CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
Continued

I was sold. Anyone who has experienced office politics can use strategy. After a 10-minute training video at the gym and a few tips from Nancy, I was 30 feet up a faux rock face in three minutes.

The height was not intimidating because I was harnessed to a safety rope. The rope circled over a steel bar at the top of the wall, then dropped back down and threaded through Nancy's belay device (a 4-inch metal pulley that clamps the rope if it moves the wrong direction). Nancy's harness was, in turn, anchored by another rope to the ground, preventing her from lifting off the ground if I fell. If I had lost my hold and slipped, I would drop one or two feet if any slack was present in the rope. Then the belay device would clamp down, stopping my fall, and I would dangle a few seconds before resuming my climb.

Everybody slips, but nobody falls here," Nancy said.

The gym echoed with “Way to go,” “Put your feet under you,” and high fives. Four-year-olds scaled like monkeys up and down the rocks. They climbed alongside mothers and fathers of all sizes, slim to overweight. There were couples on dates and buddies of all ages enjoying a shared hobby. Some were training for the ultimate goal of climbing a mountain. Others were exercising: fast, easy climbs for aerobic conditioning and harder climbes for strength training.

Whatever the goal, nothing beats the psychological thrill of pulling yourself up by your climbing bootstraps and rising high above the ground on your own power.