On the edge: A young enthusiast tries her hand at the sport

It was 5.10 am and I yelled at Philip below ? “OK, I’m clipped to the runner, watch me now.” I was just below the crest of the ridge and had to go another 10 feet to reach the base of the ar?te. Inching up, I reached for the crest. As I pulled myself up, I heaved a sigh of relief.

Sounds Greek? This is rock climbing jargon at its purest. Philip, who climbs artificial walls, had come from Canada. We had teamed up to scale a 70-foot-something wall in Tirthan.

Getting to the top of a rock using your own strength is both challenging and exhilarating. You break out in sweat even when the temperature is close to 15 degrees. It isn’t fear, but the rush of adrenaline.

Calcutta has a high number of enthusiasts and thousands flock to Purulia and Susunia to go rock climbing in winter. There are several clubs that conduct three to four days long training camps at these places.

It helps to focus on the rock as a metaphor. Once you have learnt to climb the rock, you should look at it as an obstacle or a problem that you will have to overcome. A lot of learning comes out of this exercise.

Not only do you learn rock climbing techniques but you also become more confident in the process. To start with, you should create a mental picture of a sequence of moves akin to a mental problem that is created and then solved. The only difficulty is that the more time you take to search for the right holds, more is the energy diminished.

In the beginning

• The British started rock climbing during Queen Victoria’s reign. The upper classes took an interest in hikes and rock climbing was part of their fun. It became popular in the 1940s and 1950s when a new breed of climbers from the north of England drew attention to this sport.

• One of the attractions of rock climbing is that every climb is different. Each rock face demands that you have the ability to create a unique mental picture or sequence of moves. The beginner almost always has to do ‘bouldering’ whereby he/she is required to stay close to the ground and is never at too high an altitude to be in mortal danger.

• It is a good idea to tag along with someone for safety is a primary concern. Accidents happen most often during moments of relaxation. Lack of attention to detail can kill. So check your harness each time you climb.

• Research has shown that a girl’s body is more suited than a boy’s for climbing rocks. So if you thought this was a ‘guy’ thing, think again.

• There are artificial walls in and around Calcutta. One is at Salt lake stadium and another one is in Chandannagar. In New Delhi, the Indian Mountaineering Federation has a fantastic wall that is fitted with cables to change the difficulty level. Nehru Institute of Mountaineering has recently built a competition wall. Jamshedpur also has a competition wall and an international competition is to be held there soon.

Get, set, go

• Shoes: Modern rock boots have a smooth, flexible sole made from a sticky rubber compound. The rubber of the soles is soft. This gives a good grip. You could use Five Ten’s slipper-type shoes. But do ensure that it’s a tight fit, even if it causes discomfort. But then, this sport isn’t kind to your feet.

• Harness: Invest in a good harness and never compromise on equipment. You could use a ‘Camp’ seat harness. I personally think it is better than the body harness.

• Helmets: This is necessary if you want to do more than just ‘bouldering’. These are specially designed and will protect the most vulnerable parts of your body. It also protects your head from the loose pebbles and pieces of rock dislodged by the lead climber.

• Ropes: This is your lifeline. ‘Kernmantel’ climbing ropes of 9 mm and 11 mm thickness are generally used. I prefer the 9 mm ones as they weigh less and are easy to carry around. Use two such 45-metre ropes.