Adaptive Climbing

This past weekend, my friend and owner of Mountain SkillsClimbing Guides, Doug Ferguson, invited me and others along to join his Adaptive Climbing group, which assists physically disabled climbers, to climb at The Gunks.  Over the past several years, climbing has given me so much…friends, rich experiences, challenges, surprises, scares, as well as purpose.  For me, this was a chance to say thanks, give back, and hopefully share with others some of the intangibles climbing have given to me.  The word “inspiring” is so often cliché when referring to people with disabilities, and I hate to use it but the experience was truly inspiring and I felt like as much as I was giving, I was taking.  Watching someone like Peter, who rolled up in a wheelchair, relentlessly climb to the top of Rhododendron, 5.4 and then repeat it later.  Or Colleen, jug a fixed rope beneath an imposing roof.  And Nate, who needed a cane to reach the base of the wall yet still, attacked a difficult layback route.  It was just a tremendous experience to see such true determination and spirit.  I also had the opportunity to meet other climbers and make new friends.  And, of course, I had the chance to climb some new routes myself.

 

Me, with Peter
 

Peter, doing the Iron Cross on Rhodo'



Colleen, jugging with Doug Ferguson

Peter a few feet from topping out on Rhodo'
 

Nate layback climbing near the crux on Rhodo'