Climbing has been one of my hobbies ever since I was a kid and I’ve been trying to get back into shape since I began traveling. That’s why, in the past 2 weeks, I jumped on the opportunity to literally ‘hang’ with some of the best climbers I’ve ever encountered. For these people, climbing is much more than a hobby, it’s an obsession, an addiction and a whole way of life.
Bouldering in the beautiful area of Castle Hill
My journey began in a climbers camp ground called hang dog, climbing in Paynes Ford and continued with a road trip to castle hill bouldering site near Christchruch. I used my time with the climbers, not only to better my climbing, but also to learn as much I could about the life of a climber, this is what I learnt.
Camp Humor at Hang Dog
How to Recognize an Addicted Climber?
Rock the world – Climbers have been all over the world but when you ask them ‘how was Thialand/South America/France….?’ Their replay will be something like ‘The rock is solid but the bolting is sketchy. Has great multi pitch climbs.’ Touristic attraction? Night life? Maybe when they absolutely have to take a day to recuperate.
Some Marshmallows after another feast at Hang Dog.
Climbers Stomach – What little room that is left in a climber’s mind that isn’t filled with climbing is taken up with thoughts of food. They eat big breakfasts, healthy snacks all day and plan and prepare a feast every evening.
Shadow Climbing – the more addicted the climber the more likely they are to pantomime climbing moves in the air even when they aren’t climbing. This might be accompanied with some commentary from a climb they did today or 5 years ago. ‘I pinched with the left, then hooked my heel to the right and reached for the big sloper…’
Pantomiming success in Castle hill.
Mission Impossible – Experienced climbers tend to start giving themselves missions to spice up their climbing. In can be a really hard climb that they decide to work on or some overhanging cliff they do ‘tricks’ on or something stranger. Two of the climbers I met decided to climb 500 points in one day (a hard climb in new Zealand standers is 20 points so they each had to climb, on average, 25 of these in one day!!!)
Crazy Missions!
The pain – Each physical activity comes complete with its set of pain and injuries. For climbers this starts from the fingers and tendons of the hands which swell and tear, on to the shoulders and neck which tighten and stiffen down to the lower back, hip and legs. Also the feet that are cramped up in tiny climbing shoes all day start changing in shape and the skin becomes chafed and abraded and in NZ eaten by sand flies! And if I’ve forgot any body part I’m pretty sure it gets used and abused by climbers. Needless to say after two weeks of this everything hurts me!!!
Beautiful water hole near Hang Dog
Why Swim or relax in the water when you can climb over it?
Don’t Panic – Despite the pain and danger involved in climbing, or perhaps because of it, climbers are the most relaxed people I have ever met. This extends beyond scary climbs and terrifying falls. Not one of the climbers I was with even beat an eyelash when we discovered someone tried to hot wire the car we rented leaving us stranded in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone reception and no water. A quick jog to the nearest farm, setting up camp in the parking lot and all was ready for going climbing the next day!
Yep there’s a couch to chill on in Pohara!
One for all and all for one – I think this is the one thing that I most admire about climbers as a group. Never have I seen a bunch of strangers look out for each other, help each other, cooperate and share resources like climbers do. Professional instructors were teaching beginners, equipment was loaned out and shared as was food and transportation. When someone was climbing a hard root people would encourage and cheer from the bottom. There was no competition and no hidden ego wars. Everyone was trying to be as considerate as they could towards others, asking instead of assuming even if it was something as simple like asking if they could have the last bite of some dish. It was astounding to see how each individual fit into the group almost seamlessly and how the group accepted anyone wishing to be part of it, no matter their nationality, sex or level of climbing. If only the world were so perfect.
A collaborative effort!
Sharing knowledge even if it’s hard work!
