On Rock
Walking to the Wall is the hardest part.
The air is cool and the leaves dance through the sky as I set out. My body and hands are warm, but my ears and nose feel like they are about to chip away with the cold. Regardless, I take the long way to the Wall. I’d be too early if I took my normal route: down the hill, past the cemetery, through the back door, and into the long hallway that leads to the Wall.
I reach the front entrance just in time.
I wait for Emma to unlock the front door and the gate to the office, then the cabinets, then for her to switch on the computer and start the music. Everyday we play a different kind: yesterday we played some 70s rock, and today we’re playing some indie music. As it begins to play through the speakers, the gym comes to life.
Finally, it’s time to climb: On Rock.
No one's coming in for a couple of hours (the new rules say no rope climbing until five and the Wall is usually dead until then), so Emma takes the chance to get some personal climbing in and to try out the new routes on the center wall. She sits down and puts on her shoes, then turns to me and says, “Watch the front for me.”
I nod and she walks to the Wall. Leaning against the glass, she studies it, thinking about the Beta for the new routes and testing the positivity on some of the holds. Finally, she dips her hands in her chalk bag and pats them together.
Climb On.
After couple of hours only a few people have come in to climb, but when five hits, climbers cover the Wall. I’m watching them from where I sit on the dark blue chair in the office. Currently there are exactly fifteen climbers (which I know because the max capacity of the wall is fifteen, and we aren't letting any more in). As always, there are many different types of climbers with completely different experience levels. Some just want to boulder, some want to top rope, and some want to try to climb the crack.
But everyone is here for one reason: To Climb.
Two more staff members arrive at the Wall when Red and Robin come in for their shift a little early at 5:45. They all sit in the office and talk about their week, catching up and laughing at each other's climbing stories. Eventually, Red walks out onto the floor to talk with some climbers. He helps someone with Beta for one of the new routes that he’d set, giving his advice for which moves to do on each hold.
“It’s through both points: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. I got two hands of extra rope.”
“Through my hard-point. Carabiners locked. And the rope is through the right side.”
“Alright. On belay?”
“Belay on.”
“Climbing.”
“You are good to climb.”
Patrick, a regular at the Wall, steps back from the Wall, sitting near the glass with his water bottle to rest. He takes a drink. He's been climbing for about two hours now, working on a V8 boulder. After he catches his breath, he grabs his chalk bag and walks back to the Wall to try again.
Nearby, Sam, also a regular, has only been climbing for about an hour. Currently she's belaying her friend Garret, who is attempting to climb a 5.11 top rope. We watch from below as he gets stuck around the crux of the route, but finishes strong. He reaches the top and rings the bell.
Sam calls out, “Nice job!”
Garret looks down with a grin, “Alright, you can lower me.”
“Lowering you,” says Sam.
A man with long black hair, round glasses, and a white shirt stands at the center Wall, planning his route. Finally, he puts his hand on the starting holds and takes a deep breath before beginning to climb. He makes it nearly to the top, but slips on the last hold. He falls onto his back, landing with a thump on the pads, then stands up, laughing to himself and already looking back at the Wall. He pauses to take a sip of water, then walks forward to try again.
“We are closing in fifteen minutes.”
The air is cool and the leaves dance through the sky as I set out. My body and hands are warm, but my ears and nose feel like they are about to chip away with the cold. Regardless, I take the long way to the Wall. I’d be too early if I took my normal route: down the hill, past the cemetery, through the back door, and into the long hallway that leads to the Wall.
I reach the front entrance just in time.
I wait for Emma to unlock the front door and the gate to the office, then the cabinets, then for her to switch on the computer and start the music. Everyday we play a different kind: yesterday we played some 70s rock, and today we’re playing some indie music. As it begins to play through the speakers, the gym comes to life.
Finally, it’s time to climb: On Rock.
No one's coming in for a couple of hours (the new rules say no rope climbing until five and the Wall is usually dead until then), so Emma takes the chance to get some personal climbing in and to try out the new routes on the center wall. She sits down and puts on her shoes, then turns to me and says, “Watch the front for me.”
I nod and she walks to the Wall. Leaning against the glass, she studies it, thinking about the Beta for the new routes and testing the positivity on some of the holds. Finally, she dips her hands in her chalk bag and pats them together.
Climb On.
After couple of hours only a few people have come in to climb, but when five hits, climbers cover the Wall. I’m watching them from where I sit on the dark blue chair in the office. Currently there are exactly fifteen climbers (which I know because the max capacity of the wall is fifteen, and we aren't letting any more in). As always, there are many different types of climbers with completely different experience levels. Some just want to boulder, some want to top rope, and some want to try to climb the crack.
But everyone is here for one reason: To Climb.
Two more staff members arrive at the Wall when Red and Robin come in for their shift a little early at 5:45. They all sit in the office and talk about their week, catching up and laughing at each other's climbing stories. Eventually, Red walks out onto the floor to talk with some climbers. He helps someone with Beta for one of the new routes that he’d set, giving his advice for which moves to do on each hold.
“It’s through both points: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. I got two hands of extra rope.”
“Through my hard-point. Carabiners locked. And the rope is through the right side.”
“Alright. On belay?”
“Belay on.”
“Climbing.”
“You are good to climb.”
Patrick, a regular at the Wall, steps back from the Wall, sitting near the glass with his water bottle to rest. He takes a drink. He's been climbing for about two hours now, working on a V8 boulder. After he catches his breath, he grabs his chalk bag and walks back to the Wall to try again.
Nearby, Sam, also a regular, has only been climbing for about an hour. Currently she's belaying her friend Garret, who is attempting to climb a 5.11 top rope. We watch from below as he gets stuck around the crux of the route, but finishes strong. He reaches the top and rings the bell.
Sam calls out, “Nice job!”
Garret looks down with a grin, “Alright, you can lower me.”
“Lowering you,” says Sam.
A man with long black hair, round glasses, and a white shirt stands at the center Wall, planning his route. Finally, he puts his hand on the starting holds and takes a deep breath before beginning to climb. He makes it nearly to the top, but slips on the last hold. He falls onto his back, landing with a thump on the pads, then stands up, laughing to himself and already looking back at the Wall. He pauses to take a sip of water, then walks forward to try again.
“We are closing in fifteen minutes.”
"Closing time, every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning's end.”
People begin to take off their harnesses and shoes, brush the chalk off their hands and peel the tape off their fingers. Those who'd borrowed the Wall’s gear walk to the office to return the equipment so it can be cleaned. Everyone grabs their jackets, shoes, and backpacks from the shelves, and one by one they begin to leave the Wall, saying goodbye to one another and telling the staff to have a good night. The music stops. The lights go out.
Off Rock.
Off Rock.
Nathaniel Stewart Kammerman
11.2.21
11.2.21
Photographer • CinematoGRAPHER • writer
MOBILE phone928.238.0395
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