Climbing at Mountain Quarry : Eliminate the Fear

“…….. in the third person and it eliminates the fear”

I’ve been to Mountain Quarry once before.  About 30 mins from the climbing gym set in the foot hills of Perth. Given it’s December you would think that the temperature would be quite warm for a late afternoon in a quarry, but it’s still cool and cold right now. Luckily for me I brought an extra jumper because once the sun began to set, it did get very cool. Laying on a flattish boulder which had been heated up by the sun my tummy and whole torso warmed up as if I was basking in the afternoon Summer sun, like a cat would.

Inspiring Youth

Not having done any lead climbing , but something I aspire to in the next 12 months (I’m still very much a novice) watching the Youth Squad train in the quarry today was very inspiring….no fear just determination and boundless energy.

Although quite a few of the kids had been outdoor climbing before not all had, I could see the apprehensiveness in their eyes accompanied with nervous excitement and anticipation of their impending maiden climb in the quarry.

I was curious …….I asked one of the kids who I watched complete a very challenging slab climb, how he felt and what he thinks about when he climbs, is he scared? and especially doing that particular climb – one that not one of them had completed yet today, he appeared to climb it with such ease and smoothness, so he replied with :

“I think about it with an analytic mind, in the third person, and that eliminates the fear” 

Wise words.

I’m going to adopt that mindset from now on.

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