Climbing Up!

I recently got the opportunity to try out a new sport: Vertical Wall Climbing. I always wanted to do Rock Climbing, I guess this was the closest I could get for now.

I registered for the event as soon as the invite to participate was received by my Inbox. The day was 4th June,2008. The only problem was the time. 7 am, at Kanteerva Stadium! Well, what the heck, it was one morning. Every other I get the luxury to leave the house at 7 30, so I should not crib about leaving the house at 6 45 am on one morning!! (Readers new to me, the previous sentence was oozing sarcasm!)

Well I reader well in advance, since only a couple of participants had managed to reach before me.

The wall for the guys was different from the ones for the girls. My name was first on the list, but I couldn't go first!! Thankfully a more experienced climber (she had atleast climbed twice before in her lifetime) offered to go first. No, climbing windows and mango trees during childhood stupidity does not count, it was my first time and i will remain adamant on that).

It was tough. Hell, it is tough. You can pretend to make calculative steps but one loose grip or wrong footing can bring you down giving you no time to scramble for whatever part of the wall you can hang on. The vertical part is almost easy, but when the damn thing inclines to an angle of about 30 degrees to the vertical is when you are fighting with newton!! This is where an extension of 2 inches to my left arm would have helped to hold on to that damn peg no 15! But my arms gave away. I was already shaking. Holding on to a couple of pegs for some time is not an option it will only strain your arms more.

14 was my score then. My effort was commended and the organizers even claimed that I was a good climber. Well, whatever!

Another attempt was sought after. But that darn peg. this time 13!

The score is based on peg you last kept foot on.

Now climbing beyond that mark was a challenge I had to succeed or else I would not get sleep that night!

We were allowed to climb for fun while the guys finished their second round. That is when I managed to finally hold on to the peg and climb to point higher. Phew. But my arms had a different story to tell.

Popeye's biceps no longer seemed imaginative to me as the blood that rushes to your forearm makes it bulge. That was the first time I saw my forearm like that boy was I thrilled!

All in all, it was a great experience. You can draw parallels to life, or work, or whatever, but the fact is when you are up there, its just you, you determination, your confidence and the wall!

People interested in training and taking up this sport can contact Mars Adventures,Bangalore.