One of the most amazing sights during our California visit was seeing Ella, who's still only 4 and a little bit on the shy side, climbing high up a wall in a climbing centre called Planet Granite in Sunnyvale not far from where Emily and her family live in Silicon Valley and if we'd had the time I wouldn't have minded having a go myself.
Basically the cavernous facility comprised lots of high walls with toe-holds, places to wrap one's fingers around and cracks where one could lever oneself up the walls. Climbers mostly used harnesses tied to ropes to ensure their survival in case of slippages! However, some walls enabled people to climb free-style unaided by ropes.
The rest of this post is dedicated to Ella's extra-ordinary skills and Flynn's attempt at free-style climbing. We started by attaching a harness to our intrepid climber, and then rope.
Off we go and rise steadily higher. Although tied to a rope, Ella barely needed use of it. It was there to prevent a dangerous fall in case of mishap. In essence, she did not need the rope to find her way to the top!
Arrival!! Just look at how high up she is!
Back on ground it was time for a short refreshment.
Ella climbed the high wall at least twice, but then we headed off to a much lower climb without ropes for security. This time any slips were cushioned by a bouncy mat. Well, it was Flynn's turn to try climbing but he didn't get far which one might expect for someone who has just reached the great age of three.
Ella was much more successful and made it to the top with a little bit of parental guidance.
Flynn tries again, but with little success.
Please give them some applause - in Ella's case for showing great skills and courage. Perhaps she'll become the youngest person to climb the north face of the Eiger! For those not in the know, this treacherous wall in the Alps rises to 3,970 m (13,000 feet) and the last 1800 m (5,900 feet) are just about vertical. I reached close to the top of that wall a few years ago, but must admit I cheated! I rode the train up the Jungfrau and towards the end of that journey we stopped in a station, alighted, and walked to a hole carved out of the mountain to admire the stunning view below.
AS
Basically the cavernous facility comprised lots of high walls with toe-holds, places to wrap one's fingers around and cracks where one could lever oneself up the walls. Climbers mostly used harnesses tied to ropes to ensure their survival in case of slippages! However, some walls enabled people to climb free-style unaided by ropes.
The rest of this post is dedicated to Ella's extra-ordinary skills and Flynn's attempt at free-style climbing. We started by attaching a harness to our intrepid climber, and then rope.
Off we go and rise steadily higher. Although tied to a rope, Ella barely needed use of it. It was there to prevent a dangerous fall in case of mishap. In essence, she did not need the rope to find her way to the top!
Arrival!! Just look at how high up she is!
Back on ground it was time for a short refreshment.
Ella climbed the high wall at least twice, but then we headed off to a much lower climb without ropes for security. This time any slips were cushioned by a bouncy mat. Well, it was Flynn's turn to try climbing but he didn't get far which one might expect for someone who has just reached the great age of three.
Ella was much more successful and made it to the top with a little bit of parental guidance.
Flynn tries again, but with little success.
Please give them some applause - in Ella's case for showing great skills and courage. Perhaps she'll become the youngest person to climb the north face of the Eiger! For those not in the know, this treacherous wall in the Alps rises to 3,970 m (13,000 feet) and the last 1800 m (5,900 feet) are just about vertical. I reached close to the top of that wall a few years ago, but must admit I cheated! I rode the train up the Jungfrau and towards the end of that journey we stopped in a station, alighted, and walked to a hole carved out of the mountain to admire the stunning view below.
AS
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