crazy built with mad skills and a large ape index.  My transition into climbing has been much less dramatic and more tedious.  Still, I am loving it.

This fall and spring, I sporadically put in some time at the Johnson Center on the rock wall.  I originally got taste of outdoor rock climbing while living in Bangladesh.  When vacationing in Chiang Mai, the OneStory crew would head out to Crazy Horse with rock climbing gurus, Curt and Janna.  It was pretty awesome and I got the chance to learn basic skills and even lead and clean some of the climbs.

Now that we are living in Lexington close to some of the nation's best climbing, I have been wanting to get back into it.  Red River Gorge (the Red to climbers) or (the Gorge to locals) has some top-notch climbs, plus awesome hikes and scenery.  But Justin and I were a bit perplexed as to how to jump into the climbing scene.  I started accumulating some equipment by requesting gear on my b-day list and borrowing a friend's rope for the summer.  Now we just needed to find some people to climb with.

Justin's old college roommate, Jeff, was awesome enough to take us out for our first climbing trip to the Red.  It was amazing and everything I had been waiting for.  While we only climbed a 5.7 and 5.8, I feel like it was a good starting point for us.  It was challenging yet fun.  Jeff lead the climbs so Justin and I only climbed by top rope which I appreciated since it's been over 4 years since I last climbed outdoors.  Yet I definitely want to build up to leading some climbs and hopefully build up to some more challenging climbs.  And really master the safety techniques behind climbing.  Safety is key when you are dangling off the edge of a cliff.

We've also joined Bluegrass Bouldering gym for the summer.  The love for climbing is so contagious there.  Brahm, the owner, has been so helpful in teaching us new techinuqes and climbing tips.  I'm working on flagging, gastons, and such.  I even appreciate the little things like the revelation that calluses on your hands are bad because they often rip off when you climb.  Yes, I know that creates a horrible mental image and I have been making sure to slather lotion on my hands after bouldering now.

Rock climbing slang is pretty ridiculous.  Grab that jug, put your foot on that smear.  I love it, but I feel like I am trying too hard to be a part of the "in crowd" when I use it.  And I am definitely not part of the "in crowd" yet.  Some people live and breathe climbing.  And they just look like a climber.  They move like a climber on the wall/rock.  Not me.  I am pretty clumsy looking when I climb and I learn new things all the time like using a cheat stick or the physics behind climbing. 

Justin and I haven't been back out since Jeff took us, but we hope to return the next time we have some free time.  I really like the mental challenge of rock climbing.  It's fun to figure out how to maneuver a route or master a technique.  And I am developing some killer upper body strength in the process.  Though I need to learn how to use my feet and legs better.  So if anyone is going climbing anytime soon, please take me.  I don't care if I just watch you climb for most of the day.  There's so much to learn and I am soaking it in.

Just a few more videos.  Is this really a 15a?  It looks so easy.  I mean, this guy is so graceful.  Here's another good climb.  Now this is just insane--INSANE and really dangerous. 

Now here's some pics.  Justin wasn't quite as generous (or obsessed) as me with the camera.