Duobus Annis

I decided on October 3, 2010 that I was going to become a Rock Climber.

For my 31^st birthday my wife and I signed up for an EMS Rock Climbing Clinic at Allamuchy State Park.  It was a random decision to try something new and exciting.  I remember saying something along the lines of “I’m getting older I need to go climb some mountains”. It wasn’t just the climbing as much as it was the knots, the rope anchoring, and the rappel rigging that grabbed my interest.  I spent the next few days watching YouTube videos and practicing knots with paracord, determined to master the Figure-8 and Alpine Butterfly.  This quickly led to browsing related video searches and coming across Chris Sharma climbing “Dreamcatcher”.  Before I knew it I had signed us up for a second clinic with EMS at Ralph Stover.  That trip scared me.  The day was cold, the cliff was high, the rock wasn’t as grippy, and I dared to say out loud what I’m sure my wife and I were both thinking, “why are we doing this?”. 

 

Restart.  Recover.  We joined and climbing gym and by early spring 2011 I was building my own top-ropes and learning the ways of the rock at a little dirty cliff less than 30 minutes from my house.

 

And here I am now, two years later and still as enthusiastic as the morning I crept up the trail on Allamuchy Mountain.  I began a blog thinking I would have fantastic tales of “rock adventures” and scores of high quality action photos and dramatic videos of mind blowing sends. The reality is that I’m not a Pro Climber, and I’m not climbing hardcore and really don’t have it in me to push my climbing into that level anyway.  I’ve only documented my first multi-pitch (I’ve since repeated Triumvirate) and an excellent ice day since I felt these were meaningful trips.  Otherwise I have spent countless of days on rock.  Most aren’t worth posting because I’m on rather pedestrian routes.  But I decided from now on I’m going to tell some of my tales anyway.  My epics are unique to me.  My stories are mine to share, and I’m happy to share them with those who want to hear them. 

My biggest challenges now are finding the confidence to lead, scheduling with partners, and having the time to climb regularly in order to maintain a decent level of climbing fitness.  The summer of 2012 was bleak in terms of climbing.  I had to consider taking the time away from my wife and son, dealing with the heat, rain, and even hail (see repeat of Triumvirate).  I also suffered a pretty severe abdominal strain in late June and had to nurse it for several weeks.  

 

As of now, I’m back on track.  I’ve been gym climbing more and have a handful of prepaid visits remaining that I’ve been able to use here and there during the week on days when my wife is working from home.  In the past 45 days I’ve ticked 5 routes in The Gunks and even managed to squeeze in a long route on Mt Minsi one morning before visiting my Father.  In the coming weeks, as the wonderful climbing season of autumn approaches, I have climbing days scheduled and my eye on ice forming early this year in the Catskills (fingers crossed!). 

So, here’s to Two Years of Climbing.  Good days, bad days, fun days, long days, hard days, hot days, cold days, wet days, but all days spent doing something I set out to do for some reason…I still don’t know why I climb.  The question is often asked, the responses are always varied.  The motivation is unexplained.  I guess it’s just because it’s who I am, Rock Climber.