The Art of Climbing and Climbing Art

VEGA hosted the workshops
You can see 3 of the 4 options for the climb that day. 

It seems our caving adventure in New Zealand planted a little seed with both Paul and I.  Last weekend, we drove north to Interstate State Park for a climbing workshop.  As I mentioned in my New Zealand post, I am afraid of heights, but somehow I feel like rock climbing could become a thing for me.

I want to learn how to tie those fancy knots!

It definitely helped that the VEGA guides were super patient and nice and had already taken care of all of the safety equipment.

I was super scared most of the time, but I liked it anyways!

In this photo, the guide was yelling some helpful instructions on where I should go next, but I wasn't so sure that he wasn't crazy!  You really have to use everything you can to your advantage.  Having long arms and legs helps!  And, I never realized it before, but using your hips to brace and leverage is a key factor in maneuvering some of those angled spots.  I made it almost to the top but called it quits before I got there.  As soon as I got back on the ground, I regretted not pushing it further and wanted to go up again.  I only had a chance to go up once, though, because Paul needed a turn, too!

Paul chose the hardest of the 4 routes.  He didn't need any coaching from below and he made it look so darn easy!

He also wasn't afraid of using the tree to his advantage when he got into a tight spot.

We will definitely go climbing again!

Here he is at the top! Go, Paul!

Our climbing adventure happened right next to the St. Croix River, which is flowing really full and fast due to a really rainy spring/summer season.

After the park, we ventured on to another park!  The Franconia Sculpture Park.  It was here that we enjoyed our picnic lunch and checked out the sculptures.  This park keeps getting bigger every time I go.

This two sculpture were my favorite.

The colorful sculpture is called Play Station.  It inspired us to play!  (And, it also injures little kids who try to play on it.  We watched no less than 5 kids get hurt and cry while we ate lunch nearby.)

JUMP!