Suzi and Hannah have tried out a number of adventure sports as part of iDID’s practical research. I had been dying to give something a go; so when Suzi asked me if I would go rock climbing, did she really think I’d say no?!
Now I’ve been rock climbing before, the last time being about 3 years ago, so I wasn’t at all phased by the prospect of doing so again as I knew I would have the support of an instructor alongside me. So I arrived at Reading Climbing Centre raring to go, only to discover that this time would be massively different... I would be climbing alone!
I hadn’t quite expected that as I’d spoken to Suzi beforehand and had said that the last time I’d done it someone had climbed beside me helping me to place my feet and giving me a bit of a push when I needed it; she knew the kind of help I thought I needed.
My instructor had different ideas though!
He had previously worked at the Calvert Trust, an adventure holiday destination for people with disabilities, so knew exactly how to assist someone like me to climb up a wall. He also had a godson who has a more severe form of Cerebral Palsy than me, so I wasn’t being let off the hook lightly!
I heard him ask for the hoist to be set up for me to begin with, which disappointed me a little if I’m honest...I wanted to do it the hard way, pulling myself up the wall with as little help as possible! Anyway, he soon changed his mind when I got out of my chair and walked across the room without difficulty (it turned out that this was to be the only time I walked unaided for the rest of the session), instead hooking me up to the rope and tying himself to the other end of it (OK, so I don’t know the technical phrases). This was when it finally hit me… I really was going to be climbing up this very high wall, on my own!
I can’t remember exactly what I was thinking at the time, but it must have been something along the lines of ‘I’m never going to get to the top of this thing on my own’. My last climbing experience was extremely difficult and so to be honest I didn’t even think I’d get climb higher that a level where my instructor could reach my feet to help me get them in the right place.
The descent was far more dignified than my last attempt 3 years ago...I managed to walk myself down backwards (as you’re meant to) without bumping against the wall, not even once! When I tried to stand though, all four limbs had gone to jelly and I couldn’t really walk in a straight line (not that I do anyway...). All I needed was a quick breather and off I went up the wall again!
My second climb was supposedly a bit harder as I could only use certain holds, but up I went again and before we all knew it I was back on solid ground (feeling even more like jelly than before and leaning on my PA for support). I hadn’t had enough though and clearly neither had the instructor, so after another break I got set up at the bottom of a different wall ready to reach the top again (I don’t do things by halves, in case you hadn’t noticed) but had immediate problems with getting onto the wall in the first place this time. My arms and legs were so weak I couldn’t get my feet onto those first two holds so my instructor started me off with a pull. This wall was quite a bit harder and although I still did most of the work I needed a few more ‘pulls’ from my instructor to get me to the top.
Then came the fun part...my final challenge was a wall with an overhang, where I would effectively be hanging off the wall as it was slanted that way. Of course I was up for the challenge but did get hooked up to the hoist this time for safety. I was hoisted up to the beginning of the overhang, where I was told to grab onto the wall so that I could start climbing. The only problem with this was that I was about a metre away from the wall and try as the instructor did to push me into the wall NONE of my limbs wanted to pay attention to me and with every will in the world I COULD NOT hang on. What didn’t help either was that I was laughing uncontrollably as I swung through the air, with everyone below laughing along with me (including Hannah, who funnily enough wasn’t on a wall at the time...). All I could hear was “Jennie, GRAB THE WALL! No, not the metal, you’ll get stuck on the wall. NO, NOT THE METAL JENNIE, GRAB THE WALL!!!”
I think it’s safe to say I enjoyed my climbing experience and would do it again tomorrow (now I’ve recovered and can once again walk in a straight line). What was amazing about this experience for me, was that I was able to climb independently for the first time, and was even encouraged to do so with as little help as possible. Oh... and i got going far quicker than Hannah, you know... just saying.
More to the point, I think I surprised myself and everyone around me!
“You can barely walk at the best of times, how are you going to climb?!”
Remember how we got Suzi to go in-line skating? Keeping my side of the deal, I went climbing…
For this iDID activity, I chose to bring a friend along. I don’t use a PA, but for an activity like this, it would be useful to have someone with me – just in case. My legs have an irritating habit of giving up on me, leaving me unable to walk for periods of time.
Once we got to Reading Climbing Centre, I was introduced to the lovely James and Maddi, President and Vice President of the Reading University Mountaineering Club. I must have looked a bit out of place because they didn’t realise I was there to climb! Before we could begin I needed to get changed; this is where we hit hurdle number one. The ladies changing rooms were up two flights of stairs, with no lift in the building. No loss, I was 100% prepared go home, enjoy a bottle of red wine and watch a few films. Fortunately, one of the quick thinking instructors led me to a disabled bathroom on the ground floor, and there went my movie night.
The next challenge was getting into a climbing harness. A climbing harness attaches you to the rope, so apparently it’s vital to have it put on properly and done pretty tightly! There are straps to do around both thighs and the hips and I soon found that getting the harness on was taking all of my strength. Tom had to finish it for me. The tightness of the climbing shoes meant that I found walking and keeping my balance pretty difficult, but that was the least of my worries. We still had to get up walls!
Next, Maddi and James showed me how to do the climbing knots. I’m very used to having help with physically demanding things, so I was somehow expecting the knots to be done for me. I’m not sure what gave me that idea but being expected to do it myself made me realise I just how little I expect of myself. I found I could tie the ropes rather easily and just needed my dear friend Tom to tighten them. Pretty soon we were ready for the wall… The wall… The surprisingly high walls!
I know it’s the Year of no Fear but when you look at a wall that big, fear has a way of saying hello. I looked round and Jennie was halfway up her first wall! She’d clearly mastered this ‘no fear’ thing. I’m quite competitive though and after seeing that, I was raring to go. Once I got on the wall, it wasn’t easy; holding myself on and pulling myself up, took not only physical strength but mental strength too. Reaching out to new hand and foot holds meant that my body was in positions I had no idea it was capable of!
I got to the top of the first wall; it was a weird feeling. When people say, ‘Don’t look down!’ they usually mean it. Any relief I felt getting up the wall was quickly overtaken by pure panic. My mind went completely blank and I realised I’d forgotten how to get back down! Thankfully, the vice president reminded me and held the rope as I was walking down.
Climbing is an activity which forces more out of a person than they thought possible. You push yourself whilst you’re on that wall… you hold yourself up… and you make yourself go further!
Whilst you’re on that wall, all you want to do is go up, not down. It’s a bit of a metaphor for many other situations in life. I’ve yet to find another activity that forces a participant to want to do more.
The title of this blog was something a friend said to me when I mentioned climbing. Whilst I was there, Tom said, “If you need help getting up, how are you going to climb up these walls?!”
The answer is - it was tough... But, iDID it!
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