The Lincoln Log

I rubbed my sweaty palms together and took a huge gulp as I stared upward at the precarious path before me. You’ll be fine. You’re wearing a safety harness, and I’m sure you can trust your partner to catch you if you fall. I’m sure of it, I thought to myself.

“Belay!” “Belay on!” I started to climb, grabbing on to rocks that jutted out of the wall. I kept climbing higher and higher until I looked down and realized how high I was, I froze. I did not want to go any farther. Okay, you can let me down now, please? That’s all? Come on! You’re halfway there! My sweaty fingers couldn’t grip the rocks. My arms were aching and blisters were forming on my palms, but I continued on. It was an exhilarating experience when I finally reached the top.

I can only imagine that rock-climbing dates back to the cavemen era when lands were in abundance of large rocks. However, rock-climbing with safety harnesses and safety procedures was considered a sport in the 1950s. With rock-climbing’s growing popularity, people became more enthusiastic about it, whether it’s indoor rock climbing or outdoor rock climbing.

There are many indoor rock-climbing facilities in the Bay Area. One particular facility in San Francisco is the Mission Cliffs Rock Climbing Center located in the Mission district. It hosts national competitions and even kids’ birthday parties. The popular facility requires all climbers to fill out a waiver, along with a parent or guardian’s signature, before they climb.

Mission Cliffs, like most rock climbing centers, offers lessons for beginning climbers. Beginners are taught simple rules and safety regulations before they are able to climb. They are also provided with safety harnesses and are taught how to put them on. Every climber must have a partner to spot them when they climb. The climber is attached to their partner with a rope, so if the climber falls the partner is there to secure the rope and stop the climber from making a dangerous fall.

After beginners are taught the basic procedures, the rock-climbing instructor tests each climber before they are allowed to climb by themselves. This is called a belay test. The term “belay” means to secure by attaching a rope to a person or to an object, offering stable support. Once you pass the test, you are allowed to climb on your own.

There are different courses for climbers to climb; there are beginning courses and advanced courses. The path is set out for climbers to follow with colored tape placed next to the “rocks” jutting out of the walls. A course rated 5.6 is easier than one rated a 5.10. As the numbers increase, the difficulty of the course increases.

The cost for a day of rock climbing, including a belay safety class, a day pass, equipment rental, and a class fee, totals up to $28. Mission Cliffs also has a weight room, aerobic equipment, and saunas. They also offer fitness classes such as performance indoor cycling, yoga, and cardio boxing.

Overall I enjoyed rock climbing at Mission Cliffs very much. It has a safe and clean environment and is great for beginners. It is also a great work out if you’re feeling a bit out of shape. So bring a friend with you and go rock climbing together!

Rate: 5 out of 5