Category Archives: Rock Climbling
See Ya Later 2012
As 2012 draws to a close, I start to reflect on the year that has been. All the crazy stories and adventures that have come out of it. Motorcycle trips, mountain biking, mountain hiking, wake boarding, 5k’s, sailing, kayaking, white water kayaking, canoeing, camping, indoor rock climbing, and many more. See the 2012 review in pictures below!
Before we look at 2012, here is a flash back to 2011.
Soooo drum roll please….2012 you sexy beast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sailing, did A LOT of sailing, both racing and play sails:
Sailed on a catamaran (for the first time):
Indoor rock climbing:
Climbed over some real rocks at Rock City in Chattanooga, TN:
Motorcycle trip from FL to GA to TN to NC and back to FL:
Motorcycle camping trip to south Florida:
Ice Skating in a tent in FL:
Wrestled an alligator:
The Color Run – The Happiest 5k on the planet:
Climbed to the top of a sailboat mast:
Visited Fontana Dam, NC:
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Day 1 – Waterfall Canyons Hiking
Yesterday’s main event was hiking Waterfall Canyon!
The link above is 100% right on. The beginning of the hike is pretty easy. The only “challenging” part for the first half of the hike is that it is going uphill. The scenery is AMAZING!! Perfect photo ops and two girls being silly moments!
The start of the trailhead
You can see the storm starting to roll in on the left, and yes, the storm did hit us the minute we got to the top!
Mountains everywhere
Sometimes you just NEED to do a cart wheel, even if it is on a bridge that is on a mountain
The higher up we trekked, the rockier and more beautiful it got
The more we worked out way up, the more the dirt trail seemed to disappear. There was one point where are all you are hiking is rocks. Hello strenuous part!
Earlier this week when we were researching where we wanted to hike and what other activities we wanted to do, I came across a review of Waterfall Canyons where a gentleman stated he brought his small children. I don’t recommend small kids on this trail. The beginning does give the illusion that it will be easy but up toward the top, it is more than a small child can handle. Heck, I slipped a few times!
The further up we got, the quaint creek on the side of the trail became louder and louder. We knew we were getting close at this point!!!!
The excitement was building as we were almost there, almost at the “spectacular 200ft waterfall!!
Then we arrived at the top to see…this:
The waterfall we climbed all the way up to see, um, where is the waterfall!?!?!?!
Um, where is the waterfall?!?! Apparently, mother nature decided that we didn’t need a waterfall that day 
Just as we made it to the top, the storm hit. The wind picked up tremendously and the rain started. Time to make our way back down the mountain.
Turns out, the rain never got beyond a heavy drizzle. Quite perfect for hiking downhill as it cooled us off just enough and made everything around us glisten, so pretty!
Coming down hill in the rain
The storm passes
Overall, opinion on Waterfall Canyon: FANTASTIC!
It provides a scenic hike and gradually builds in difficulty. I have done harder hikes in Arizona but this one is strenuous as you approach the top. Again, I don’t recommend small kids but if they are active and over 8 or 9, I don’t see there being an issue. We did run into a family while hiking there and the son looked to be 11 or 12. So for little bit older children it is fine.
Hopefully the day you go though, there is actually a waterfall to see 
After hiking, we went to a local restaurant, The Oaks, to enjoy a tasty beverage and a late lunch. My beverage of choice, Apricot Beer. Every since I tried one a couple of weeks ago after sailing on the trimaran, I have craved another one! Craving satisfied.
Apricot beer with a view
On our way home we did come across this…
Random waterfall on the side of the road
Waterfalls and mountains make to wonderful things
Climbing the Walls
Literally!
Last summer during one of my friend Samantha and I’s kayaking trips, we randomly met this girl that was standing on the side of the river. We starting talking to her, thought she was cool and invited her to join us for lunch. Ever since then, we all try to meet up at least once a month for dinner.
Last month it was sushi at Samari Blue (hands down one of my favorite places!!!)
Talks of the January dinner came up but I decided we needed to mix it up a bit. I thought indoor rock climbing was a brilliant way to do that!! The girls were down, so we made it happen.
Florida is lacking in the mountain area so indoor climbing is the closest thing we got going on. Back on the September trip to Chattanooga, we were scheduled to go rock climbing after our caving venture. However, the was an unfortunate locking of the keys in the trunk of the rental car. We were rescued by the locksmith just in time for us to miss the window to make it on time to the climbing place
That’s a whole other story that I will get to sharing (hopefully soon).
Vertical Ventures is our local indoor climbing place. It is also located about 5 minutes from my work, how convenient!!
Sam and Jessica haven’t been climbing before so I got to show them the ropes (seriously, no pun intended there).
We all had to rent climbing shoes and a chalk bag. I have a chalk bag/chalk at home and wouldn’t you know it, I forgot it! Hate when that happens. During your first visit, they recommend you come with a friend and take the intro class. This intro class includes the belaying lesson.
Since we were just going to free climb tonight the girls didn’t do the belaying lesson. When we go back, then they will take the belaying and we will climb to the ceilings!!! Free climbing lets you climb up to the orange line that is about half way up the climbing wall.
Instead of climbing up, it is fun to climb around. We pick a spot on the wall and climb right seeing who can make it the fastest, or catch the person in front of them.
Jess and Sam
There is also a big “mountain” in the middle of the gym. When you get to the top, you can either climb back down or climb over the top. Always climb over the top, it is just so much fun!!!
So much fun but I look way to serious here!
When I get back on the wall it always reminds me what muscles I haven’t used in a while! Also makes me realize how OUT of shape I am with climbing. I was never really amazing at it but some of the people that climb there are out of this world!!!
Warming up
Almost there!!
Why climb down when you can jump?!
And this is where that theory got me one of those times. Thank you mat for being there to catch me!
Going for the challenge
