Rock Climbing

Today was amazing. I absolutely loved it. A group of us went rock climbing (all blind) in the mountains near Golden CO. It's been years since I did a little bit of it in a rock climbing gym and never in the real outdoors. Certainly not without sight. I went second on the medium difficult rock and had so much fun. I couldn't see the rock and yet I was able to develop a way of feeling the rock and becoming "intimate" ith it if you will. It was challenging and hard but I totally soaked up all the praise from everyone and loved hearing "she's a natural", "look at those moves ...she's so flexible", "wow I am amazed", "girl you're a beast", etc. The rock climbing guides absolutely loved me and wanted to see what I was capable of beyond that and took me onto a very difficult rock b/c it has such a smooth surface with hardly any hand holds or foot holds. It was hard to climb and there were several times I had to literally pull my whole body weight up by my arms to grab at a ledge or small crack I couldn't even see. I did it and I am ecstatic.

It felt like I could do anything with or without vision. I had a number of scraps, bruises, gashes and such but to me they are like a badge of honor.

We also went on a nature trail hike afterwards under blindfold. I was walking pretty fast and feeling all confident but kept gravitating to the river b/c it sounds like water is running all around me with my hearing loss. Brenda would stand between me and the river so I wouldn't end up swimming. It was enjoyable and I could smell the trees, feel the ground, and didn't feel all that blind even though I couldn't See.

On the way back to the van me and Brenda were trying to help each other up a hill and were stumbling all over each other. Such blind grace. HAHA ...I thought it was hilarious...except perhaps the part where as soon as I got up off the hill I smacked into a pole and gashed my nose. Now I'll look like Rudolf. Small price to pay for such an awesome day.

I needed a day like today...it's been a rough few weeks for me and this was like medicine for the soul. Boy I am such a sap!!!