Our Night Rock Climbing Experience

Have you ever done something really, and I mean really, out of your comfort zone? High heights have always been one of my biggest fears.  I went to Paris and didn’t even consider going up in the Eiffel Tower if that gives you perspective on how crippling it’s has been for me. That being said, I’ve become fairly adventurous as I’ve gotten older which has worked out in my favor when I’ve been faced with heights. Hiking, for instance, is one of my very favorite activities now and it has really helped quell that acute kind of fear I used to experience when looking down at the world below. The hubs and I regularly hike in the North Georgia Mountains and, last year, we tackled Camelback Mountain and Bell Rock in Arizona. So, while I’ve hiked up mountains, what I haven’t done yet is attempt rock climbing…until recently that is.

Megan and I were lucky enough to go on a night rock climbing excursion with Wade Purswell of Wild West Climbing during our dude ranch getaway at White Stallion Ranch and it was an experience I won’t soon forget. Let’s start with the fact that apart from the lights on our helmets, we hiked in the pitch black from the truck to the rock. That really got our adrenaline going! Thank goodness we had our hiking boots ready. Rockport’s hiking boots proved to be the perfect shoes to wear for a nighttime hike. They were both comfortable and kept our feet protected at the same time. Wade even had something to say about our smart footwear choice. Haha!

And speaking of Wade…I have to say that his calm, easy going manner instantly put me at ease, and while we were definitely out there with some major wildlife, I wasn’t uncomfortable. That tranquil demeanor did the same thing for me when it was time to tackle the rock too.

I know I said that I’m more adventurous these days, but there is still something pretty scary about relying on little more than your body strength and a rope to keep you from falling off a 40 foot high rock. What I figured out fairly quickly though was that our guide was extremely safety conscious and really took the time to explain everything that he was doing to secure the situation. In fact, he has been able to carve out hand and footholds himself because the rock is on White Stallion Ranch’s private property, whereas typically you would be climbing in a National Park.

So, when it came time for me to scramble up that well-lit rock, I was completely comfortable heading right for the top! And while Megan may have been slightly less gung ho, she totally dug deep and went way higher than she thought she could. The experience was definitely empowering for both of us!

Now you may have noticed that we rocked matching leggings. It wasn’t the first time we’ve matched, and it won’t be the last. At least this time it was intentional. Bwah! You see Raeswear was kind enough to send us both a pair of their athletic capris and they were perfect for the occasion. Not only did they keep us nice and cool thanks to the wicking/fast drying fabric, but they come equipped with a handy dandy pocket that’s perfect for slipping your phone, ID and whatnot into when you’re out on a run. Meg had our hotel room key in the waistband storage pocket the entire time we were rock climbing and it was safe, secure and comfortable. So, while they definitely worked for our night rock climbing experience, these athletic capris will definitely be worn a lot more this fall!

Here’s a close up of Megan showing the pocket back at home. How cool is that?!

So, if you’re in the Tucson area, I highly suggest you add a climb with Wild West Climbing to your itinerary. You can even bring older kiddos. I can so see my fearless eight year old dominating that rock. And even if you aren’t fearless, by conquering that trepidation, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world when you’re done…and you just might awaken a new passion. I, for one, can’t wait to try rock climbing again! And if I can tackle night rock climbing again…even better! There is something about doing it in the stillness of the evening that really heightens all your senses and makes things even more exciting.

Disclosure: We were not paid for this post. We did receive complementary rock climbing and clothing samples.