Rock Climbing

Renae, a fellow apprentice, has been dying to go rock climbing since she came in February. Sadly, she has had no one to do it with. One of the first things she asked me was if I rock climb...and I had to disappoint her and explain my terror of heights. However, I did say that I would be willing to try it out if she was willing to teach me. I figure I can always belay her and keep my feet nice and planted on the ground. I was able to borrow a harness and shoes from my cousin, Sadie, who I can't imagine will be climbing anytime soon now that she has a new baby to take care of.

Wednesday, Renae and I started work early in the hopes of going climbing in the evening. Renae had purchased a book on local rock climbing spots...and that afternoon we headed for Mt. Wells a regional park in Sooke.

According to the book there was an easy climb (good for beginners) right off the "main trail." So we parked at the base of the mountain and started walking up the "main trail" of the mountain. We kept going...and going...and going...carrying all our stuff...kept going...and going...after a long day of double digging...kept hiking and hiking...until we got to the top of the freaking mountain without seeing a single clean rock to climb on!!!! So after 2 hours we made our way back down the mountain and drove a little further down the road to another parking spot. We followed what looked like a secret trail and were unsuccessfully met with brush and prickly things. So we drove further down the road until we came to a spot with lots of cars and what look to be fresh rock through the trees. Again, we followed what looked like a trail...but really involved traipsing through foliage, thorns, and fallen trees to get to what looked like the beginner rock in the picture. So what the book really meant was follow the "no trail" and you will see the rock on the left. Just when we thought we had made it to our destination after climbing an entire mountain...we were met with a rock that didn't have those metal hooky things (I'm obviously still learning the lingo) to attach the line to. Bleh. How frustrating! At that point it didn't really matter anymore because we had no energy to do anything else.

Renae decided to teach me some basic things about putting the harness on and all the safety precautions. I was so excited to actually do something that I sat down and enthusiastically started putting the rock climbing shoes on. And for anyone who doesn't know...rock climbing shoes are meant to seem 2 sizes too small...they make your toes scrunch up like you are making a fist with your feet. Very uncomfortable. It wasn't until I put the shoes all the way on that I realized Renae wasn't doing the same. "I don't need to be wearing these for what we are about to do, do I?" I asked. "No!" Renae replied sheepishly..."You looked so excited to put them on, I couldn't tell you no!" Ha! I just burst out laughing...sitting there with the most uncomfortable pointy shoes. How lame am I?!

So yeah...Renae taught me all the safety steps and the things you ask your partner before beginning. I think we are going to go again some weekend in the hopes of finding other rock climbers to get advice from...or to get the inside on how to get to the rocks...since obviously the book was written to deter new climbers in the area.

At least I got to climb Mt. Wells and enjoy a beautiful view of Victoria and the surrounding water. Sometimes I forget that I'm on an island.