Opt Outside

Climbing Rocks

I rock climb, and I'm constantly learning. I finally got back into it two years ago, after having what seemed like eons off through high school & college. I mainly stuck to bouldering, because that's what I and my friends knew.

Photo: Sam Hall -- most everyone else was better than me!

I started out as a kid in the gym, but then fell out of it through High School and College. Yet that wasn't true for my brother and sister. They continued climbing through High School and college. Now they are way better than me and climb on ropes all the time! It took me two years of living in LA to jump back in. Now the past two years I've been regularly climbing in my gym and jumping outdoors when I can!

Climbing in Joshua Tree with my Brother - Photo: Luke Hall

Post thanksgiving my family and I spent time opting outside in the middle of Ohio - and it wasn't on boulders. I've always loved climbing on top rope and learning what I can about lead climbing, but I always felt overshadowed by my younger siblings.

Older siblings, you know how this feels to be less capable than them! It's odd knowing way less than others in what you find to be part of your identity.

The Siblings Roping Up - Photo: Sam Hall

I never knew that climbing outside really existed in Ohio. I only knew of the Red River Gorge in Kentucky & I only went there once to hike and climb!

Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve Climbing is a real place in Ohio and the rock is cold & covered in mud/dirt! Compared to the stuff my brother climbs in Colorado & the stuff I climb in California, Ohio rock SUCKS! It was super hard to get a solid hold on the slippery rock. But the challenge was worth it. 

My Younger Sister Leading in Ohio - Photo: Sam Hall

My younger brother and sister were always super good and had a ton
of experience with ropes (due to both working at the same camp over
summers). But the good thing is that I've learned a ton from them and
they keep teaching me. Yet learning takes time and is often a struggle.
You have to make mistakes!

Check out the possibilities that you may never have known existed in the flat Midwest: https://www.mountainproject.co...

Now would I go back? Yes!

Would it be fun in the moment? NO!

We Climbed until the Sun had gone to bed - Photo: Sam Hall

Climbing Though Life

Much of life is the same. It's never fun at the time of struggle, but the payout is worth it. Life takes a lot of hard work! It's very similar to climbing, you usually fail the first few times and eventually make it. Life also takes a lot of prep work to make it to the top of your climb.

You must trust others through life and live well with them along the way. Take a risk, dare greatly and at the same time risk it safely. Though, never stop taking risks to climb though life. Sometimes the rocks of life are hard to climb, and sometimes they don't feel like there is a solid hold (or foot). But you make it through prepared for the next climb. In the end you find the view that's worth the struggle. All of life's hardships are worth the struggle.

Now go climb through life, or a rock if necessary!