Previously, all I used to think about climbing better was climbing harder, but my notion about climbing changed when I went for a climbing tour with the beginners. I realised that climbing hard was only a part of what good climbing means.

I had been a dedicated climber since the beginning of my climbing spree, learnt all the lessons and made sure if I didn’t understand any of them, I asked my trainer to help me understand.

Confusions Dodged Off

Last time, I went out climbing with a “Ladies Hunt” group where except three people, everyone was a beginner. Before the onset of the climbing session, we had a small get together to know about the team members and get comfortable with them. There were two of the experienced people who were made the mentors for our trip. I got nervous about their presence and had a ton of questions about my ability: “What if I fell and made a mockery of myself? What if I wasn’t able to hold onto the rope passed by the climbing fellows?” These things kept on trapping my mind but finally I decided to rest all my fears and take the opportunity of being guided by them. We discussed about the safety measures and important accessories which must be carried in our kit.

Then a quick question-answer round happened which was done to check our basic knowledge about climbing. Although I was able to answer only one-third of those questions, I made sure that I learnt the remaining answers to the questions. I was confident enough to speak “I don’t know” and listen to the proper answers to the questions. After that, chit-chat talks ensured that everyone was cosy with each other. Each one of us discussed questions regarding trying of the routes. There was a lot of falling, cheering, disagreeing, and learning. The most important aspect of the event was that we all went to our homes brimming with happiness and satisfaction.

Gaining Skills

After that, the climbing session went like a smooth ride. All my fellow climbers ensured that I had gained some sound skills based on my experience. These assurances evaporated all my self-doubts and when I reflected later, I found that my self-doubts were because of my dependence on my mentors. As soon as I gained independence in following my route, I found a boost in my self-confidence. When I was made the leader of one of the troupes, there was no one on whom I can rely on, and that made me not only responsible but also scared me.

By climbing with the beginners, I realised my decision-making skills, honed my judgemental powers and it made me a better climber. These skills are something which cannot be glamorised by magazine articles or climbing videos, but they add a valuable point in my climbing experience.