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On The Rocks: an Adventure Story

by Heidi Reiman, Copyright October 3, 2008, all rights reserved. 720 views

“There is probably no pleasure equal to the pleasure of climbing a dangerous Alp; but it is a pleasure which is confined strictly to people who can find pleasure in it.” -Mark Twain

August is a great month for adventures. Take for example this August, I was really looking forward to the HSA National Reunion in KY. A cool road trip, new places and faces. Lots of things to see and do. It was going to be the highlight of the summer.—-It didn’t happen that way. For various reasons, I was unable to attend the Reunion at all.

I have to say I was a little bummed out. That is until I got an e-mail inviting me to go rock/mountain climbing up near Estes Park, Colo., followed by some white-water rafting near Idaho Springs. It sounded like fun, so I coordinated a time to meet up with the other HSAers (namely: Hans & Nathan Bluedorn and Ryan Bruce) and made reservations. On Monday I meet up with the “guys” at the library and it was decided that we should have a quick bite to and climb a mountain. After lunch I followed the guys up to Lumpy Ridge and we hiked up the trail head to the base of Twin Owls.

After arriving at the back side of the “Owls” (which by the way is called, “the Bowels of the Owls”) we donned our climbing gear and proceeded to climb to the top of the “Owl’s” head. As Ryan so nicely phrased it we were all “really high” (up that is). About 8,200+feet above sea level.

From Hedi's Pictures from Colorado

When we had taken in as much of the scenery as we could, we headed back to the cars.

I would like to add here that this was my first experience climbing with ropes and harnesses. I learned a ton and had a lot of fun! It was a great time!

That evening we had dinner in downtown Estes Park, and I bought a backpack. I had not managed to make it out of my house with one and I needed to up grade any way.

It is red and black with pockets for everything, and it met with The approval from our resident “backpack expert” (Hans).

From 2008-08-11 Colorado, Estes Park

The second morning of the adventure dawned cool and clear. I met the guys in the library parking lot at 9am and we took a drive up “Old Fall River Road” to the top of the pass in Rocky Mountain National Park. We then hiked to the summit, 12,005 feet above sea level. After a group photo we headed back to Estes for lunch and some more mountain climbing.

From 2008-08-12 Colorado, Trailridge Road

Later in “Jurassic Park” we did some harder climbing than we had done the first day. It was my first time climbing straight up a vertical wall of rock. When I lost my footing and fell I was ready to jump clean out of my skin. It took me well over an hour to conquer my first wall. But the guys talked me through it and Nathan (my belayer) was very patient with me taking me so long. I did finally make it up the wall and had a very fun time doing it.

From Hedi's Pictures from Colorado

On Wednesday we traveled south out of Estes and got to the rafting office at about 11:00am. We filled out the liability forms and then donned wet suits, life jacket, and helmets. It was agreed that the wet suits were not the most becoming get-ups, but it wasn’t long before we forgot about our looks and began to head down river. Our guide for the expedition was of a less than savory nature, but at least you always knew exactly where you stood with him. He certainly didn’t mince words. The river was too low to be very sketchy or dangerous, but there were a couple of spots where the exposed rocks created some interesting rifts on which to get stuck on. Our guide knew his job, and we didn’t run aground. Just before the rafting trip ended our guide made all of us abandon ship, in order to test our swimming skills. We all passed the test and the only casualty for the day were Nathan’s sunglasses and Ryan’s dinner (but that is another story).

From Hedi's Pictures from Colorado

On Thursday I woke up to see storm clouds rolling in. Not a good thing when there is a climb to take place at “The Garden of the Gods”. The rocks would be treacherous if it rained. We drove to the visitor center of GOTG first thing. We met up with a friend of the guys, John Doyrk.

I was not going on this climb because I didn’t think that I was quite ready to tackle the size of rock that they were going to conquer.

I should note here that this was a “Trad” climb. And since I didn’t go along I can not fill you in on that part of the experience. I was a little bummed that I wouldn’t be climbing there this time, but I will someday.

From Hedi's Pictures from Colorado

We were supposed to meet up with another HSAer for dinner and a movie but we had some extra time on our hands before we need to be any where. So we drove up Pike’s Peak. It was a beautiful drive. The scenery was breathtaking, literally. At 14,110 feet above sea level it becomes increasingly hard to breath. The Lord put on a lighting show for us at the summit and the wind blew the cold rain into our faces, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was a picture beyond words.

From 2008-08-14 Colorado, Pike's Peak

Friday morning was overcast, rainy and a bit on the chilly side. We went to the climbing gym, and met up with Sarah and Allison from the night before. We all had to sign wavers that said we wouldn’t sue the gym if we did something stupid. And then we suited up. I got to do the first climb of the day to demonstrate for Sarah who had never been climbing before.

That climb was a turning point for me, I realized that climbing was not as intimidating as I had at first thought. The first wall was like I was climbing up a ladder.

From 2008-08-15 Colorado, Climbing Gym

We climbed from about 11am to almost 4pm. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. We climbed and climbed and climbed some more. It was a very fun day. I learned how to keep going even when I thought I didn’t have any energy left. And I learned that when a blister pops it makes the rock you are trying to hang onto very slippery. Last but not least I learned how to belay.

From 2008-08-15 Colorado, Climbing Gym

Hans was brave enough to let me try out my new found belay skills on him first. I was told however that if I dropped him, he would come after me. I didn’t drop him or anyone else. Sarah did exceptionally well for her first time climbing. And Ryan tried some free climbing. Nathan went up a wall backwards and Allison conquered many walls.

From 2008-08-15 Colorado, Climbing Gym

From 2008-08-15 Colorado, Climbing Gym

From 2008-08-15 Colorado, Climbing Gym

When we all agreed to being very hungry (we hadn’t stopped for lunch) we packed up the gear and headed for the nearest restaurant. When lunch was over the time came to say good-bye. The guys headed for all points east, I headed west and Allison headed for home. (Sarah had had to leave out earlier while we were still at the gym.)

So here ends the adventure “On the Rocks”.

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