The last two weekends I have been out in the mountains doing a university course on rock climbing. um, AWESOME. The first weekend we went up into the Sierra Nevadas. Walked through the snow to this gorgeous cliff, and set up. Climbed all day, and went back to the university-owned lodge to sleep. Also we saw a mountain goat, perfectly silhouetted on the rocks on our way back. Next day, same thing, though a different rock face. Did I mention that it was incredibly beautiful? It was. Also the group was really fun, and, as I am coming to expect now, very international. People from all over Europe. I guess its hardly "international" now... its just...Europe! Well, that could be argued either way.
Anyway, I always enjoy it. Talking to Germans, Italians, Austrians, Spaniards, French people, etc. (Why do we not have a better name in English for people from France? or do we?) Next weekend we went to a place closer to Granada (Alpujarras). It looked like New Mexico. I got to do my first partner climb. The instructor climbed up first and set the rope. I followed and then another girl as well. When we all got up to the first "reunion," meeting, we tied ourselves in, pulled the ropes up and did it again. We had a total of three reuniones...And were waaaay up. It was spectacular. Then we repelled down. Three times. Sweet.
So I'm learned all the knots and tools for this kind of thing. I love it. Also, I learned a lot of climbing vocab in Spanish, which was fun. My favorite is climbing shoes: pies de gato. Literally, "cat feet!" The last day we went to a place down south, near the coast. Also could have been New Mexico. More fun climbing, and afterward we drove to the beach and watched the sunset, drank a beer/coffee/tea (your choice). Played in the water, wrestled, pinky-wrestled, did gymnastics, etc. This week some of us got together at one of the guys' house for a potluck meal. Good times. I guess that can be my Thanksgiving meal. :)
The last two weekends I have been out in the mountains doing a university course on rock climbing. um, AWESOME. The first weekend we went up into the Sierra Nevadas. Walked through the snow to this gorgeous cliff, and set up. Climbed all day, and went back to the university-owned lodge to sleep. Also we saw a mountain goat, perfectly silhouetted on the rocks on our way back. Next day, same thing, though a different rock face. Did I mention that it was incredibly beautiful? It was. Also the group was really fun, and, as I am coming to expect now, very international. People from all over Europe. I guess its hardly "international" now... its just...Europe! Well, that could be argued either way. 
Anyway, I always enjoy it. Talking to Germans, Italians, Austrians, Spaniards, French people, etc. (Why do we not have a better name in English for people from France? or do we?) Next weekend we went to a place closer to Granada (Alpujarras). It looked like New Mexico. I got to do my first partner climb. The instructor climbed up first and set the rope. I followed and then another girl as well. When we all got up to the first "reunion," meeting, we tied ourselves in, pulled the ropes up and did it again. We had a total of three reuniones...And were waaaay up. It was spectacular. Then we repelled down. Three times. Sweet. 
So I'm learned all the knots and tools for this kind of thing. I love it. Also, I learned a lot of climbing vocab in Spanish, which was fun. My favorite is climbing shoes: pies de gato. Literally, "cat feet!" The last day we went to a place down south, near the coast. Also could have been New Mexico. More fun climbing, and afterward we drove to the beach and watched the sunset, drank a beer/coffee/tea (your choice). Played in the water, wrestled, pinky-wrestled, did gymnastics, etc. This week some of us got together at one of the guys' house for a potluck meal. Good times. I guess that can be my Thanksgiving meal. :)
4 comments:
oh MAN that sounds amazing. I'm so glad you got to do this. . .
QUE BELLOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!Esas son las experiencias que de verdad uno guarda con uno para siempre. Que lindo que decidiste tomar la clase y que haz tenido dias soleados.
The view looks decent, but I've seen better in Goshen. And who needs cliffs when we have a climbing wall in the Rec-Fit. =P
Sweet, That sounds like fun. Lucky!:D
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