Escalando

I received an invitation to go climbing last weekend from Iván the guide with whom we climbed Chachani. I gladly accepted as it was not only a chance to go climbing, but a chance to get out of the city and see something new. I met him at the shop, along with a couple of his friends, and we proceeded to pull out gear-harnesses, ropes, biners, cams, quickdraws, belay devices, grigris. Iván even had a pair of shoes I could borrow. But there are very few people here in Perú with feet like mine. The biggest size Iván had were 46: I wear 50. But they worked, and ultimately I was able to climb.

We hopped on a combi and rode up to a neighborhood that doesn´t see many gringos. We exited the combi on a corner where families had set up tables and sell food to the drivers as they make their rounds. The chicos looked on in awe as I stood there, all 2 meters of me. They giggled in amusement at the circus show that I brought to their barrio.

We walked up a gravel road to the end of the barrio. At the end of the barrio, there are plots of land that people just claim as their own. There isn´t much electricity and no plumbing, but people build stone fences and then stone houses on which they put a tin roof. It´s a very poor section of Arequipa, and impacting not only the health of the people there but also the health of the desert upon which it boarders.

Further up, we came to a cut through the ground in which a huge canyon just appears below. We climbed down a bit into a smaller section, and found a spot that Iván and co. had installed a few bolts in the rock. Iván got on, and made his way up the route, putting up quickdraws so we could toprope. I hop on next, and suddenly am reintroduced to climbing. After a quick move at the beginning that took me a couple of tries, I found myself face-to-face with lateral move with teeny fingerholds, and a jump to put my right foot where my left was already standing. I looked at the rock, concentrating. All I wanted was for a hold to appear, to emerge out of the rock, and somehow I thought that the more I looked, the more I concentrated, it would form itself for me. Nope. I made the move, and missed. After a few more tries, I threw in the towel. I wanted to climb more and didn´t want to wear myself out.

We hiked down to the mouth of the canyon and looked up to see 50 meter walls on either side. Iván had a few climbs bolted and ready to go. He took us to one called "Chocho Loco", Crazy Ass. He cruised up easily, and I followed. Huge holds, but with a slight inclining angle off to the left. Having not climbed in over 3 years, it was perfect for me. Working through a few tight spots, I could feel adrenaline hitting me. I met Iván at the top, and we set up the rappel. I also forgot how much control the mind has over your body and how easily and quickly it can act, as the height got to me a bit. But no hay una problema. On the ground, I helped Carlitos and Luz work their ways up the rock and relaxed.

Darkness was approaching as we made our way out of the canyon. We passed a buho-owl-sitting on a cactus. We came across a bouldering problem which we all gave a shot. My hands and arms were shot, so I resigned to take some pics. We continued on after the bouldering, and exited the canyon to see the lights of Arequipa shining as the oranges and purples and reds shone beyond. We walked down to catch the combi, said hello to the chicos again (who laughed some more), and rode back into town. I got home and after another great meal with the fam, enjoyed a restful nightful of sleep.

More pictures HERE.