On August 12, 2016, JessBFit partnered up with the fabulous guides at Cascadia Expeditions for a memorable summer adventure. Our team of five climbers (plus me) drove out along the McKenzie River, down dusty forest roads, to arrive at the base of a rock formation buried in the woods. A short hike uphill brought us to the base of Flagstone, a climbing area known for its well-bolted sport climbs. It would be a great place for beginners to test themselves on the rock.

Here’s the cast of characters: the two guys, Aaron and Martin, had some previous rock climbing experience in the distant past. The ladies, Jan, Peg and Michaela, were all first-timers. Their only climbing experience was some bouldering on play structures outside, and one trip to the bouldering gym for Peg. Our two guides, Ben and Alex, had done plenty of climbing and have guided several trips with Cascadia.

As you read along, check out the rest of our photos on Facebook!

Rock school

Once we arrived, the guides went off to set up a couple of ropes and we did a light stretching and mobility routine. It was already getting hot, so we did our best to stay in the shade. When the ropes were set, we headed to the base of the climbs to learn how all the gear worked. Ben instructed everyone on how to put on their harnesses and helmets, showed them how to tie a rewoven figure-8 knot, and how to belay. It was a lot of information to add to the excitement and anxiety of being out there!

Rock climbing is a sport that requires a wide variety of skills and knowledge. The physical act of climbing is just one small piece of the puzzle. The correct use of safety gear (harness, rope, helmet, etc) can be the matter of life and death. The climber is protected from falling by a climbing rope and a belayer. The belayer is the person who is in charge of managing the rope and holding it taut if the climber falls. The belayer is also responsible for lowering the climber back to the ground when they are finished. So it is very important that both climber and belayer are competent in understanding how to set up and use the system. For a group of beginners, it is highly recommended to have trained guides who are able to set everything up and supervise the beginners as they learn how to use the safety equipment. We were also taught the simple system of communication so that climber and belayer could let each other know what they needed and what was going on. It’s impossible to carry out a conversation with someone who’s 50 feet below you.

Climb on!

The ropes were set on two beginner level climbs, a 5.5 and a 5.8. Martin laced up his shoes for the 5.8 while Jan tied in for the 5.5. Both routes were slab climbs, meaning there were not many big holds to grab on to. Slab climbing involves getting your feet under you in such a way that the friction between your feet and the rock keeps you there, and your hands are mostly used for balance. It feels much different than going to a bouldering gym, and much different from what most people envision rock climbing is all about.

Martin was the first to make it up to the top of the route. He took his time figuring out the route, searching for holds for feet and hands. As he progressed up the rock he learned to trust his feet more, and suddenly the pathway seemed much easier to find. With a great belay and coaching from below, Martin got to experience not only the individual accomplishment that rock climbing provides, but a great sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

Meanwhile, Jan nervously began her first climb. She quickly found out that even though her route was rated easier, the unfamiliarity of walking up a slab was mentally very challenging! She voiced her fears and doubts as she ascended the climb in fits and spurts. We sent up a lot of encouragement from the ground. Ultimately she reached the top anchors and found that while it was scary going up, it was even more scary thinking about coming down! With much encouragement Jan came back to the ground safely and reveled in the success of her first climb! After she untied, Alex asked her how it went.

Jan: “I don’t think I’ve ever been so terrified in my whole life!”
Alex: “That’s what I like to hear! Do you want to do it again?”
Jan: “Yes!”

Peg, Aaron and Michaela then each got on the rope and had the opportunity to climb on real rock. Peg climbed smoothly, stopping to work out problems and figure out how to move up the rock. She kept most of her fears to herself until she got to the ground and announced how terrifying the climb was! Aaron was the third person on the 5.8, after two people had climbed it without falling. He felt a little extra pressure to complete it without falling, too. The slab climbing was new and unusual, and he also had to learn how to trust his feet and work the balance. In spite of his fears, he also made it to the top!

Michaela was the last to be introduced to the rock. She waited to try on a few pairs of shoes, not liking how her feet felt in them. Her first attempt was on the 5.5, and she made it up a few steps before freezing up entirely. Michaela had always struggled with a fear of heights and climbing, and this was evident on this first try.

With that first climb under everyone’s belts, it was time to eat lunch and think about a second climb. Everyone but Aaron got on another climb, and everyone took turns belaying their teammates. The second climbs were much smoother than the first, once people got a sense of how sticky their feet were on the slab. Michaela’s second climbing attempt was much better than the first, with lots of excellent coaching from the ground. She learned to trust the rope, lean back on the system and relax while scouting out the next few moves. This is a common strategy for climbers who are working out a new route. But she got to the “crux,” or the most difficult section of the second climb, and decided to come back down to the ground.

Before long, it seemed, we needed to start thinking about packing up to return to the cars. As people completed their final attempts, Michaela decided to give it another go on the first climb that shut her down. Now with some practice and new skills under her belt, we all felt like she’d have a much better shot this time.

Step by step, she progressed up the climb. Several times she expressed fear and anxiety, and we became methodical in our replies: “You can do it. Keep going. Just stand up on that foot. You can trust that hold. Go!”

To everyone’s surprise and excitement (including Michaela’s), she reached the top anchors and completed the climb! A rousing round of applause and cheers boomed up from the ground below. Everyone had successfully completed at least one climb, and got to enjoy the sensation of accomplishment from standing at the top of the rock. The views from up there were beautiful, and were the icing on top of the cake. The real hard part, though, was coming down. The feeling of being lowered down from the top of a climb is very unique. You totally relinquish your control to your belayer. The feeling of leaning back into the harness and going down at someone else’s chosen pace can be frightening. So, it was a long, slow lower to the ground.

Lessons beyond climbing

When I later asked team members what the best part of the adventure was, most replied that making it to the top of the climbs is what stuck with them the most. Wrapped up in that moment of topping out include feelings of accomplishment, overcoming of fear and doubt, testing of personal limits and feelings of confidence. Most people commented on how mentally challenging the climbing was. Being in an unfamiliar place, moving in a new manner, trusting equipment you’ve never used before, all compound the stress of being a new rock climber. But everyone approached all these novel sensations in a different way. Some were more vocally anxious while others tensed up and kept it inside. Some moved quickly to get through it while others lingered.

But what was most striking is what everyone had in common. Everyone was kind, encouraging, supportive, and strong for each other. It was very clear that every team member was in each climb together. One climber’s success was the team’s success. We rooted for each other as we pushed through our own battles. Martin and Michaela both reflected on how much fun the social aspect was. And that social experience can allow you to go far outside your comfort zone, helping you grow, learn and become more adaptable.

The rock climbing trip was the last in a series of three adventures, including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Both Michaela and Aaron attended all three events. Here’s what Michaela noticed about herself after all three experiences:

“I have a habit of asking for guidance even when I already KNOW [what to do], and I’m learning to trust myself more as I do more of these adventures, to know that I CAN navigate challenges without constant guidance.”

For Aaron, there was more of a lesson about priorities:

“It’s important to make time for group activities. I could have chosen to just go to work on those days. Instead I shifted my schedule and took advantage of the opportunity to get out and have fun, new experiences with other people.”

To me, rock climbing is so compelling because it involves a wide number of skills while requiring all of your focus. It is a mindful sport that gets you outside, encourages you to engage with people, helps you learn to deal with the uncertainty of nature, and trains you to move with both strength and grace. I was honored to be able to facilitate this trip for my group and I know it has inspired them to climb more and seek out more novel experiences. Fitness is about way more than how much weight you can bench or how long it takes you to run a mile on the treadmill. Fitness is about how well you adapt to life’s challenges, be it physical or mental. These are the types of things I want my students to learn and practice, both now and for the rest of their lives. I’m already scheming some plans for fall and winter, and I’ll definitely be plotting to return to Flagstone with a group next summer.

Here’s the link to our photo album. Enjoy!