| You probably are aware of rock climbing and might | | | | challenge aspect of the sport. |
| wonder why it has gained in popularity to the point | | | | Whether you realize it or not, you crave personal |
| that you now have cruise ships with walls to practice | | | | challenges. The problem these days is finding |
| on! Well, there are a number of reasons. | | | | something that is truly personal. With rock climbing, |
| Perhaps the first reason climbing is picking up in | | | | this is not a problem. It is you and whatever vertical |
| popularity is the simple fact it is done outside. You | | | | surface you are on. You either pull it off or you don't. |
| can usually find somewhere to climb that is relatively | | | | This makes it a purely personal sport that you, and |
| near to your home. This gives you that sweet | | | | you alone, can succeed at or give up. There is |
| moment in time when you are outside communing | | | | something about that which gets most people going. |
| with Mother Nature, not your cell phone, pda or | | | | This certainly isn't intended to suggest that this has |
| whatever. | | | | to be a solitary sport. Usually, you have at least one |
| The second reason many get into the sport is the | | | | other person with you. More and more people, |
| exercise factor. If you are like me, you get bored | | | | however, are pursuing it as a family outing. With rock |
| quickly if you are just doing reps or plodding along on | | | | climbing gyms popping up everywhere, it is even |
| a treadmill or some similar exercise equipment. This is | | | | growing a social side where like minded people can |
| why so many home exercise machines turn into | | | | meet. After you get proficient at the basics, you'll |
| expensive clothes hangers. With rock climbing, | | | | feel almost a Zen oneness with the structures you |
| boredom is not a problem. Even the biggest cynic | | | | are climbing. |
| gets a rush from being up in the air on a vertical | | | | Rock climbing is a great sport, but it is often hard to |
| face. | | | | explain to someone who has never tried it. If you are |
| While these are all good reasons, you can get the | | | | considering it at all, I strongly encourage you to have |
| same outdoor exercise experience a lot of different | | | | a go at it. You might just find that weekend activity |
| ways. So, what is it that sets hanging from the side | | | | you've been searching for your entire life. Just realize |
| of some vertical surface apart from other outdoor | | | | that you probably won't restrict it to just the |
| activities? Well, it has to do with the personal | | | | weekends! |