The Reasons I Love to Climb

Photo Credit: Ramon Fadli Photography

Rock climbing is a form of physical activity that has been gaining more and more interest over the years. Last year, sport climbing has been added into the 2020 Summer Olympics. Although the inclusion is somewhat controversial within the community of climbers, sport climbing is only one part of rock climbing. Personally, I am neither for nor against the addition. The reasons I love to rock climb are a lot but none of which are of glory. Before I begin stating those reason, let me just say that I do not consider myself a good climber (I knows tonnes of climbers who does it much better than me) and the reasons I state might not resonate with every climber.

There’s a lot things to learn

Learning is a never ending journey. To teach is to learn and to learn is to live but boy, is there a lot of things to learn in climbing - techniques, rock tiles, inspirational rock climbers, safety gears, safety protocols, knots, route grading, different climbing practices, bouldering, top roping, lead climbing, crack climbing, multi pitching, and list goes on and on. I still have a lot to learn.

It is social bonding session every time

You can’t climb alone. You shouldn’t climb alone. You need a friend to help you top the routes safely and to make it a fun and challenging experience. When you watch others climb, it's like seeing them dancing to the wall. You get to meet many climbers at most the sites around KL. There are a lot of climbers both outdoors and indoors. If you ask nicely , they are friendly and willing to give you an advice or two about a route you are doing, or help you more about the climbing lingoes like the ones that I have just spewed out in the previous paragraph.

Every route is different and it is about problem solving

I have an inclination towards logic and reasoning. Every route is an itching problem waiting to be scratched. Some routes are easy and some are hard. When I am in queue for my turn to climb, I would look at how solve the routes around or analyze how other climbers did them. There would be times where I couldn’t top a climb but when I do find the correct technique or move for me to do so, it is like something just clicked - a eureka moment.

It is a full body exercise

From your fingertips to your toes, almost every muscles will get a workout - finger muscles, forearm, biceps, abdominal muscles, calves, etc. and after countless number of climbs, I still sometimes strained muscles that I never thought was involved in this physical activity (This is not a good example. Please do proper stretches or warm up before loading your muscles. Although some were caused by improper technique). Also, do I need to mention that exercise is good for health?

I don’t have to compete with others

Popular sports like badminton, football, basketball has the goal of you being “better” than the other team you are playing with. There must be a loser in every game. I don’t want my happiness to be based on the expense of other’s grief. I am not against competition; many would consider it good source of motivation. My motivation also stems from rivalry - a rivalry with myself.

It is a mental challenge

I remember when I first started climbing, it was frightening. My hands would clench firmly onto the rock tiles while I fight the fear of falling at every step up. It was exhilarating when the top was finally reached. Now, I don’t even notice the height when I top rope even when the route gets tough; Only when I lead, I will get that I am psychologically challenged. Every lead route, I will have to mentally prepare myself for it. If I don’t and I got onto a tough section, panic ensues, I will grasp the hold too tightly and use up my energy more quickly than I should. An easy route becomes a tough route. That skill of controlling your fears not only assisted me in climbing but in other aspects of my life as well.

Memento mori is a Latin phrase that translates to "remember you have to die". How ironic that my biggest motivation to live life is death and in this practice of a sport, I am constantly reminded of my mortality. Hence, I wrote these reasons down and published them as a reminder to myself and to all my climber friends to keep climbing.