Lucky just returned from a weekend spent rock climbing in Chamonix. It's surreal that the best bouldering in the world is in the Fontainebleau forest, and some of the best bolted alpine routes are just a few hours' drive away. Experiencing these aspects of life in France has been extremely pleasureable.
I don't know much about climbing outdoors, having spent most of my climbing life indoors in rock gyms. Luckily, my friend E, who came along, is an experienced alpinist who taught me a tremendous amount of information over the weekend, all of which I used recovering from one serious mistake after another. What I find fascinating about climbing is the utter reliance on yourself and your partner - if you are stuck 30 meters above the ground, you have to be creative to get back down safely.
The funniest part of the trip came on Saturday. We had tried to get an early start, but after breakfast and a short stop at the equipment store, we found out that only one telepherique was open. We changed plans and chose another area to visit, this one requiring a one-hour approach from the nearest parking lot. Two hours later, we discovered that we were lost, and so had to change plans yet again. Now late in the afternoon, we reach the car and decide to return to the previous day's site. You know what happens next - when we finally doff the backpacks at the base of the crag, the skies open up and the rain starts pouring. Dejected, we return to the car, having wasted the day. Just then, E has an inspiration. "I know what we can do! There is one place that has overhanging rock that we can climb even when it's raining!" He had read five guide books and, in true consulting fashion, picked out a crucial detail that saved the day. We did get to climb after all that evening.
12:05:12 AM 
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