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BEEN THERE DONE THAT:
ROCK CLIMBING IS CHALLENGING |
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The last time I went rock climbing was 2011, when I was in the eighth grade at Nativity Catholic School in Indianapolis.
It was a two-day trip to CYO Camp Rancho Framasa in Brown County. I was there with my classmates and my dad was a chaperone. Late one day, we were trained to climb via ropes with the help of the staff. When it was my turn, I froze, I couldn’ t make it to the top.
From that a little-to-thrilling experience, I ventured to try rock-climbing – indoors this time – at the Clark County Family YMCA. I went inside and looked up at the 40-foot wall. I was awestruck by the size of the wall with different colored holds for hands and feet.
There I met Melissa Wilson, the Associate Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Louisville and Floyd County Family YMCA. She was my belayer( i. e. spotter). She showed me how to keep the ropes, which helped kept me from falling, tight with two figure-eights and another tight spot.
After my first attempt up the wall, Wilson helped find me some rock-climbing shoes. The shoes I tried on helped me keep steady on the wall and climb up farther.
I took a few more attempts up the 40-foot wall, but could never reach the top. However with each attempt, I gained more confidence and with that, more height. I made it up to 15 feet, or 37.5 % of the wall.
In my second experience of rock-climbing, I learned a few things: 1. It takes more lower-body strength than upper-body strength; 2. Having confidence is key, as is having good communication with your belayer, if I didn’ t believe in Wilson, then I would not have been able to climb at all.
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Contributors |
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Once again, we have been there and done that! |
Chris Morris is a former editor at the News and Tribune. Chris, a resident expert on all things sports, will write a feature called“ Looking Back” in each issue of News and Tribune Sports Magazine. He is currently employed at Baptist Health Floyd. |
Rebecca Carlton-Mielke teaches in communication studies at IU Southeast and serves on the Sellersburg Parks Board. |
Brandi Jones is a seasoned marketing and design professional who leads the marketing team for a local engineering firm. She regularly contributes her graphic design skills to the News and Tribune, Floyd County Parks and Recreation and other clients. |
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PAGE NO. 6 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE JAN / FEB 2026 |