Up, up & away !

I headed up to Katoomba today for my rock climbing course. From misty, foggy & downright cold Katoomba we headed to Mount York which is on the very western edge of the Blue Mountains where it was cool & fortunately dry - the sun from time to time came out before hiding behind the clouds again.



Let's see - the first thing I did was step sideways off a ledge & abseil down a 25m cliff - the first time I've ever abseiled. And then I climbed back up said cliff - the first time I've climbed outdoors & we started on a 25m climb. OMG. The second climb I struggled with & didn't make it to the top. And the third - the subject of the photos - involved my instructor climbing up first & once he was at the top, I followed, removing the equipment from the wall as I went. It is such a head game - I kept telling myself that I had to control my thoughts - I was safe, I had to trust the rope & footholds (some of which were no bigger than a 50c piece) & to use technique rather than sheer strength to get me up the wall. I came off the wall twice & have a rather large lump on my right shin to show for it. Quite simply it was scary & exhilarating - talk about an adrenaline rush !

I am absolutely exhausted now - mentally & physically. After a baked dinner (thanks Mum!) I am going to sleep very soundly tonight :-)

A few photos - further evidence of my insanity Tesso :-)







This woman was climbing the same wall - of course with more skill, efficiency & technique than me. But this photo gives you an idea of the height I was at when the other photos were taken....