Rock Climbing in NH

In summers past, I've managed t0 miss opportunities to play outside and enjoy the sun. New England gets all 4 seasons definitively, meaning that our brief time in the warm sun should be seized. This year, it's been my goal to do lots of seizing (slathered in SPF 45, of course).

A recent addition to my list of activities is outdoor rock climbing, which a fellow hasher dragged me into. And by dragged, I mean she casually mentioned it and told me about some awesome climbing in Rumney, NH. Anyway, imagine being hooked into a harness, hanging from a rope, 50 feet off the ground trying to figure out how to scale a rock face. It's challenging both physically and mentally, rewarding and offers up plenty of camaraderie. Also, the view at the top ain't bad.

The drive up to Rumney, NH is about 2 hours and I did it all on my lonesome to meet up with the hasher, Deeley and her friend, Shelby. Deeley is crazy experienced and climbed all the routes initially to get the rope up to the top of the rock, which is how we were belayed. She's also enthusiastically helpful, whether you want it or not. Shelby was no slouch on the rocks either. The trip was worth it for the climbing, the weather, the view, the conversation and the pictures.

Here's Shelby about to be belayed by Deeley on a 5.2 climb.

On my way up the rocks of Rumney, this was my hardest climb of the day.

Coming down is the easy part.

Here's Deeley in action, leading a route for the rest of us to climb.

I've caught the climbing bug and hope to do a lot of it as the summer goes on. If only this damn rain would stop...