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Route Setting
By Anthony | October 13, 2011
After working at the OAC for almost 4 months, I was finally able to set a route. If you have no idea what any of this means, welcome to the world of (indoor) rock climbing.
Mood=Accomplished
Song of the Week=Someone Like You by Adele
Random=Jugs
In addition to my job at the MCC, I also work at the Outdoor Adventure Center (known as the OAC). We offer many opportunities to students including trips, equipment rentals, and clinics but we’re mostly known as “The Rock Climbing Place” by most students.
“Close Enough” – Everyone
Despite this being at Ohio State for what is my 3rd year, I only visited the OAC twice before I started working there. Since then, I’ve tried to climb at least once a week, if not more. All of that climbing is finally paying off as I’m able to climb 5.9 routes now. If that number means nothing to you, it’s because it’s the Yosemite Decimal System and won’t make sense unless you know what it is.
Well, at the beginning of the school year, one of my goals was to set a route at the OAC. Basically, each rope has three or four “routes” marked with tape. The reason we do this is so we can both set many routes for each rope, we can use each hold for more than one route, and it’s easy for the climber to see both before and during the climb. So when the wall looks like this:
It makes things a whole lot easier.
So how does one set a route? Simple: First you strip the wall (meaning you take all of the holds off of one section). Then, using ropes, a belay device (we use a Grigri), and an Ascender to climb up one rope while pulling a bucket with all of your holds, tools, and screws on the other rope and place each hold in the wall.
Like this
Afterwards, we tape it, name it, and put the difficulty.
Just like this
Afterwards, it’ll look something like this:
Like mine – The orange one
I present to you: Teh Lulz. It’s a 5.3 under the Yosemite Decimal System, which basically equates to “You might as well be climbing a ladder.” Seriously, this route is so easy that a Caveman can do it. I’ve belayed people with no climbing experience that’s made it to the top. What I’m trying to say is that anyone can climb this route including the people reading this sentence.
By the way, did I mention that I’m terrified of heights? I’m seriously, I probably climbed 20 times before I got over the fact that I was 20,000 leagues off the ground (you measure height in leagues, right?). It’s really a great way to try and overcome your fear of heights. Not that I’m going to be looking over any balconies anytime soon. Just never thought that I’d eventually be hanging on ropes with nothing but a knot and a grigri keeping me from certain doom.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering what climbing my route might look like, or you want to know how to climb it before you actually climb, you can see it here:
Lesson Learned: Climbing is fun!
-Animal
O-H! I-O!
To see how I got this job, check out Best Interview Ever
To see other things I’m learning, check out My First Quarter Without Swipes
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