Wall Climbing

After months of procrastination I finally went for wall climbing at the Kanteerva stadium in Bangalore. Two of my friends have been doing it for a couple of years now but they have been lazy these past six months. A couple of weeks ago (last Saturday of Nov '09) some friends came over from the US and we had a big get together at my house. That evening a plan was laid to go for wall climbing the next day. The next day some relatives came over at my place, one friend went to Delhi to attend a marriage and the third had some unexpected work come his way. So much for our plans.

This had all the making of yet another plan never executed. We decided we would go the following weekend. On Saturday my friend sent me an SMS inquiring if I was still game to to go wall climbing on Sunday evening. I replied in affirmative. Sunday evening came and I went to my friends place and from there we proceeded to Kanteerva Stadium. My friends had all the equipment required, ropes, climbing shoes, belay device, carabiners etc. the works.

I started with bouldering (i.e. going to a height of 5-8 feet and then moving right to left) to get a feel of rock climbing and also to gauge the effort and techniques of wall climbing. Then we started on top rope climbing i.e. have a rope loop round the top of the wall with one tied to the climber and the other in the hands of the belayer. I was taught to tie the figure of eight knot and the follow through figure of eight knot. That done I stared my ascent. To my surprise my hands now did not have enough strength to hold me even at the lowest point (I am proud of the fact that my arms can lift my body weight easily and rope climbing and pull-ups have always been easy for me). So both my friends climbed before me. One reached the top, the other unfortunately, pulled a muscle. I tried again, having given my arms a rest, and was able to go up 3-4 holds before slipping. I tried again and slipped at the same point at which point I gave up.

After a couple of short tries on the wall we decided to call it day. Going back to my bike I was shocked to discover that I could not press the clutch with my left hand. It was as if the hand did not belong to me. I was willing it to press the clutch but my finger tips did not move. My friend drove my bike and I rested at his place for some time (almost an hour) before starting for my home. Even after an hour's rest my fingers still did not respond to me. I had a torrid time coming back home, pulling the clutch with the third segments of my fingers or using my wrist. After a difficult ride, wherein I regretted more than once my decision to come back on my bike instead of taking an auto, I reached home. I have been dreaming of wall climbing since then. Anyways, next weekend I am going for it again but this time I will take my car :).