The icemen cometh

It’s good to get out of your comfort zone now and then and that is exactly what I did last week by going ice climbing and again this week by writing about it rather than my favoured topic.

To say that climbing the interior of what is essentially a massive freezer – that is in severe need of defrosting – with only a couple of axes and crampons to support my ever-increasing weight constitutes a departure from my comfort zone would be something of an understatement. I spend the majority of my days sat at a desk. That’s not to say I’m a stranger to exercise though. I play football every week and run for the train every morning – dithering is an important part of my pre-work routine – so I’m used to it and, even though I’m asthmatic, I don’t really get out of breath. This, to use a tired old cliché, was a completely different kettle of fish, however.

Me, my bloody chin and my sporty friend, Rob, in the obligatory pose...

I went along with my best mate, Rob – who is very much and ‘outdoorsy’ person who runs and cycles great distances for fun – to the 30-foot ice climbing wall in a mountain sports shop in Covent Garden. This wasn’t the first time we’d been climbing together; we actually went rock climbing and abseiling at a campsite when we were kids. One of my enduring memories of that holiday was of Rob somehow ending up suspended upside down on the abseiling tower and, rather than fretting about it, waving at everyone with a huge grin on his face.

Yep, that's me. I did it!

I think our first mistake was not to wait for the lift at Covent Garden tube station and, instead, haul ourselves up its 195 steps. Once we arrived, got kitted up had been shown what to do – several times over in my case – it was time to start climbing. Rob shot up the wall like Spider-man while I was still being shouted at for being rubbish at swinging my axes on the practice wall. Then came my turn. Gulp.

And here's Rob. Not only can he climb, he can also pose at the same time. Git

After I’d got a couple of feet off the ground, I was already thinking of making up some ailment or other to get out of it – I was bloody terrified! Telling myself to man up though, I soon got into the swing of it – until I chipped a lump of ice off the wall, quite literally taking it on the chin. Although this knocked my confidence, I somehow got up to the top, rang the bell and was helped down on my rope. The second time, after Rob had completely aced it again, I did a lot better and was starting to enjoy it. I got up to the top without too many problems and was very pleased with myself. For the third and final go, Rob tried a really nasty overhang – and despite a bit of a struggle with it, emerged victorious. I decided that this one was not for me and went for the same route I’d done before; I got half way up, lost my footing and fell off. I was left dangling in mid air with one of my axes left stuck in the wall. Oh well.

It was a fun, if knackering, experience and I’d definitely do it again – hopefully without the bleeding chin next time though. How about getting out of your comfort zone sometime soon? Go on, I dare you!