I can fly!

[andrewducker]

Photos from the Edinburgh International Climbing Centre.

Taken from the 5th floor window, while I waiting for the women to do whatever it is women do in packs in the toilet. Presumably apply makeup and mind-control powers.
In any case, you can see that this is an old quarry, roofed over with climbing walls added. The aerial assault course is visible at the top.


Looking down from that window to get a better view of the climbers.

Looking up at the course.

Giant boulder. We didn't get to clamber all over this, but I'd like to sometime.

Four year-old being belayed by his dad.


The remainder are of the aerial assault course. Which was exciting and terrifying at the same time.






And after we'd finished I got a photo of someone else swinging out to the start of the course (visible on the left hand side).

Comments

[accordingly.livejournal.com]

This properly gives me nightmares- my parents are both big climbers, and when I was a kid my dad couldn't accept that I was {and still am} terrified of heights and would regularly force me to climb... shudder.

Although there used to be a painting of mine up in Alien Rock because my old teacher went there. fact of the day.

[andrewducker]

That must have really sucked (the climbing, not the painting, which is a cool factette). Forcing people to do things that scare them is really not a good idea.

I don't like heights, but seem to be slowly getting over that, with the help of supportive friends and large heights. If I was being forced to do that I'd need more changes of underwear though :->

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

In toilets women snog each other and compare bras - we like to keep these things secret from you men.

[accordingly.livejournal.com]

Don't give our secrets away! Next you'll be admitting that at slumber parties we get naked and have orgies!

[henriksdal.livejournal.com]

Me too! My dad's a top climber (or was in his day!) and first ascented just about all of Northumberland over the years. I spent ages 9 to 13 in a weekly hell of being forced to climb despite being utterly, utterly terrified. It annoys me no end as I'd be bloody brilliant at climbing by now if I'd kept it up, and, when it was an easy route, on occasions I actually enjoyed it. Ho hum.

[andrewducker]

You should join us some time, and see if you like it now.

[henriksdal.livejournal.com]

I have been out several times over the past few years, both at Alien Rock and out in Northumberland with my dad, and it's exactly the same blind terror of heights, plus I'm older now and more capable of comparing how much better than me everyone else is, and how brilliant I should be at it if I wasn't terrified. It's very depressing..

[laserboy.livejournal.com]

Well done! I thought the glass walk on the CN Tower was rough, but this looks...

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

Wow, the pictures are fantastic, that place looks amazing.

I am so jealous!

I wanna go climbing :D

[chuma.livejournal.com]

Looks fun. How much was it and how long for etc?

[andrewducker]

It wwas £8 and lasted about half an hour/40 minutes.

Prices for actual climbing here:
http://www.adventurescotland.com/standard.asp?p=1153

[martling.livejournal.com]

Eurgh. Well done. I am just about okay on the walls but that thing up there has always looked like my worst nightmare.

[andrewducker]

It's actually fine once you get used to the idea that you're completely secured to the ceiling. Strangely, after that point it was less scary to hang than it was to actually climb across shifting unstable logs.

[martling.livejournal.com]

That makes sense to me. In the same way, I dislike being precariously balanced on handholds up the tall walls there, but am fine once I've fallen off and am just sitting in the harness.

See also, y'know, scrambling along pointy Scottish ridges (eek) vs flying around thousands of feet higher supported by nothing but air but strapped in (fine).

[xquiq.livejournal.com]

Looks really cool. I am renewed in my intention to go climbing at Ratho instead of Alien 1 on at least one occasion before the year is out.

One question: is it as cold as they say it is?

[andrewducker]

It was a bit cold on the way up to the top - but frankly once we were out there and moving I didn't notice. Possibly because I was shivering for completely different reasons :->

[martling.livejournal.com]

If you want some people to tack along with, I've been going out there fairly often lately with some friends.

[xquiq.livejournal.com]

That would be great :)

[martling.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll let you know when we're next going. I have a mobile number for you which may or may not be still correct. Mine is 07813 833301.

[wordofblake.livejournal.com]

wow that looks scary awesome! I got to go climbing last week (on a cliff and an indoor wall) and I loved it, but neither was even near that size.

[alpha-c3ntaur.livejournal.com]

Looks like fun I'm going to have to try it sometime