Anthony:
“You’re almost up, halfway there!”
I listened to the encouraging shouts from my friend as I pulled myself over the sad imitations of rocks. As I made my way up the wall, my foot slipped on the trail of sweat and chalk my hands had left behind. I tried to concentrate on the rocks above me, but it was hard to fight the distractions around me. I heard shouts and laughter echoing throughout the gym as other boy scouts ran around in a frenzy of excitement.
I was just about to grab the next rock when “CRASH”. Startled, I slipped and tumbled to the ground, hitting my knee against the wall.
“Oh Dear!”, I said (or something like that) as I landed with a soft “thud” on the mat.
I looked up to see what the noise was and saw two boys getting up after what I thought must have been a head -on collision. I wondered if they were okay, one of them was still on the ground looking completely dazed, but before I could open my mouth, he was on his feet and running around again. I heard another soft thud as my friend jumped down off the wall.
“Too bad, you were so close” he said as I got back up.
“Oh well, maybe I’ll make it this time” I didn’t mean what I said I was really doubtful.
Back on the wall I made it about two feet up and of course, my friend was at the top, probably took him about two seconds. I probably looked really pathetic. I tried to scurry up it faster but kept slipping so I decided to stop, I was about three rocks away from the top when I noticed I had trailed away from the path of rocks and I would have to jump to reach one, I was stuck. I took a small hop without letting my feet stray too far from their footholds, it didn’t work. I had to jump so I did, my coordination failed me and I found myself lying on my back on the ground, again.
My friend sat at the top I couldn’t tell if he was laughing if he was, I didn’t blame him, I tried again: fell, tried again: slipped, tried again: bumped my head, slipped, and then fell.
I was having a bad day.
“Hey Anthony, lucky number seven!” my friend said with a grin. He was probably getting a kick out of this.
“Would that ‘lucky number seven’ be just like the ‘second is the best’ and ‘three times the charm’ or maybe even ‘the fifth try is the winning try.” I shouted back.
Although I was losing all the confidence I had, I was still going for it. I was back on the rock.
And the all the caffeine wore out.
I was so shaky I could hardly grasp the rubber holders.
Will: On the weekend of March 28th, Troop 63, Sudbury engaged in an intensive rock climbing session at MetroRock Climbing Center in Newburyport, MA. We got to climb at this 21,000 square foot facility which was absolutely incredible. There was a lot of bouldering (which featured a top-out) as well as belaying which ensured great improvement in our climbing ability as well as great fun.
I would highly recommend going on this and I hope we keep doing it.
Dan: This year I attended the AWESOME rock climbing trip. When we got to the gym in we all quickly signed in and got our shoes. Also, once you got your shoes and your harness, you could go bouldering. Bouldering is low wall climbing with no rope, but there are thick mats under the walls if you fall. Then, once everyone was ready, five or six belayers lead us to some higher climbing. The climbing was so fun I literally couldn’t keep track of the time. The rock climbing trip was probably the best trip I’ve been on.
Steven: We went on a rock climbing trip. We stopped at Wendy’s to eat and went to the place. We had free climb until midnight.
When we woke up we went to pick up trash along the beach at Plum Island as part of our community service.
It was a good time.
Graham: The rock climbing trip was a great trip because there was lots of variety of walls. Half of the time we weren’t even attached to a rope which made it really fun.
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