Climbing and bouldering are everything in my life! They empty my brain, they make me feel alive and in a way they recharge my optimism.
I love heights, nature and the puzzling challenges these sports offer. I'm not so fond of team sports anyway, so climbing gives me the opportunity to be just me and myself - to be exact, as I don't do free solos, me, myself and my rope-companion.
What I love the most about it, is the sense of freedom, the fulfilling emotion when you are up high and you have made it, the amazing view, the cool breeze and the silence of the summit. The idea of being able to reach higher and higher. To achieve new goals and do things that you couldn't even imagine before. You compete only yourself and your own efforts and this works in a meditating way to me.
Indoor climbing is also exciting as you cannot always go outside. This is where I do my practice and learn new techniques to improve my skills.
This sport really uplifts my spirit and my mood in every possible way. Marks on your hands and injuries are a part of the game but they are also a sign that you have given yourself to it and it totally worths it.
Probably you already saw the movie but if not do it. Reading your post I remembered many quotes from this movie !!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Years_in_Tibet_(1997_film)
Oh I have watched this amazing movie many years ago and I will watch it again now cause I have forgotten how much I liked it, so thank you a lot for that :))
Seven Years in Tibet (1997 film)
Seven Years in Tibet is a 1997 American biographical war drama film based on the 1952 book of the same name written by Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer on his experiences in Tibet between 1944 and 1951 during World War II, the interim period, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army's invasion of Tibet in 1950. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and starring Brad Pitt and David Thewlis, the score was composed by John Williams and features cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
In the story, Austrians Heinrich Harrer (Pitt) and Peter Aufschnaiter (Thewlis) are mountaineering in British India in an area that is now Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. When World War II begins in 1939, their German citizenship results in their imprisonment by the British in a POW camp in Dehradun in the Himalayan foothills, in the present-day Indian state of Uttarakhand.
My dream is to be able to climb free mountains.... Great "hobby". I think it is not hobby, it is life.
I couldn't agree more with you! It is life indeed! :)
και μονο απο τις φωτο με επιασε η υψοφοβια μου. :)
χαχα να ένας καλός τρόπος να ξεπεραστεί :P
εχει να κανει με την οραση μου. ζω με αυτο και απλα δεν παω στην ακρη κτιριων .
δεν χρειαζεται να σκαρφαλωνουμε ολοι. :)
διασκεδασε με το χομπυ σου και να εισαι ασφαλης . :)
Ναι σίγουρα.. Ο καθένας έχει τις δικές του αγάπες και προτιμήσεις :) ευχαριστώ πολύ! :)
although i'm doing a different sport(trail running),the feelings you describe are the same! :) keep climbing,see you on the mountains ;)
Oh cool that sounds exciting as well! :) See you on the mountains then :)
Great stuff! I'm always happy to find another Steemian who is following the same passion that I love so much!!!
For how long do you climb? Where have you been to? What are your goals? And when can we expect to read another story about your adventures!?
Sorry for the bulk of questions, but I'm simply excited. ;-)
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Hey there! :) Thank you for upvoting and resteeming my post! :)
I've been climbing for about 4 years and I fall in love with the sport from the first time! My dad is a rock climber as well so I probably had the genes :P I've been climbing only in Greece and fortunately we have many spots here! My goals are just to explore more routes and meet new challenges. Don't know when, but for sure you will read more posts about my passion! What about you, for how long have you been climbing?
As it's a question for me and not the about the @Climbing-Trail, I'll answer with my personal account.
I'm climbing since 2013, so for roughly 5 years. And the desire to climb still grows day by day. :-) As you described it, it's such a pure sport and so rewarding. If you are interested, you can read about my latest adventure to Croatia (part I and part II, with part III still to come).
Unfortunately, I've never been to Greece to date, but I only heard good things about it! The climbing around Athens and Leonidio must be amazing... And then I heard of Meteora, it must be absolutely stunning... Do you know anything about it by chance? :-)
Oh Cool! Of course I will read your posts! :) Leonidio is among the best! I haven't climb there yet but my fellow climbers have told me about it and Im planning to go check myself!
I have made a post about Meteora as its one of my favourite places on earth! The climbing there is a bit challenging though, as you may have to climb for about 30 meters high free solo till you reach the first clip to secure yourself -easy routes however. There are also some chimney spots with wonderful cruxes :P Another wonderful place in Greece for climbing is Kalymnos island!!
Silly me!!! Your post is yet another proof of the beauty of Meteora! It reminds me a lot of Saxon Switzerland, with the rock formations being similar (sandstone pillars all over the place and loads of traditional climbing as well).
If you go to Leonidio, I'd love to hear about your experiences. :-)
And Kalymnos, well, it seems there are just too many beautiful things to do in a lifetime. ;-)
:) Yes of course! I will be happy to share my experience! I wish you to visit as many places and have a great time! :)
It makes me so happy to see climbers (specifically boulderers) here. I just started climbing after about 6-8 months out from an injury. Feels good to be back.
Hey there! :) I'm happy to find climbers too! :) Oh really that long? Injuries can be tough sometimes.. I've had a few.. It always feels good to be back and a bit difficult as well in the beginning.
Yeah. It sucks when your brain can climb V7 but your body is still at V3
Hang in there! Don't let yourself get frustrated by it. Last year I ruptured my meniscus and had to stop climbing for three months. But one year later I'm stronger than ever. But still working on my first v7. ;-D
My second day i got a v4 and v5 so that was nice. I have the most fun bouldering v6 so once I can start projecting that Ill be cool haha.
That sounds perfect! Optimism is key! I would love to see you write something about coming back and crimping hard again. :-)
Its in my weeks lineup for posts ;)
Exactly!! But we have to wait till its back in the game :)
Hi eliakon! I discovered indoor bouldering just over a year ago, and it's become my passion, along with indoor climbing (which I started doing 18 months ago) and hillwalking.
I've only done outdoor bouldering once, and I loved it – as you can see from my profile pic! I've met loads of friends in the climbing world who are equally obsessed.
I can't wait to do more outdoor bouldering once the drier weather arrives. Maybe I'll even try a bit of outdoor rock climbing – I have to admit though, rock climbing makes me feel pretty nervous!
Hello! How nice!! Yes its the kind of sport that you instantly fell in love with -or totally dislike it. Really? Rock climbing scares you more? I feel more scared with bouldering as Im a bit worried with my falls sometimes... If Im high enough I prefer to do my best to reach the top than falling down :P Continue climbing and have the best time with it!! :))
Thanks for the encouragement eliakon!
It was nice talking to you! Thanks for stopping by :)
Πανέμορφη ενασχόληση ! Συνεχίσε με πάθος !!
Ευχαριστώ πολύ!! :))
This one needs guts !
Well, guts and lots of love and dedication :)
Δικιά μας είσαι ; Ακολουθώ !
You can't dedicate if you don't love and you can't love if you don't have guts ! G.S.
χαχα δικιά σας είμαι! Ευχαριστώ, κι εγώ! :)
I will use your quote I liked it! :)
It will be my pleasure if you do ! Take care .
I love climbing too! :) Great post, glad to see people sharing the excitement of outdoor climbing! Rock on!
Just saw your videos!! Happy to find climbers too!! :))
So awesome! Thanks for checking out my blog. Lots more to come as we embrace life on the road in the next few months!
Cool happy to see more! :))
μου αρκει να τα βλέπω και να τα θαυμάζω :p
Μπορώ να πω πάντως οτι καταλαβαίνω το αίσθημα με τα χέρια στο τέλος, ο πόνος είναι το τελευταίο που έρχεται στο μυαλο
Η αλήθεια είναι ότι νιώθεις μεγάλη χαρά που σακατεύτηκες τόσο :P
meta exeis k allon aera otan se rotane po po ti epa8an ta xeria sou?
anebeno bouna :P
χαχαχ ε ναι αν δεν είναι αυτό παράσημο τότε τι είναι?
Awesome post, and great photos! it's nice to hear from another person who's fire up about climbing! Looking forward to more!
Where were these photos taken, btw -- that crag in the first photo looks awesome. Reminds me of home actually!
Thank you so much! :) All photos are from Greece (Penteli, Imittos mountain, Sesi) This boulder is among the favourites I've been :)
Nice passion. I'm sure you can fell free yes. I do the same thing but opposite to you, down underwater ! ;-)
:) Really?? So exciting! I cannot cope well underwater so I admire those who can! :)