If you’re looking for a hobby that will take you to new heights, you might consider rock climbing.
With about 20 regulars, the Sault climbing club that was formed last year recently became part of the Alpine Club of Canada.
“In Algoma we have what I call baby mountains. We have some cliffs in our area that are 400-feet tall,” said Mike Park, executive administrator of the Alpine Club of Canada Sault Ste. Marie.
Rock climbing starts off in small steps for the novice, beginning with bouldering, performed on walls at indoor climbing facilities.
“A lot of people think they're scared of heights but they're actually just scared of ledges.
“As soon as you have that safety feature of a rope, it's crazy how many people can actually look over the edge of a cliff without much hesitation," Park said, calling it a very safe sport.
"There's a lot of safety equipment, lots of ropes. It is very safe once you know what you're doing,” Park told SooToday.
But he emphasized that no one should ever climb alone.
“In safe rock climbing, someone's holding the other end of that rope for you - the belayer. There’s the belayer and the climber. That builds great team spirit and camaraderie.”
Park estimated there are a dozen good spots for rock climbs and two dozen good ice climbing locations both north and east of the Sault.
Availability of professional rock climbing gear is limited in the Sault.
Professional gear, such as climbing shoes, helmets, harnesses, ropes and more, is available online through Mountain Equipment Co-op.
“Rock climbing is almost like a dance with the cliff,” Park said.
“You're moving with the cliff in whatever way that the cliff has developed to make your way to the top. Sometimes you're zig-zagging a bit, sometimes you're going straight up and down.
"Ice climbing is less dancey and more technical but both rock climbing and ice climbing are a workout.”
Park has been a rock climber for 10 years.
“When you're climbing you're really focused. Your body is completely zoned in. All the worries of work that day just melt away and you're truly in the moment.
"It's a great way of decompressing and destressing. And then, when you get to the top, you have this feeling of success and then you get to enjoy a great view.”
The Sault’s Katie Wright, like Park, has been a rock climber for the past decade.
“I thought I would be terrified but I’ve gotten used to it. Now I'm comfortable being the person who is leading the climb up the wall and setting the anchor for the next person,” said Wright, the club's executive chair.
Like Park, Wright said a climb is not merely making it to the top of a cliff but enjoying every careful, calculated move along the way.
“For me, I get a real feeling of clarity when I’m climbing. Reaching the top is great but it's also the journey to the top where I feel like I'm in this moment of flow and everything feels clear,” Wright said.
More information about local rock and ice climbing can be found through the club's Facebook page, Instagram page, website or by email.