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Climb
here much?
Climb here much? - as experienced by S.Wong
It was just one of the many
activities my girlfriend and I were going to tackle on our week vacation in
Penticton, BC. Kathy had long been
trying to convince me of doing some climbing over the last couple of years. She, having a number of years experience, was well equipped.
I didn’t realize how demanding and exhilarating a sport it was until my first
outing. We stayed with Rick & Janna
(long time friends of Kathy’s and seasoned rock climbing veterans).
We soon saw their reasons for settling in this area of the Okanagan
Valley (other than great wineries of course).
They lived a stones throw away from Skaha Bluffs, considered one of, if
not the most premiere “cragging” spots in Canada. Pardon me, but I’m
not very well versed when it comes to climbing lingo, but I’ll try my best.
Rick outfitted me with one of
his harnesses and a pair of climbing shoes borrowed from another climbing buddy.
This was all I needed to get started.
I’m told that the equipment was to fit “snugly”, but I wasn’t
aware that this meant a size or two down from my regular shoe size for the
climbing shoes! I crossed my
fingers and hoped my feet would get used to it in a hurry. Over the week, we were able to get in 3 sessions. On the first time out, Janna and Kathy led the way and got me on my first climb. It wasn’t a problem getting off the ground at first, I was moving up the 15m cliff face quite easily. It wasn’t until half way up that my toes started to scream at me! The tightness of the shoes was starting to set in. At the same time, I didn’t want to let go of my grip, having forgotten that Kathy was belaying from below. She shouted up to me to let go
if I wanted to rest… she’ll hang on to the rope supporting me. All instincts I had were telling me to hang on for dear life.
I wasn’t that I was afraid of falling, it was more so the fear of
hitting the ground or something on the way down.
I finally shed my instinctive nature and leaned back, trusting that she
had a hold of me… and she did. I
suddenly thought, “This isn’t so bad! I
can do this!” My second wind came quickly and I managed to scramble the
rest of the way to the top. It was
a great view and somewhat of a relief. It now came time to descend
from the top and my muscles froze again. Kathy
yelled up to me again “Trust me, just sit back and walk yourself down!”
So I did just that. It was
all too strange a feeling at first; leaning back in a sitting position and
“walking” back down the face of the rock.
I had made it. My first
attempt at climbing was over. I
felt exhausted and energized at the same time… and my feet were just killing
me by now. I had to get the shoes
off. Although overly snug at first, my feet slowly got used to the shoes
as I advanced in my climbing lessons during the week. Each time I rested and watched
how effortlessly Rick & Janna scaled the walls, I knew that there was still
much more for me to learn in climbing techniques, both physically and mentally. Time to sign up for a course in the basics in climbing and
belaying. Of course, it’ll be
hard staying in an indoor gym after being out at Skaha. A good pair of climbing shoes would be nice too. Needless to say it was a great trip... each of our day sessions ended with a bottle of wine and relaxation back at the house. How could we not in BC’s Wine Country? Cheers.
Surf's up @ Long Beach... - as experienced by S.Wong
The raw power of the Pacific Ocean is inescapable and the natural surroundings are breathe-taking... and you can surf there too! What the area offers is just amazing, and all of which can satisfy any outdoor enthusiast with numerous recreational activities. Camping is abundant but always full through the summer months (reserve your spot early!). You can also pamper yourself at the various resorts and B & B's. If your on a budget, the local hostels would be your best bet. As for things to do, there are hiking and cycling trails branching off each side of the main highway. On the surrounding waters, there's fishing, kayaking, and of course, surfing and bodyboarding. And for those who just like to look at things and take pictures, there's also whale watching and eco-tours in and around the area. As for what we really want to talk about, Long Beach is surely the place to pick up on a little surfing or bodyboarding. The terrain itself makes it easy for any beginner to just paddle and go. The beaches are long and shallow allowing for anyone to "wade" out and catch an incoming wave. In fact, you can just stand in the water about chest deep and catch a wave without even knowing it (very little effort required). Without the added worry about wiping out and damaging any important body parts on some coral or rocks, you have all the time to concentrate on mastering the great tsunamis of Long Beach. The waves aren't as massive as those of Hawaii, California or Australia. In fact, the waves are perfect for learning the sport. With that in mind, there are still precautions to be taken when surfing in any condition. Natural conditions can be hazardous if not observed. Rip currents exist within the Long Beach area and they vary in strength due to the size of the waves. Pay attention to and posted signs of hazards and obey them accordingly. Another precaution to take is to make sure you're warm enough, which means to wear a wetsuit. The waters off Vancouver Island usually flows from the north (Arctic water)... in other words, COLD! The temperature of the water only varies a few degrees from summer to winter. If a wetsuit is worn, surfing can actually be done year-round. The big difference is in the air temperature. There are a few rental and lesson companies in the area, all of which have similar rates and equipment. If you're a first-timer, we highly recommend renting and taking a lesson for a day to learn the basics of the sport. There's no use in picking up bad habits from the start. It limits you in enjoying the sport fully and is more likely to get you injured. This also give you a good idea as to whether or not this sport's for you. Happy Surfing!
Windsurfing Feature
How to get into windsurfing
- By Steve Hutchison
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We mean Long Beach, Tofino on Vancouver Island,
not Long Beach, California. Of course, the latter is well known for being
a surfer's paradise. Even so, we do argue that the Long Beach on the west
coast of Vancouver Island (just south of Tofino and north of Ucluelet) offers a
different kind of paradise... so to speak. The area surrounding and
including the beach is the world renowned Pacific Rim National Park.
