The Wheel Turns

It's how you can rediscover old passions and enjoyment in activities that you haven't done in a while. For me, it was heading back to the climbing gym and getting back on the rock. I forgot how much fun and challenging it can be to get to the top of a mere 15 feet.

It helps to have people around you who are passionate about be same things though - I can thank Matt Petersen for reinvigorating my desire to climb. We'd talked about climbing in the past, and finally went out to discover some Japanese climbing gyms. The first is called Stone Magic, and it's located near Machida. Matt and I took the odakyu line from Yamato up to Machida, and then transferred to the jr line to fuchinobe.  It's about a 15 min walk from fuchinobe.

The gym itself is pretty solid - quite large by Japanese standards, and has over a hundred top rope routes, including a natural rock pillar in the middle of the gym. The back wall is dedicated I bouldering problems. Most of the routes and problems are out of my skill level right now, but it's motivating to get better.

The second gym is in Yokohama, and it's a dedicated bouldering gym. Take the sotetsu line express to Yokohama, and it's a 10 min walk from Yokohama station. B-pump Yokohama is smaller than Stone Magic, but has a lot more boulder problems. There are two floors, with the top floor offering the most advanced problems.

The rating system is different than the US, using a straight numbering system. 10 is the easiest, and 1 is the hardest, with each route color coded to a number. Both gyms have the chart posted on the wall, which makes it easier to remember. Of course, routes are inherently subjective, and some routes are easier or harder for me, just due to my height. Reaching problems are hard, but I'll struggle on an easier route that requires more technique.

My goal is to go climb at least once a week, either gym or outdoor. It helps that they are open later (they don't close until 2300), and it's usually cheaper after 1830 anyway. Depending on schedule and how motivated I am (and how willing Kylee is to let me climb), I could easily head there after dinner for a hour or two.

All in all, I'm excited to be climbing again, and I hope to head outdoors sometime when I come back from deployment!