Yay for Rock-Climbing :)
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| Wed, 06-22-2005 - 10:44pm |
So tonight, I went over to Sportrock in Alexandria (for those in the DC area) to take a basic skills class- I have since forgotten the knots, and Wes never taught me how to belay. And of course, after we reviewed the basics, we were left to our own devices to climb around and stuff. I whizzed through some easier ones (5.7s), and pulled off some trickly little maneuvers, for me anyway :) Next on the agenda is the next time I go, they can teach me how to auto-belay, since I suspect that most of the times I go, I will be going alone, because I don't know anyone else who knows how to climb. (Well, Jean does, but she has to have some free time!)
Haha, I'm such a dork, revelling in my dorky-ness. (Disclaimer here, I'm not learning how to climb to spite Wes or anything- I wanted to continue to go climbing, but he didn't like going to the indoor gyms (we went twice), and I didn't have the money for shoes at the time for him to teach me outside. I really did have a lot of fun with it)

that's awesome! how cool to find something you like and are good at (at least for your experience level). you are lucky - most of the things i like doing i suck at!
i guess i'm on a big craigslist "kick" now, but i also remembered that if you wanted to buy some used equipment inexpensively (ropes, harness, kayak) that's a great place to look. just something to keep in mind if you decide to make the investment.
Hey, good for you!
Ah, see, I make myself not cheat and use holds from another route :) (If I get desperate and the route is not marked that you can't use other footholds, I will use other footholds, but I always try to follow the handholds)
I actually ended up snagging climbing shoes for $20 at the REI attic sale last weekend :) Just have to get a harness, etc. The next REI attic sale isn't til the end of July, so I'm going to look and see what's on sale on the REI websites. And actually, you can get a decent harness for not too much money. I'm not exactly an expert and am only climbing indoors at the moment, so I don't need a fancy-schmancy $100 one.
I'd drive you crazy!
Ah, I wouldn't mind if you cheated while I was around ;) And yeah, I kind of like that it's a giant climbable puzzle :) I don't like game or team sports. I prefer things that are basically you just challenging yourself, even if part of it is a competition. Like the sparring aspect of tkd- yeah, you're trying to beat the other person, but it's still all up to you. Maybe I'm too vain to be part of a team :) (Wes is actually the same way- he prefers to continually try to beat himself, even as part of a competition)
The REI attic sale is a sale for members only (yup, I am now a member), on used equipment/clothing (sometimes with slight defects/damages) at ridiculously low prices. There's an all-store attic sale on July 30th. Otherwise, each store will have little slips of paper at the register telling you when their next one is. I think they're always on Saturdays (Wes dragged me to the Rockville one in Feb), at 10, when the store opens, but you have to get there earlier than 10, because there will be a mad rush at the door. Then, they usher you to a back room, where all the stuff is. It's actually quite fun! Wes has gotten tons of great deals on stuff at those sales, so if you're a member, it's definitely worth checking out.
I'll have to check it out!