Climbing

As some of you may already know, after quiting soccer I have taken up a new sport: rock climbing! When I was home over Christmas I bought some of the necessary equipment to get started, namely shoes, a belt and some carabiners. During the following months I was climbing in a small gym in Switzerland. In the gym ropes were provided, so I was completely equipped to climb there. Now that the weather has gotten much nicer, my place of choice to go climbing has been the University’s outdoor climbing tower. The only problem with the tower is that one needs to provide their own rope. I have been lucky enough to know someone who has lent me a rope on occasion, but this last week I finally splurged and bought my own. The following pictures are from this last weekend when I went climbing on the tower with two friends.

First, a little explanation on how climbing works. When one is climbing where there is no top-rope, i.e. a rope is already hanging from the top of the climbing structure, one must take the rope up with them. As one progresses up the wall, the rope has to be hung in hooks. This means that for the first six feet of climbing one is not attached to the wall in any way! Once the rope has been hung in a hook, one is secured up to that point. Than means that as I climb above that point to the next hook, if I fall, I fall twice the distance between me and the last hook. Exciting!

Friend of mine looking down from the top.

One of the two climbing towers.

Another friend of mine, Tobi, near the top.

Me starting a climb.

Securing myself in the first quickdraw.