A helicopter flies past, a basket dangling below. Do I believe in omens? I ask myself. “What is that?” I ask Jane. “Someone must have fallen,” she answers. I look at the gentle curves in my rope as it runs from the sling on the horn down to a knot wedged in a horizontal crack several meters to my left.
I place a sling around a chicken head and clip a draw to it. By the time it’s attached to my rope, it’s below my feet. The fear cools, and I laugh to myself. Absurd. Just get to the first ring. It’s some fifteen meters above me still, and below, my belayer patiently stands on a small ledge.
Onsighting has brought me such joy and fun, but it has been a journey that’s taken some intentional work. In this article on the Climb Cleveland Blog, I want to share my experience with you in the hope you can glean some useful information and have fun onsighting the next time you go outside.
I did not create any one of these experiences on my own. My peers and mentors, the acquaintances I’ve observed, my loved ones and family, have all helped create the opportunity for me to be where I am today. The community is the hero of every climbing story.
OCF is an alternative universe where regular rules such as gravity and the linear passing of time are altered or irrelevant. Camped onsite (not including public visitors) are 18,000 staff and vendors, hundreds of whom pull off superhuman feats of love, communication, and kindness to make the Fair happen.
Logically, I knew the route was within my abilities, having one-hung it several times. Yet, I couldn’t pull myself together and make it happen. What’s worse, I stopped believing I could do it.
Since Turkey might be one of the favorite places I’ve ever been, I thought I’d pass along my knowledge so that more climbers will feel emboldened to explore this incredible country covered in rock.
Intermediate to hard sport climbing in an overhung tufa paradise is the main entrée, with a side of technical limestone face climbing. A how-to guide for climbing in one of my favorite places in the world.