Wichita isn’t what most people call a rock climber’s heaven. Noted. However, there are a few gems around here that will keep you busy. Rock climbing isn’t something that you learn, or even appreciate, right away. It’s a gradual process, people. If you enjoy a light workout, consider sticking to jumping rope or roller skating. My friend, a meat truck who lifts weights regularly, couldn’t climb 30 feet his first time. This is exactly why I love this sport. It’s a mental and physical game. I’m no Dan Osman by any means.

My first time climbing was with my sister who weighs in at 110 pounds, soaking wet. She’s an experienced climber who can maneuver a rock like Spider-Man swings through New York City. I tried to impress her by using all my manly muscles. Lets just say I made a fool of myself. I’ve only been climbing for four months, and I’ve noticed vast improvements with myself. Just saying, it’s difficult, but like anything else you can do it with a bit of sweat and blood.

First and foremost, SAFETY! WSU is holding belay certification classes Oct. 8 and Oct. 24, seen below. You must do it in order to safely team climb. It’s literally a matter of holding someone’s life in your hands. Make sure you have all of the equipment necessary. A harness, d-ring, rope, grigri or ATC and shoes are the essentials. Make sure you know how to use all of it!

The mental game. When you’re looking at a 40- to 80-foot wall with studs and screws sticking out of it, it’s a little intimidating. Telling yourself you can do it, and not worrying about what others think, is key. If it is too scary for you, which is totally fine, start on the bouldering wall. This will help you get used to the feel of the grips and maneuvering easily. When you begin to feel comfortable, get your bad self to the real deal–with a partner of course. Partners are great for encouragement and saving your life from a deathly free fall. Choose a route that will give you a little confidence. Routes are graded on toughness and are marked in an array of colors and numbered by skill level.

Anything in the low fives is a great choice. The key after picking a route is literally staring at it and figuring out just how in the world you’re going to accomplish it. Once you’re up there, ten feet looks pretty high. This is the next challenge. Mind games will get you–don’t fall into them. Stay focused on the task, playa. Said above, get comfortable, and don’t think about if someone is watching you. They are. After all, people are curious.

Once you get a few goes at it, sticking to the routes comes naturally. Hopefully you’ll try new things and take more risks. You’re going to become fatigued and feel like you might fall. This is great! You’re pushing yourself. Your partner, if paying attention, will break your fall. Losing your grip is both scary and exciting. You know you’re secure, but the thought of falling to your death, to me, reigns supreme. That’s the mental game folks–pushing yourself and overcoming your fears.

Physicality. Do you have the mustard? If you do, spread it on thick. Rock climbing does take a bit of muscle. However, if you think you’re going to be able to pull yourself up there using your massive biceps, laugh now. It’s in the legs, save your arms for sticky situation. You’ll know what I mean when you’re holding on by four fingertips, shaking like a leaf on a tree. Try counterbalancing your body. You can’t expect to climb overhanging walls with your body off balance. Foot work is a necessity. Placing you feet in the right spot will work wonders for you. Like any other workout, you will notice your body taking on a new and improved form. This, however, only comes with dedication.

Where can I go utilize all my newly acquired climbing knowledge? Here are three superb locations to get your climb on:

1. Wichita State University’s Heskett Center has a great facility to began climbing. They offer a bouldering wall and a 20-foot belay wall that is rather challenging. Also, if you are a member or student at WSU, you can rent all of the necessary equipment for free! This is awesome, because equipment can get pricey. Also, you’re on a college campus, playa. So show off those skills!

2. The YMCA has great facilities and locations are all around town. The newest YMCA is located in Andover, a short drive that’s definitely worth it. This facility offers a life-like climbing and bouldering wall. The climbing wall stands 40 feet tall, and is inviting climbers of all skill levels. Like WSU, the YMCA offers free equipment rental, membership needed.

3. Kansas Cliff Club. This place is legit. It’s a club that is open 24 hours, so you definitely need your own equipment here. Legit! Climbing wall heights vary from bouldering to 80 feet. Bring your stamina and definitely bring some extra guts. The back wall is close to a train track. Sometimes a train will come trekking by when you’re climbing, and the wind starts kicking up and the wall begins to shake, AWESOME!

If you love a challenge and trying new things, this is most definitely for you!

I love to travel. Love it. Kansas is actually a great spot to start from, when traveling the United States. Geographically, the wheat state is not too far north and not too far south, and is neatly centered between mountains and a huge river they call the Mississippi.

This time, I chose the West Coast. I actually didn’t choose the location. I promised Julie, my good friend and ex-neighbor, that I would help her move there. Typically I would use the newly invented airplane, but my neighbor, me and my neighbor’s bulldog, Bella, piled into the Durango with U-Haul in tow.

The beautiful Bella.

After leaving Wichita, we discovered that western Kansas is not very much fun at all. In fact, I won’t even tell you about it. Skip to Denver.

Denver is a great place, a big city with lots to offer. We were gonna stay the night there, but our friend lives in Vail, so we went there and stayed for free. SCORE! This changed the whole trip. We were going to drive through Montana to Washington. Instead we went through Colorado, Utah, Idaho, East Oregon and Washington.

Let me tell you about Julie. She’s has the most extroverted, bubbly personality. You can’t walk by her and expect not to hear a HI! She’s got a great smile. However, she is the most gullible and most nervous person I know. I once stuck an orange on the bush between our duplexes, and told her it grew overnight. It still had the sticker on it, gawd! She’s also a nervous wreck. Imagine coasting down mountains, with a U-Haul trailer behind you, a bulldog, it’s snowing in June, and this girl, who is so nervous, she tries to grab your arm while you’re just trying to make it one more mile.

We made it to Vail. We made it to Provo, Salt Lake, Boise and Seattle. The sights I saw were like dreams in your deepest sleep.

Sunset, Boise Idaho

Wind farm, Idaho

Boise, Idaho. I’ll never go there again. First let me say, I am super superstitious. We ordered Chinese, I got a fortune cookie with no fortune in it. Trippy, right?! I swear, my trip changed after that. When I got to Seattle, my good friend who has lived there for eight months, the friend Julie is moving in with, broke bad news to me. Use imagination here.

Luckily for me, I have family outside of San Francisco. A beautiful place that I recommend to everyone. My sister and her boyfriend live in Berkeley. Berkeley was famous in the ’60s for the radical protests against the Vietnam war. They live in a sweet cottage nestled between two other historic hippie communes, with victory gardens and flowers blossoming freely. I rode my bike around the Berkeley campus and saw the protest grounds. You could feel the history. At least I could. The new crowd there seems to have let bygones, well, be gone. I went rock climbing, my new hobby. After three days, I was off to Las Vegas for a bachelor party.

Vegas. Hmmmmm. They don’t call it Sin City for nothin’. I had never been before. Evidently I did it right. That means spending a lot of money and not caring about anything else. Like I said, we did it right. Vegas has more to offer than gambling, clubs and booze. Night crawling. We went hiking in the Valley of Fire. A surreal, low desert scene about one hour outside of Vegas.

Valley of Fire

The Valley of Fire was so cool, we decided to do one more hike, Mount Charleston. It was something like 10,000-foot elevation where we started. We were feeling courageous when we made the decision to hike a total of six miles. We made it about a mile and a half up the mountain, but had climbed around 1,300 feet. Quite the accomplishment, considering all the variables.

Me vs. Mount Charleston

So, the past two weeks have been quite the experience. I have learned so much about myself, met people, seen things I have never seen. The full spectrum. I highly recommend traveling. Any time you get a chance, give yourself the opportunity and do it.

Like I said, Kansas is a good place to start and it always feels good to come home. As far as fortunes, and fortune cookies, it will be a while before I eat Chinese, but, through my experiences, fortunes are always building, as long as you are willing to grow yourself.

Peace, WSU!