I was first introduced to rock climbing during the second semester of my senior year in high school. My friends invited me to a Thursday cheap night, which is a special promotion my local gym offers. I remember trying an orange V0 and genuinely struggling. I couldn’t hold onto the jug holds I now find easy, and I was terrified of being 3 feet off the ground. I was one hold away from the finish. The only things I left with that night were torn up hands and an unfinished climb. To say the least, I couldn’t sleep that night thinking about the unfinished project. After that, I went back countless times, and ever since then I’ve made great progress.
During these past two and a half years, a lot of things have changed. I learned new techniques, got 2 pairs of shoes, made many friends, trained, and most importantly learned how to enjoy the sport (whether I sent my project or not). If I told beginner climber Alex that she would be able to climb V4, do weighted pull ups, go higher than 3 feet off the ground, and find a new passion – she would probably combust.
I would highly encourage anyone to try this sport! Many people often start with the auto belays, which uses harnesses and ropes. However, I personally love bouldering, which doesn’t use those pieces of equipment. (This is the type of climbing I’m doing in the pictures above.) You can start at the UGA climbing wall! There is an indoor and outdoor wall. There’s also a local gym called Active Climbing!
If you’re not based in Athens, there are other popular gyms like:
