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General Climbing Discussion

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euro ticking machine 6-May-2004 At 6:02:02 PM Damietta

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On 6/05/2004 kent wrote:
>I find climbing rather enlightning in that perspective. When I eventually
>fall off the rock i usually "chuck a hissy fit". I fail an important
>test at uni from climbing too much, and i "shrug my shoulders". Funny
>how my mind can prioritise the important events in life ?!?

I find the opposite. Like some sort of amazing calm settles in when the shit hits the fan, but missing the train to work can be pretty stressful.

I was sailing a 30ft yacht off the NSW south coast with some friends a few years ago when a southerly change came through a good 6 hours earlier than forecast by the BOM and we were in real trouble at about 3am, all you could see was white water and the boat was pinned to its side (lucky for a very heavy lead keel or we would have been cactus)- but you eliminate the petty worries and focus on the job - it was exhilirating. I still laugh when I think of one particular mate who was green with sea sickness, he put on a wetsuit and a lifejacket and curled up in a ball (he's been know as "sea legs" ever since).

The same with climbing. I remember an interview with the late, great Derek Hersey, that summed it up.He was saying that driving his car was more stressful than free-soloing (unfortunately he fell while soloing the Steck-Salathe after rain, sometiem later that year, but still, his point is important)