I recently rediscovered rock climbing. Going to the gym with my Dad and old friends brought back a lot of memories. Climbing at Shelf Road I was surprised to find people I knew & awoke to skills I forgot I had. Profound moments of inspiration coursed through my body and soul intrinsically flowing through a deep connection with the rock that ignited my passion. I found with ease every foothold, handhold, & the agility of balance climbing entails. My father calls climbing vertical dance. The instant I again touched the rock, my heart knew the way, my body all of the right moves, and my spirit the rhythm of the ascension. Pressed against the rock, the little climber girl I once was came to life as a young woman. The immensity of the sheer cliff stretching above, below and to my sides was embraced by the vastness of the sky all around me like a yin-yang.
I grew up climbing with my family. We did a lot of sport climbing & top roping, climbed every wall we had a chance to get on, and joined the recreation department for climbing days with kids & group leaders from the community every summer for years. My sister and I were in our preteens when we started to do multi-pitch climbs. Baxter’s Pinnacle in the Tetons was our first one. The 5.6 climb had a top pitch that was 5.9. To this day I remember enjoying my sister’s company while we belayed Dad up to lead the pitches. I don’t know if I realized then that someday I would be leading! We took turns pulling gear as we climbed up behind him. Learning to trust each other, the gear, and to focus on our near surroundings while so far up in the air was thrilling! We learned the importance of paying close attention to each other, knowing we relied on one another. During the same summer road trip, our Mom joined us on our second multi-pitch climb in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. The slabs were great friction climbing for the entire family. On the 5.7 we learned to trust our feet; to trust ourselves; and to show support and encouragement for everyone every step of the way. The lessons learned over the years were instilled as marks of character and skillful technique that intuitively flowed upon returning to the rock.
Mom, Dad, & I headed towards Canyon City in the early morning after pulling things together. To our disbelief, it was time to go climbing as a family again! We drove past the signature pictographs on our way to Shelf Road, a subtle reminder of the mysterious cliff dwellers who knew the technique of our sport centuries before it was ours to enjoy. Upon arrival, we met up with a man who knows the climbing area better than anyone around. Bob D. Antonio was there. The friendly man greeted my Dad, and from the car, I could hear them talking about “the new guide book” he was working on. I later found out Bob D. Antonio was a legendary climber of Shelf Road and author of numerous guide books. From that moment on, he was one of several real characters that came to life at Shelf Road.
It was great to be outside
with family & friends again. We hiked into the Contest Wall where more old friends and acquaintances were surprisingly enjoying the sunny fall day. An aspiring writer, I jotted down notes about the day and took some photos, then it was time to climb! I stepped onto the rock for the first time in years.
Bob D. Antonio was doing the first ascent of the route they had just set, Digital Underground, while I climbed the 5.8, Time Square. While it was thrilling to be on the ro
ck with such a local legend, the experience of climbing again was one of greeting an old friend whom you know like the back of your hand. It was like seeing this friend again after years apart. The intensity of the rock was exhilara
ting. The moment I gripped it and began to climb I found within myself skillful talent that had lain dormant. Every move seemed so meant to be, flowing effortlessly as I climbed quickly, smoothly, and gracefully. The skills came back like riding a bike, as though I was born to climb. Through profound moments of deep connection with the cliff and the outdoors I found great clarity.
The day went on and Mom, Dad & I all got some climbing in. While I belayed Dad, Mom and I enjoyed the beautiful warmth of the Colorado canyon. After the climb, the camaraderie of the Shelf Road crew was classic.
The next route we climbed was over on Freeform Wall.
We set up shop right next to Sonja and her friends from the gym. The route we were doing, Blarney, was a 5.9. Remembering Baxter’s Pinnacle years ago in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, 5.9 still seemed like a distant feat to attempt. After Dad flawlessly and carefully ascended, it was my turn. I was solid on it! Though there was some serious commitment to completing the climb, it was done with strength. At times when a move really needed to be made, I pumped a burst of energy into it. Moments came in waves where my heart beat against the grandiose wall and the breeze caressed the rock I embraced lovingly. Topping out the climb, we decided we were done for the day. Two skillful climbs were plenty for us!
Upon leaving, Sonja was nearing the ascent of a difficult 5.10 or 5.11 climb her friends had been making their way up. Though we left her then and there, I let her know I would genuinely have enjoyed watching her climb it and wished her the best on the challenging route.
Mom, Dad, & I returned to the car where the keys were locked inside. With a little bit of creative street smarts, we managed to break in. I ended the day at Shelf Road by taking a minute to do a water color painting of the beautiful evening landscape.
Driving home, the three of us reminisced the deep connection with nature I was raised with. We rediscovered that core characteristic of our family on the rock that day.
