The first few times I went climbing at Rattlesnake Point I was a beginner.  I was quite freaked out by the physical effort required, the heights and mind fuck of falling on rope.  The higher up I managed to climb the more disconcerting it all felt.  That was then…

After a few years of training at a climbing gym I have come back to the area and it was a completely different experience.  Yesterday I climbed the same walls that I did before and I had an absolute blast.  Fun!!!

I think the big difference was ascending felt better.  Mentally, going up was “right”.  With each new crank upward I felt lighter and happier.  The result was much less emotional tension.  No anxiety.  Just hard work, and that was no problem.

I trusted the anchors we placed and could commit to (for me) really hard moves.  85 vertical feet later I could look out from the top out at the beautiful Ontario countryside.   Mount Nemo off in the distance and the evening sun setting.

I like when my 47 year old body comes through for me.

I managed two climbs that afternoon.  I also shot some footage for the documentary.  Hanging halfway up the wall on the second climb I filmed some first person thoughts about conflict and friendships, Europe and family.  That sort of stuff.