A successful rock climbing expedition takes skill, strength and guts. Here at Wilkes-Barre Rock Climbing Gym, I decided to overcome by fear and conquer the indoor rock climbing wall. Instructor Dave Dorbad will be coaching me to the top, but before I climb, I need to have the proper gear.
"Lets do this, its like putting on a pair of pants, one foot through each hole..."
After putting on the harness, I also needed to wear the proper shoes.
"OK These feel pretty good."
Sharla: "I trust you that you're not going to let me fall....have you ever let anybody fall?"
Dave: "Me, myself? No!"
Sharla: "OK! that's the answer i like to hear... I don't know if you are lying or not, but that's the answer I like to hear."
Following the marked path, makes it easier to get to the top.
"It's got double tape which signifies the start...put both your hands there...you use just those ones with red tape going all the way up."
After all of the training on the ground. It was finally time to climb.
"Oh my gosh, this is difficult..."
Dave helped guide me as to which rock to step on next.
"Ugh, OK where's my left foot supposed to go...right here?"
Then finally, I had reached the top.
"Yes!! How do I get down...I'm just supposed to let go?!"
At first, I couldn't quite grasp the idea of climbing back down, but in the end, it was all good times.
"I climbed the wall! High five!"
I wasn't the only one scaling walls. Nearby, 8-year-old Olivia, and her 6-year-old sister, Sophia, were Spidermen in the making.
Sharla: "Are you scared when you go up there?"
Sophia Farrell: "Umm sometimes I am, but I just don't look down and I keep looking up, and I make my way up."
Fearless and finding their ways to the top, time after time. Maybe I should be taking lessons from them.