Ducks @ Oregon - University of Oregon

Rock Climbing in a brand new harness!

Katie D.

October 2, 2009 - 12:19 PM

The UO Rock Wall is open again, and I am back on the wall! After nearly two months of non-climbing, it felt amazing to be climbing again. I so enjoy the challenge of climbing: the chance to let all my effort focus on the physical act of hauling myself upward by my fingertips and toes.

This was a special climb, for more reasons than just being the first time for this academic year. In August I bought myself a brand new climbing harness from REI. This is a major investment, but one that I've been looking forward to for a long time. When I bought my first pair of climbing shoes (rather than borrowing shoes from the UO Rec Center) I saw a dramatic increase in my climbing abilities. When you use high quality shoes, you have the benefit of a construction that supports your foot for higher performance, allowing easier use of tiny ledges as toeholds.

A new harness will not change my climbing very much, although I did feel fabulous on that first run with my very own climbing gear. The new harness is more comfortable as well. But the real reason, the basic need for your own harness, has nothing to do with climbing on indoor rock walls and everything to do with taking your climbing out to some real rocks.

That's right. Finally, finally I have the equipment to start climbing outdoors.

There are some other things that need to happen first, of course. For example, after not climbing for two months, my first day back was quite the challenge. Routes I used to climb were no longer accessible, handholds that used to be quite comfortable now seemed laughably inadequate, and I totally failed at my attempt to climb over a steeply inclined face. This is not surprising: climbing requires hand- and finger strength not necessary for the living of an average life. There are also foot and leg muscles that were no longer up to the difficult climbs after such a long break.

So I'll give myself a few weeks to tone up and start feeling at home on the wall again. But after that there will be no more excuses, and it's time to take things outside! There is a ton of fabulous climbing within easy travel of Eugene. In fact, you can even climb the basalt columns at Skinner's Butte. All you need is a friend with the ropes and other equipment, and your very own harness (which you know has been treated right and therefore is safe to trust your life to).

I'll keep you all posted about future climbing adventures. I hope to climb outside at least three times before I graduate!