Having the right equipment!

Notice the lack of crampons, honey can you run to the store and pick up some crampons for me!

Steve doing some icy route finding!

Myself goofing around on some additional building ice!

Whether its a lack of money or resources, we always run into situations where we have to make do with what we have. In times like these, its best to gather whats available and improvise. Today I had my first participants on the ice climbing wall since becoming the Director. We use old mountaineering boots, a miss match of both technical foot fang crampons and black diamond mountaineering crampons, and share one set of ice tools. This suits us well because only one participant can climb at a time. Sure it would be nice to have the fanciest gear but instead we have gear that works and we make the best out of it and guess what, the participants have a hell of a good time! I work with youth that never in their lives would have dreamed they would be climbing a huge popsicle.
I recall another instance, when I was a videographer for a christian sports camp, when I had to construct a miniature light studio to film a set. I had no lighting equipment and no means to purchase any so I ended up using a headlamp, a desk light, and a piece of cloth as a backdrop in the corner of my office/editing suite. It was not phenomenal but it worked and the viewers thought the production was great.
On the contrary, some equipment cannot be sacrificed or mismatched together. For example having the right climbing gear for specific climbs or the right clothing to be outside in -5 degree weather for 4 days and nights. Another example is biking equipment. I bought a road bike over the summer and I knew that if i did not buy padded shorts to ride in i would not enjoy riding so I went ahead and made the purchase of the shorts the day I bought the bike. I have found that if I know I will truly use a piece of equipment, no matter the price ( I look for the best deals possible or buy things when they are on sale ahead of time) I will make the purchase. I once worked on a construction team in florida and if we ever needed a tool or supplies the contractor would send one of us to the store to pick it up. If you are going to do a job you might as well do it right and have the right equipment.
Now I know that my bike will eventually breakdown, my padded shorts will wear out, my climbing equipment will get old and the construction I did will eventually be destroyed for something else to be built. The point is nothing is infinite, including myself. Knowing that I am finite, i know at some point I will not be able to muscle my way up climbs or climb the ice wall without crampons or ice axes. See the photo (i am using axes but not crampons in this photo). Its because of this that I am writing. Those kids that climbed the ice tower today with old ragged equipment could care less what they used, what they remember will be the instruction they received, the encouragement that was given, and the feeling they had when they reached the top of this iceberg floating in the snow outback some old building. While having the right physical equipment is either hit or miss, having the ability to motivate, instruct, and share an experience with someone is priceless. The best piece of equipment I think I have is a positive attitude, and even that can disappear if I don't remind myself from time to time how important it is. The old saying Attitude is contagious may be cliche but its not a bad reminder. As always, climb on!

Its easy just grab the colorful ones!...Route Finding

Ok sorry to start out with climber terms. On the wall, as in the picture posted, the walls at many sports and workout facilities are covered with brightly colored climbing holds. While it is always easy to spot them they are not always as easy to grab. If you think it is hard getting up a wall littered with bright neon yellow, orange, and pink holds try climbing a wall that is consistantly the same color and shadows appear to be great holds and great holds appear to be shadows on the rock. Add 1,000 feet of air and space between you and the ground and you have a real climbing experiencing, or at least the ones I long for during these wintery days. As I mentioned the routes are not as easy to find once your on them let alone getting to the base of the climb. I have found myself shwacking through mountain laurel so thick I was ready to give up all together and sell my climbing gear, maybe not all of it.
Route finding is indeed an art. In traditional climbing, you go where the rock gives you cracks to place protection. It is because of these experiences that I appreciate climbing, however not everyone can have them and for those who are not as adventurous, the art of route finding is transformed into the art of route setting. As I set multi colored holds on the climbing wall at work for my students, I can't help but think about the parallels between route finding on the rock and route finding in life.
Life is a continuous journey of route finding. I am only twenty four and have much discovering to do in both rock climbing and life. But I don't just look at my own experiences. I observe and watch others. In climbing I watch the way people move over the rocks. I see how fluid methodical movements produce great results in some situations and powerful dynamic moves fit in others. I scan the rock many times to see how the rock is formed and try and choose the path of least resistance, or most resistance depending on how bold I am feeling! I do the same thing in life, I watch others and assess their successes and failures and try not to judge or criticize, although it happens, so that I may learn about myself and how to find a better path for me to follow. I am currently preparing to train a small staff of seven people. At twenty four, almost twenty five, I am blessed to be in this position but know that I am not here by fault. It is the path I have chosen and as the rock many times leads, it is the path that has chosen me. I have seen and learned so much from the individuals around me, what to do and not to do, and I have stored that knowledge away and wait for the right moment to say "I can do this" or the humbling "I better try this another time on another day".
This is why I love it when I am climbing a new route I never know what might be around the next overhang or bulge or even what the holds might be like but that is one of the reasons I climb, to discover something. Life provides the same excitement. I never know what each day will bring. I have seen many beautiful vistas from perched positions on the sides or tops of mountains but I never choose to stay forever. There will be many others to see. I take in the part of life I am currently living, and do the best I can with each new day that is gifted to me. I have my share of rainy days and wet sloppy climbs but its in the face of adversity that forms the heart and soul of a man and I am being shaped with each moment by climbing, responsibilities, relationships, and experiences. I can't wait for the next time I rope up on the mountain or in the workplace. I also posted a photo of the ice tower with a person to give some perspective. See you on the rocks!