Rock Climbing Then and Now!

Terrified! Then and now!!

Technically I was rappelling in 1979 but despite the smile it looks like I have on my face I was terrified! This cliff was huge and I was supposed to just casually back off into the abyss with only a rope holding me up! However this was with ROTC and all the guys were cheering me on and acting like it was easy so I had to save face and just go! As I recall once I got over the edge the first time it wasn’t too bad and I think I actually kind of liked it! Pretty sure Bobby, my boyfriend at the time, was there at the top encouraging me too.

Since then I haven’t rappelled but I have gone indoor rock climbing several times.  A few years back I decided I just wasn’t cut out for this sport any more.  However this summer at the ‘Rock On’ Girl Scout Day Camp I didn’t really have an option! They brought in a portable climbing rock and all the girls got to try.  I was not going to try but then my little girls started chanting Pepper, Pepper, Pepper! I had to go for it! I started out okay but about half way up I started to panic! I was practically begging the belayer to let me down but he patiently just kept saying, you can do this, one more step.  The girls were chanting, the sun was shining, and I was racing Goldilocks to the top! If only my body wasn’t so terrified! I didn’t want to look like a chicken in front of the girls so I kept going. One more step and one more step. Finally I rang the bell at the top, thrilled that I had held myself together long enough to make it! Despite trembling from post climbing stress for an hour afterwards, I must admit I was pretty proud of myself!            

So 32 years apart I faced my fears (so I wouldn’t look scared!) and successfully rappelled down and climbed up a sheer rock face. Yeah for me! 

I'll have to see if I can figure out how to add photos! but this is journaling!