News

Sep 24, 2013

Summer Memories. Fall News


Fall News:

Fall Into Nature: Try Rock Climbing

Summer Memories:

1. Kids Rock

2. Youth Summer Camp Success

3. Squamish Classes

4. New Meetup Event Hosts

5. Risks and Safety

6. Life Lessons in Climbing

Category: General
Posted by: xiaoping

Fall News

Fall Into Nature: Try Rock Climbing

For the first time the Fall Into Nature festival at the Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area will provide rock climbing activity on Oct. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 2013.

Zen Climb is proud to be the first rock climbing provider for the Fall Into Nature festival!

For details, please click this link: Try Rock Climbing for $30

Summer Memories

1. Kids Rock

A kid was struggling at a tough section on the rock, frustrated and almost in tears.  The adult belayer offered, "It's okay.  Do you want to come down?"  "No!" the kid shot back, and went back to attack the tough section again.

Some kids are among the toughest climbers.  Their determination is inspiring. Here's my salute to the impressive effort made by the following kids on the rocks: 2nd London Rangers/36th London Pathfinders (Girl Guides of Canada); Daniela & Maetja & Matthew from Hamilton, Hari & Neil from Texas(US), Anuj from Mississauga, Tess from Peterborough, Mitchel from King City.

2. Youth Summer Camp Success

Our first week-long summer camp was a success!  In addition to learning top rope anchor setting and rappelling, sport leading and cleaning the route, youth climbers also developed their soft skills on self-awareness, overcoming fear and communication. One camper concluded: "I learned a lot about climbing and myself. It was one of the best weeks of my life."

Next year's camp may include traditional lead climbing component. If you know of any youth who may benefit from such camp, please let them know about this camp.  Thanks!

3. Squamish Classes

In Squamish Raz Peel has successfully offered three courses: Cliff Rappel, Introductory Rock Climbing and Rappelling, and Top Rope Anchor Setting and Rappelling. This leads to the possibility of having Zen Climbers Meetup events in Squamish next year.

4. New Meetup Event Hosts

Last year Tyler and Eric hosted successful meetup events.  This year Bill and Alex hosted wildly successful meetup events!  Thanks to all of them who have passed forward the benefits they had received from meetup events hosted by others.  Let's keep passing forward...

To better protect our meetup event hosts who volunteer to be supportive climbing partners and do not assume any responsibility in teaching or mentoring or safe-guarding any other meetup attendants, I will upload a waiver to our meetup site for every event attendant to print a copy and bring it unsigned to their event and sign it in front of their event host(s).

To be notified of future meetup events automatically as the events are created, please sign up at www.meetup.com/Zen-Climbers.

5. Risks and Safety

Subjective Safety vs. Objective Risk: Last month when I was teaching anchor setting at the top edge of a route at Rattlesnake Point, I slipped. I had been at the same spot many many times, most of the time tethered, ocassionally not, as it never seemed to be a too dangerous spot for me -- for I had been to many more dangerous alpine rock situations.  For the times that I wasn't tethered, I felt that I was safe, subjectively.  The truth is that subjective safety does not equal objective safety.  That day, when I slipped, my bum fell on the ground and my legs dangled over the edge in a split of second before I had time to instinctively react to grab anything.  Fortunately, I was tethered!

We use the subjective safety concept when we approach the top edge of the cliff and when we lead climb.  We rely on our confidence to take calculated risks.  Where you think you most likely will not slip or fall, be aware of the consequence of what if you happen to slip and fall. Make a conscious choice to protect yourself.

Knowing the Ropes vs. Showing the Ropes: Before I took my AMGA Single Pitch Instructor certification, I had climbed for almost 15 years on my own.  I thought that there would be not much for me to learn.  Yet I learned a lot through the certification process.  It wasn't so much about my climbing.  It was more about managing risks for others.

A recent incident compelled me to share with you about the difference between knowing how to climb/rappell yourself and teaching others to climb/rappel. While I am pleased to see some of you share your knowledge and skills with others, I would like to bring it to your attention that when you do so, you need to be extra cautious and conservative (i.e. less bold or experimenting), so you can better protect those you care.

6. Life Lessons in Climbing

"Our day ended with a discussion of the value of perseverance in action and graciousness in interaction,"  Robert Penning of King City, Ontario, wrote to me about his family's discussion following their climbing session.  His and many other clients' life lessons shared here have resonated in me.

In my multi-day climbing on Mt. Whitney with Adam and Andrew in June 2013, we all felt the near-4000m altitude effect. On our descent in dark, I was so exhausted that I didn't want to go on. I just crashed to the ground to rest, several times, reminicent of those troubled descending climbers from Everest losing their will to go on.  (I was told later that the moment I crashed, I started snoring.) Everytime I woke up, Adam and Andrew - who are close friends - were standing near me, in chilling wind, looking into the dark moutain in silence. I felt the strength of the friendship between them and that they had passed on that strenght to me. From that moment one, I have been paying more attention to friendships in my life.

While belaying Alex climbing the 8th final pitch of the Grillmair Chimney route on Mt. Yamnuska on September 19, 2013, I felt closely connecterd to the mountain and that I decided to let the mountain to heal my chronical shoulder pain. Immediately, my shoulder relaxed and the pain lessened.  Now, one week later, I report that my shoulder is healing faster than it did in the past year!

May you learn more about yourself through climbing.

Regards,

Xiaoping Li

Chief Instructor