Hanging on the side of a rock wall- TR

“always tought I wanted to give rock climbing a try. Well, this weekend I did. Waterdog told me about a rock climbing workshop in the Falls Creek Falls Park. Only $30, shoot...I had to go.

Got to the Park about 3 in the afternoon I think. What a great park. Great for family camping vacation. Awesome waterfalls, great lakes, fishing, canoe rentals... everything you can think off. Yes, you can backpack the park. I am not sure about the trails though. Didn't hike. Only hike I hike was a short one to the rock wall.

I think most of you know how scared of hights I am. LOL, yupp...and I am still scared of them.

I did however, repel, and climb this weekend. Wish someone took a picture when I took the first step of the edge...I was scared to death, but I did it. TWICE!!!!! Actually was fun after you overcome your fear.

Climbing: Looking at the rock wall I though...piece of cake... what's so hard about that? Well, once you get up there you don't see the ovious. You really have to look and search for wholes to get your hands and feet in. It was fun, lot of fun.

The second day...well... the repelling was a bit higher, 150 feet?? or more?? I don't know. It was high, at least it looked high from the top. Yeah, I didn't do it. I chickend out! Just couldn't do it. I must say though that the short hike down the dried out waterfall, (still very slippery) was prolly more dangerous then the repeling... LOL

I didn't get much climbing down the second day either. Something blocked...not sure what my prob was. That's okay though. I did it the first day. I still have to work on this dang fear of hights...but I am getting much better.

Thanks to waterdog for taking me on this trip. I'll be back in september for sure.

I would post some pics...but they are so damn unflattering..so I won't. :) I'll post a couple of the waterfalls and stuff later on.

I ain't checking this report for missing words and errors either...got to run. later guys!”

“sounds like fun, that first step back on a repel, its not really the first step, its that big lean backwards, you gotta really trust that rope.

But once you get goin, its fun.

Keep it up, face the fear - thats the only way to do it.”

“Your first experience with rock climbing congrats. You may have "blocked" this time but next time just think how much more prepared you'll be. Go Go Gemini!!”

“Gemini! Proud of you for trying it.
I know its harder than it looks. You sure said a mouthful there. I am not scared of heights, but whenever I have something to do as far as climbing, rappelling, jumping off a bridge or a cliff into water..... I don't stand there and think about it. I get my mind right about it before I do it. Fix it in my mind when I'm on the ground then just go for it. Why give myself a chance to chicken out? LOL”

“I can do an Australian Crawl in my rappelling! LMAO
I would love to be able to do that. I think I could do it with the right instructor to teach me. Its gotta be hard as hell psychologically.”

“Great Gemini! I've been to Fall Creek Falls...that's a beautiful park.

Are you still coming to Dolly Sods?”

“Gem you did great! I am not afraid of heights but couldn't get myself to step off the edge to rappel. I had no problems rapelling off an indoor wall when the rope was fixed on the ceiling but when it came to doing it the right, or the normal way I couldn't get myself over the edge! Way to GO Chickie!”

“dolly sods is when again? I have to check.... brb...
ok...yupp, i am still going on this one.

sass... i tell ya, I had the look of death on my face. At least I think I did. LOL

Saturday went really well I thought, mentally and all. Sunday...hmm, I am not sure what I was thinking. Well, yeah I do know. I thought about a 150 feet or more rockwall...and that it was 3 times as high as the saturday climb... That's ALL I thought about saturday night and sunday. Next time I'll be ready.

Right now I wanna kick myself in the butt, but oh well...

okay, going to read more "freedom of the hills" now...”

“Wow Gem!!!
Cool deal.”

“Gem! I tried my first rock climbing experience in Japan this past week. I chickened out of repeling too... it was about 100+ feet high or so. I'm deathly afraid of heights too, so instead I belayed (sp?) Luke while he climbed and rappelled.”

“I got to thinking about the rappelling and climbing thing..... I believe I'm gonna sign up for a knot tying class. It is bound to come in handy for lots of things.
The same guy teaches it who taught me to rappell. Should be interesting. I will sign up under an assumed name so's I can suprise him. Yeah. then I will have the upper hand! hee hee”

“dana, that's a pretty good idea. I have the figure 8 knot down blind folded I think...but the other knots...still having problems with some of them.

don't you have a boy in the scouts?? I think my kids know them...so they may can teach me :)”

“fun huh???”

“The only one I know who is associated with any known communist organizations like that is Jeffers. He might show me. But then he might show me wrong!

”

“lots of scary fun stikmon. Now I just have to find someone near me that wants to climb with a newbie. Don't want to belay ALL the time...

Dana...looking at his pics and reading his post Jeffers seams to know what he is doing. But I don't blame you. Why did you not go to the climbing class this weekend? it wasn't too far from you. Near crossville. There is another one in september. I'll be going on that one too. It's lots of fun.”

“I had to work this weekend. I knew the class was being held and wanted to go, but couldn't. If there is any way I can go to the one with you in Sept. I would LOVE to. Jeffers knows exactly what he's doing. He's good as gold. I was just busting on him. I'd trust him with my life. There's been more than one time when I should have listened to him and didn't. Yeah yeah. I admit it. :-P
Like when I was smacked against the cliff at Foster Falls and zee pain was glorious. acck!”

“Send me a link on the climbing class?? I have let it get away from me. If I'm gonna go with you.... I need to plan ahead. It might mean switching weekends with someone in order to be off then. The sooner the better.”

“Those are some nice shots Gemini. And there are some I took of you that you have held back. Come on girl let'em see.”

“I found it. Its Sept. 17-19th. I can go! I will call and sign up. I'm off that weekend! yay! If you're going, Gem, I'll sign up!
Who else is gonna go?”

“You sure didn't act like it was your first time rock climbing. You're a natural. I enjoyed it too. I have to work at it though but love it all the same. Hey Gemini, got some pics of you on the repel and I'll bring them to Roan Mt. if you'll be there. Look forward to seeing you soon.
Flamegirl”

“waterdog...the pics you took of me....NO!! not very flattering at all. Can't show them. LOL

Dana...I will be there for sure.

flamegirl: burn the pics of me!! I won't make it to Roan Mt. Got to pick up the kids that weeekend”

“Sounds like it was fun. Looks like it was a nice place in the pictures. I've had some interest in climbing, but the last thing I can afford is another hobby to pour time and money into, lol.”

“I am registered for the Climbing Class in Sept. I will be there. The family is coming along and we will camp, but they are not interested in climbing.
So good for them! and fun for us!”

“Gem, that's great!

I did my first rappel at like 3:00 in the morning, 18 hours into an adventure race. It was 300 feet down. I turned and looked once, then said, naw, I don't need to see anything down there! Just watch the wall in front of you...”

“One of the best highs there is.

Woman are usually much easier to teach then men...their egos are usually a tad smaller, they listen better and they tend to climb with their legs and not their arms.

Good for you too danababy, go for it.

I have a bunch of pictures I have taken while belaying, most are butt shots, not everyone wears underwear...LOL

No, they aren't on my Webshots page either.”

“I can relate to Fritz' statement about not looking down. Thats how I focus when I climb or rappell. I keep my eyes on the rock or cliff or bridge in front of me. Not back or down! I usually do pretty good at keeping my mind right about it.

Mtnsteve, our whole family climbs, but I'm the one who likes it most.
My son makes it all look like a piece of cake. He's friggin spiderman. All arms and legs and up he goes. That turkey stands below me and says stuff like "Mom, you got a REALLy big butt" or "Did you even wear any underpants?" stuff to mess with me or get me tickled. I have learned to tune him out. I do forget to put the camera out of his reach sometimes. He never fails to get the most embarassing shots of us all...... except himself!
I have one favorite top I love, but I has failed me once so I don't wear it while climbing anymore. No matter how comfortable it is. It can't be trusted!”

“danababy....Gear that can't be trusted must be removed immediately..... remember, climbers are use to exposure (I had a t-shirt that said that)


Quick story...climbing in Yosemite, the girls accepted a dare to do a climb wearing only their shoes and harnesses...they hadn't thought it out real well though....by the time they toped out there was a crowd below waiting to climb (I'm sure thats why they were there) so they had to walk off...unfortunately or fortunately, the walk off required a rather long walk back to the base of the cliff. When they arrived they were greeted to applause and more then a few cameras. They had arraigned their racks (that would be their climbing gear folks!) and chalk bags for a little modesty.”

“So is that where the saying "nice rack" came from?”

“Obviously ;-)”

“For that weekend too! good deal.
Nude climbing. I've only done it once. I was actually sober. Thank God. But the county mounty and the forest ranger were waiting for me at zee top of zee climb! ack!
Some a-holes with a cell phone...... prudes! didn't appreciate it and phoned in the offense. If I hadn't been running from the law, I'd like to have gone up to them both so they could KISS IT!”

“Here is the link with registration info for anyone wanting to attend the climbing clinic at Fall Creek Falls.

Climbing Class”

“considering, hmmmm always wanted to learn how, did a few "mini-climbs" and rapells back in scouts as a kid.

hmmmmmm”

“You know you wanna come too!
I was the first person to register! ta-da
If you come with us.. I promise I will be sweet and won't take butt shots of ya or nothing. Well, maybe just one or two blackmai.. scratch that.... pictures for my own personal mementos.
say yes!
We're gonna camp. There'll be beer. There will be grilling!”

“ouch, my arm!

beer, grilling, oh and camp!

Ok, cool. Count me in!”

“Oh, and if you let me know when your gonna take those pics, I'll try and pose a little for ya ;)”

“the dates for the climbing class interfere with my Plott Balsam Trip.

grrrr maybe the Plott Trip could move.”

“Thats what folkser always tellin dis kid! LOL
Ya gonna model for me or go bp'ing?

j/k It would be great if you can make it, but no hard feelings if you can't.
I admit to being jealous as a dog though. I looked at your Trail Days Photos and was completely mad that I didn't go. I always figure things out too late.
I am going next year to Trail Days or bust. It looks fabulous. The only thing is that my buddy Tnwaterfallbill sez if I go..... he's gonna teach me to pull tread on a trail maintenance project. gulp! Thats ok. I'll go anyhow. A pulaski will fit my hand as well as anyone else's.”

“the Plotts aren't going anywhere.

You'll LOVE trail days, there wasn't anything bad about it (except for that cop that spilled Carlette's tequilla all over the ground), lesson learned (use a Nalgene).

Next year I may leave the kids at home and sign up for the AT Hardcore Trail Maint. crew, that'd be fun.

Don't miss out on that again!”

“I've already gotten Bill talked into it. I told him we needed to ARRANGE our schedules at work and home around it! No kidding. He was glad since he kinda wanted to go too. He just wants to see me do some actual work. bah!”

“Dana!!!! I was the first to sign up :) Prolly not on paper yet, but I told Ray (the ranger) to sign me up the past weekend. TA-DAAAAA!!!!!! ;-)

Roam, you got to go. That would be so cool. And it is a lot of fun!!”

“I'm calling to sign up tomorrow. Changed the dates of my Plot Balsam trip to August.

Danababy, you should sign up for that trip too!”

“roam, alright!! No baling though ya hear?? LOL It's a long way from FL to TN....”

“closer than PA”

“I wuz first! He tole me so! In fact he ax me if I wuz goin to sign you up!? Seriously.
You'd better check on it. I called to check on it 6/9/04. Maybe the person I talked to was not aware that you'd already signed up? I bet thats what it was. I would had to have your address to sign up for you and all I had handy was your phone #. Anyhow! its on!
Roam will be outnumbered and overwhelmed. Did I just type that outloud? :-D

Gonna be a blast!
Roam, I am tickled you are gonna be there and I'll get to meet you! You look like you know how to have a good time! I will shop for body paint so we-uns can climb with the TT emblems on our carcasses. We gotta represent!”

“We expect pictures.”

“dang!! did you talk to Ray?? I will call tomorrow. I know if I go up there...he'll remember, but I better call anyway. Yupp, this will be fun!

You rock climbed before didnt' you??”

“Roam, dude! You got a chance to go rock climbing with Dana and Gem?! You better go, man!!!!”

“you bet i'm gonna be there!

body paint! allright!

overwhelmed? BRING IT DANABABY!”

“hey this is just no fair...ive always wanted to go climbing...unfotunately i have no gear and i dont know anyone that does...so my options are limited...actually i just want to go and sit in the woods really...climbing is optional...im tired of the pavement in ATLANTA...”

“All you gotta bring is yourself! It does cost $30 I think, but thats not bad. Comes out to $10 a day for a 3 day workshop! If you're serious...... we will be trailer camping at Fall Creek in the Campground. I know their regulations say you can pitch more than one tent on the sites. Come on, Dude! Those who are going can hang together and we can get in trouble and keep each other company in the pokey. LOL
Sounds like its going to be fun!

Gemini, I do not know who I talked to. Sorry, and I wasn't trying to spook ya. Just call to double check. Yes, I've climbed before. Not alot. I can still use lots of work on rappelling, knots, and climbing. I'm not any great shakes at any of it. I just am a jack legg and don't mind trying anything. I do have my own shoes, harness, and some of the gear. I'll bring that stuff along.

Roam, I will get busy hunting up the body paint. We will have to take some pictures to share.
Shades of Burning Man. ;-)”