On belay...?

I spy with my little eye something white... snow?!? This morning we woke up to snow falling from the sky- apparently noone told the Rocky Mountains that the summer solstice (which marks the official start to summer) is tomorrow! Nevertheless, we geared up for another day of diving into the challenges that Outward Bound threw at us. After a filling breakfast and something resembling "yoga", we piled into the vans to head to the training site of the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army (I goofed the name in the last post- my apologies!)


Best part of meals? The students set up and clean up everything as a team!

We drove over some snow covered alpine passes to arrive at less than ideal rock climbing conditions- it was wet, cold and raining. Everyone's spirits were a little low as we got out of the vans and circled up at a field opposite the cliffs. I personally have rock climbed for over 7 years and it was the worst conditions I ever seen for teaching people to climb in.

Circling up to start the day's adventure.

Have you ever seen Mr. D'Alesandro NOT smilling??

Freddie preparing mentally for the challenges of the rock.

PSA makes its way to the cliff face.

Nevertheless, PSA tackled the cliffs without hesitation! The OB instructors taught students how to tie a proper figure 8 knots, belay and back each other up. Students mastered the techniques in no time and then EVERYONE tied in and climbed as far as they could on the sheer cliff face, despite the periodic rain and damp cold. Many students and staff made it to the top of the climbs and some even took the extra challenge of doing it blindfolded! Check out some action shots below...


Desirea rock climbing blindfolded (she made it to the top too!!)



I have no idea how Haley has kept her nails that nice this long- but great figure 8 knot!

Matt scaling the cliff on the left (nice pants!)

Marquisha (knot tying master) showing Ms. LeGault how to tie the figure 8





Belaying as a team! The PSA way :)

Taylor far off the ground and climbing for the top!

Dimaisha, Taylor and Marquisha trading stories about the climb- they all made it to the top!



Joe running up a climb in the flashiest rain gear of the day!

By lunch, everyone was in high spirits and the sun was starting to peak out. We enjoyed our bag lunches and each other's company. Then it was back to the cliffs for more rock climbing and a new challenge: rappelling. While rock climbing involves climbing from the bottom to the top of a cliff, rappelling involves lowering yourself from the top to the bottom of the cliff. This was an entirely new challenge- both physically and mentally. Many students and staff found the hardest part to be taking that first step off the side of the cliff: every part of your body is screaming "No! This is a bad idea! Why step off a perfectly nice piece of solid ground?!?" while your mind is determining the difference between real and percieved risk (something the OB instructors have been focusing on). Kind of like life, eh?

A huge number of students and staff took on this new challenge and successfully faced their fears and went farther than they ever thought possible. A few students even went for multiple rappels! There is many more photos and even some video (gasp!) to follow but in the meantime, this photo and video are worth looking at...


Desirae taking that first step...

Marquisha and Uzziah finishing the rappel together!

Tomorrow we are up bright and early to hike into the mountains for three days and two nights. The OB staff spent this evening issuing us all our gear- tarps, sleeping pads, backpacking backpacks, cooking gear- "the start of the luxurious life" as Uzziah so aptly put it. The students are nervous but excited for the challenges that lay ahead- including pooping in the woods (that's what the little shovel is for??) We will be attempting to summit one of two possible peaks on Wednesday- wish us luck! I won't be able to post until Thursday evening at the earliest but trust me- the next few days are going to be quite the adventure :)