All summer long, I wanted to climb a rock wall. After reading Andrew Clements’ Extra Credit
in early June, I began to wonder what it would be like to scale a wall,
propelling myself upwards. I began eyeing the rock wall at a local community center, sizing up the task. Occasionally I would let my imagination take
over, closing my eyes, envisioning myself reaching the top with a final burst
of energy!
So, when my fellow camper looked at me this summer and said,
“I want to climb the rock wall,” I looked back at her with confidence and said,
“Me too!” The next afternoon I found
myself being strapped into a harness that felt less like a brace and more like
an over-sized diaper. I adjusted my
helmet and peered up at my opponent.
“I may not make it all the way to the top.”
“Oh, you’ll make it to the top,” my spotter countered. I stepped closer the wall, hoping he was
right.
“On belay?”
“Belay on.”
“Spotter ready?”
“Spotter ready.”
“Climbing.”
“Climb on!”
I looked ahead inspecting the colored holds bolted to the
wall. Deciding which ones to pick was
like beginning the climb up a tree. I
reached for two slightly above my head and hoisted myself up slightly until my
feet found their footing. I was on the
wall!
Slowly, one by one, I inspected the holds to the sides and
above me, carefully choosing my next move.
I stretched wide like a kid on monkey bars. Just when all four limbs found a new
position, help would come from below as my harness lifted, shifting my weight
into place. This routine went on for a
few minutes until….
The adventure continues tomorrow!
Photo by J. DeChamplain
I see...a cliffhanger.
ReplyDelete* Gets bashed on the head for the obvious pun *
Love it! My head did not get hurt, but I was bruised in places I had never been bruised before!
ReplyDelete