They drove for what seemed like forever, eventually arriving and heading up the hill to the huge crag. She stood at the back listening and hoping they would just forget she was there but unfortunately they didn't. After sitting at the bottom of the crag sticking the bits of metal into gaps in the rock (weird) it was finally time to head upwards. After tying on, clipping all the gear to her harness, doing up her chinstrap she was ready to go. Several tentative steps upwards at first, she stopped to get a little bit of gear into a crack, clip that to the rope and then pluck up the courage to carry on. She carried on in this vain for what seemed to her like forever, she was way above the ground with only small bits of metal to keep her safe, eventually she managed to pull up over the top with relief. Looking over the edge the rock was littered with 'Nuts' and 'Karabiners', she sat down quickly found several anchors and with help set up a 'belay'. Her belayer scurried quickly up the rock to meet her and they celebrated loudly. She had done it-climbed her first route!! Wow, What a feeling!'
That was me 18 months ago leading my first route, there is only one word for how I was feeling that day- Terrified. Climbing is now my first love, I spend as much time climbing as possible- evenings, weekends and have made so many new friends through climbing. The climb I first led isn't even a graded route and is only 6 metres high (it felt like much more at the time). I went back recently and soloed it to prove to myself how far I have come. I led my first Hard Severe on the same day and have done several others since, went to the Alps for the first time this year and now I cant wait for winter.
So for all the folk out there who are scared of heights, scared of falling or both- don't worry just get out there and do it, it will be the best decision of your life.
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