So many exciting possibilities have happened in the Sniper family this weekend…but I don’t wanna jinx ‘em. So you’re gonna have to wait!
So Ben and I got invited to go rock climbing this past Friday. It sounds like something to do with good friends to get us out of the house so we decide to give it a try. The week rolls by and before I know it I’m driving home tired, hungry, and dirty. (Dirty b/c I didn’t take a shower that morning b/c I stayed up too late b/c I can NOT put down my new book series…but anyway). So needless to say I was not overly excited about our new adventure. We get to the place though and let me tell you…it’s really awesome! It’s called Stone Summit and I’m immediately intimidated as soon as I walk in the door. There are pros here and 5 year old’s that make me feel completely incompetent. So we walk up to the counter.
Jess: “Um…yeah..so we wanna climb?”
ClimberDude: “Ok…reservation or belay test?”
Jess: “Um…no, and…what?”
ClimberDude: “Do you need a belay test?”
Jess: “Hmm..I have no idea. What is that?”
Ben: “It’s the person who stands on the ground and holds the rope for the climber…”
Jess: “Oh. Um. No.”
Yeah, I’m the last person who needs to be responsible for holding someone up on that rope. I get my gear and shoes, and Bob shows me how to put it all on. It makes me feel even more out of place and awkward but it makes SB’s package look nice…so I comply. Maybe it was my hesitation…or it could’ve been me telling Kit that I’m not even sure I’m getting up ON that wall…but we head to the “training/kid/n00b” area. James shows me how to tie the right knots and gives me enough info to get started. I start to climb and I literally.petrified. The only option I have is to keep going up b/c down is not possible. (Mind you, I’m only about, eh, 5 feet in the air). BUT…I make it to the top. Letting go was the hardest. I kept telling James “you don’t know how heavy I am! Please don’t drop me”, but he lowers me down nice and easy and I’m immediately proud of myself and have a huge sense of release. We practice a few more times then head down with the big boys. These guys were hanging from places in the wall that had me in awe. The muscle strength and balance and physics that it takes to rock climb is unbelievable. Kit, James and Bob are awesome. We all took turns and helped each other out and by the end of the night I was tired, blistered, and sore…but I felt great. It’s definitely a hobby I want to keep up! Eventually…I may even get up the guts to belay someone. Anyone want to be my first climber??!!
Tags: n00b, kit, rock climbing, friends, belay
On Friday night Maggie got to celebrate her 30th birthday one more time. This time, Rock Band style! Thanks go out to Kim, James and Kit for making that one hell of a night. It’s been quite a while since I’ve had that much fun. That and I got to see James all kinds of tore up (and see a “side” of him I’d rather not see again). It really was a great night and birthday or not, I’d really like to do that again. Pictures are now on the Photos page!