Monday, April 02, 2007
[[ Thanks "THE NEW PAPER" for selecting me! ]]
The last time I woke up as early as 6am was 3 weeks ago.
But this time, it was worth waking up.
It was something I'd regard to as a golden opportunity:
I didn't manage to get the usual 8-hour of sleep the night before (yup..I was having sleep deprivation! too excited, I guess!) but with the help of Yani's "energy all day" pills, it literally got me all geared-up for the day..(thanks gurlfren!)
I was in a group of 9 and we had two instructors with us - Ernest and Iswandi.
Ernest was one of those guys who attempted Mount Everest for the NUS Centennial Everest Expedition back in 2005. So in a way, it was great to have met him in person.
We had a short classroom session that includes the introduction of ice climbing as well as the tools and equipment that's being used.
After class, we were asked to try out those SALOMON ski boots (love the colour!). Then we each slipped into a harness, adjusting it to our individual body shape. Once that's done, it was time to put what we learnt, to practical use.
Vertical ice climbing's done with crampons (below left) and ice axes (below right).
Crampons are made from spikes and are worn on boots to provide traction on snow and ice whereas an ice axe is a multi-purpose mountaineering tool.
So below, we have Ernest and Iswandi showing us the technique of "front pointing" in which the climber kicks his legs to engage the front points of the crampons in the ice, and then swings the axe into the ice above his head.
Iswandi making sure everything's all tight and secured before I make the climb.
MY FIRST BABY "ICE" STEPS!
(see..told you I love the colour!)
When all 9 of us got the hang of ice climbing,
it was competition time!
We cheered, we clapped, we had fun!
Right after ice climbing,
we were given special entry to the air-conditioned Rock Wall Climbing Gymnasium!
Though we were pretty worn-out by then, it didn't stop us to do MORE climbing!
Well you know what they say: Once you start, you can't stop!
The slope that takes us to the 2nd floor:
2nd level:
Every good thing must come to an end.Unfortunately.At the end of the day, "the new paper" gave each of us a goodie bag filled with, of course, a whole lot of goodies! 
Here with "the new paper" reporter..it was great knowing her!
And of course, how can I not thank our instructors for such a splendid day?
Thanks Ernest & Is!
Ice Climbing's extreme but you guys made it rewarding!
"You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again.
So why bother in the first place?
Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.
One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.
There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up.
When one can no longer see, one can at least still know."
— René Daumal.
Labels: ICE CLIMBING, SAFRA Adventure Sports Centre, THE NEW PAPER
[[ 0 voice(s) heard]]
| 1:30 AM |
This is not the end.
This is not even the beginning of the end.
It is, instead, the end of the beginning..
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