Wednesday #5

I don't get it.
What is the fascination with indoor rock climbing? Is it some sad attempt to control every aspect of "the adventure"?

I've been rock climbing. REAL rock climbing. Outdoors- where you have to compete with the weather, wind, wildlife, and a vertical arena that follows no pattern and does not guarantee you safe handholds. All these aspects which make it worthwhile are removed when indoors. Hell- it's even required you wear safety gear. It's quite rare you have access to overhead safety ropes when outdoors.
To see some of these people at the rocknysium or whatever they're called- you'd think they just single-handedly climbed Everest when in fact, they were never 100 yards away from a toilet and vending machine.

Where is the challenge?

OK, fine. Obviously not everyone has the time to drive somewhere they scale an actual cliff. And yeah- it's good practice and excellent exercise. Barring my right knee and left shoulder (which I seem to have spent a great deal of my life destroying), I feel great- like I did 2 workouts at once.

But for me, the sense of accomplishment is missing. I was not able to conquor the elements, to stand atop a precipise and see the landscape below me.
It was an empty victory.