Since my last post I have worked one group enrollment (GEP) course for a private school group and I have participated in a NCOBS staff women's climbing camp. The course was much like the first GEP I did this summer, except this one only had 3 crews going out instead of 12. The real reason I'm posting though is to share about the climbing camp. The climbing camp was located in Hidden Valley near Abingdon, Virginia. We went from August 31st through September 4th, so we definitely caught the tail end of Labor Day car campers and climbers. Despite this, we had no trouble getting a car camping spot or getting on the climbing areas we wanted. The weather was perfect for the whole time at the camp, it was clear and in the 70s every day. I don't know if that was just lucky or how it always is, but it was beautiful. This camp was great for a number of reasons. First of all, I got to climb a lot. It was 4 days straight of climbing basically as much as we wanted to. There were a few workshops mixed in, but generally we just got to be on the rock the whole time, it was lots of fun. Second, it was fun to hang out with the group of ladies that went. We hung all of our hammocks in camp and would have fires every night... it was really a pleasurable experience camping, a nice contrast after a summer of camping with students on course. Third, this camp was great because I finally got my first trad lead. Traditional, or trad, climbing is a type of climbing that needs a whole different skill set than I've ever used before, so it's been slow to learn throughout the season. Trad involves placing protection in the wall as you climb it, using camming devices and stoppers, so if you fall, you fall until your last piece of protection catches you. During this camp I got to do some mock-leading (where you're actually on a top rope but practice placing gear and clipping in a second rope) and real leading which was a huge goal of mine for the summer. I am looking forward to using this new skillset for many years to come. In conclusion it has been a great end of August and start to September. Now officially in my first fall season of freedom, I am enjoying the shorter courses and professional development packed breaks. Basically from now until the middle of December I am in a constant transition as my fall will see many diverse activities and places and my winter will bring an entire new lifestyle. I am loving all of it and still happy to be outside.
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