In which I climb rocks

Friday evening, June 3rd, Rich and I were chatting online, both bored and without any real plans for the evening, when one of us suggested we try rock climbing at the nearby indoor gym I'd been hearing about for a while. We'd both climbed once or twice as kids, and it sounded like a lot of fun and good exercise, so before long, we met up at Vertical Endeavors and did our orientation. We quickly learned that climbing is HARD, especially when your body isn't used to it, but we were clearly hooked. The next day I went to REI and bought my own harness.


JJ and I at VE

Since then we've gotten about half a dozen other friends to get into it as well, and I've been climbing 2-3 times a week ever since. We started off climbing routes rated 5.6-5.7 on the Yosemite Decimal System, and Greg, Rich, and I have progressed to 5.9s, and are close to completing our first 5.10s as well. It's a killer workout, and I find it much more fun than lifting weights!


Greg on a 5.5 out at Taylors Falls

A couple weeks ago our buddy Phil invited Greg and I to come up to Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls, MN to climb outdoors with some of his friends who own the ropes and neccesary gear. We've been out there twice now and plan to get outdoors as much as possible. It's a very different experience from the climbing gym, and the views of the St. Croix River from the top of the bluffs are fantastic!


Up on the wall at Taylors Falls

If you've never rock climbed, I highly recommend checking to see if there is an indoor gym near you and giving it a try. It's one of my top new hobbies and I can't wait to get back to it after my ankle heals up.


The crew at Interstate State Park my first time climbing outdoors

The view from the top at Taylors Falls.