Rock Climbing

Went to Metrorock in lovely Everett MA. For 21 bucks, I got a day pass with rental harness and shoes.

Just a note for those of you considering it, a climbing harness feels like it will tear your gooch asunder. And you'd best be sure it's tight, otherwise one or both of your testicles, or your sack will get under it, and get pinched.

Now that the unpleasant part is out of the way, rock climbing is pretty awesome. I'm only a little sore today, but that's not because it wasn't intense. I'm a little afraid the soreness is on it's way.

We were going up and down the faces for about three hours. My climbing partner has about six inches of height on me, and I have about 40 pounds of mass on him. I.e. he's a beanpole and I'm some minor shithouse. Not quite brick, probably fieldstone. Needless to say, I am NOT well adapted for climbing. Despite having strong forearm and back, I just didn't have the flexibility or reach to be really great. When I told my old man I was going climbing he chuckled and said "those guys are long and lean." He was correct. Beanpole party at the climbing place.

I'm looking forward to climbing more when I'm back down to 200lbs, and probably stronger. My power to weight ratio isn't as good as it could be, and that's very limiting. There's a rock gym in Worcester I plan to check out soon. I think I can get better by fixing my technique.

It struck me in the shower this morning that I was keeping my center of gravity pretty far off the wall and relying on back muscles to huuurf my self up. I think I can fix that.