I swore to my friends I wouldn’t take on another hobby, but climbing finally got me.

Close friends had been trying to get me to the climbing gym for months if not nearly a year - “try it, you’ll be good!”, I’m still not sure if that’s true, but I gave in. The temptation grew too much and the allure of a new physical test was too much. I went in one Sunday afternoon and played with the walls. Learning the holds, the style, the feeling of gripping something with all of your might. It’s testing, difficult, and somewhat unnatural. You’re left rethinking the way you move your body and the position you take in the world. It’s a new way of observing nature through physical exercise.

I had ripped the skin from my palms, callused my fingertips, and coated my pants in chalk dust. I loved it. I bought a membership and came back every night for weeks on end.

Unbeknownst to myself at the time, I returned to work the day after the fall. I felt fuzzy, a bit strange and couldn’t concentrate. I spoke with a few work colleagues and told them I had a fall, I was promptly greeted with “GET TO A DOCTOR NOW”.

I hadn’t been concussed before. I only knew it was dangerous, not something that you want to happen twice, let alone once. The knock sent me into a world I didn’t know existed. Forgetting things, losing understandings, and all a week before we went into COVID19 lockdown for the nth time. Forced recovery seemed beneficial.

I kept in touch with my climbing crew, we all get around a lot and many were friends before climbing. A close friend Molawin suggested he organise a trip to Castle Hill, send me the details and see me there.

We headed off to Castle Hill for two days taking in the incredible boulders, some of which were easily 6-8 stories high. At some point in time, it is believed that the space was underwater, a lake of sorts. Bear in mind this is also around Pangea times, not a recent event...

Having lost a lot of skill over my forced leave and COVID19 lockdown, Leon and Mo helped motivate me up the boulders and ensure I too was out climbing with them.

Molawin, Leon, and I camped for 3 nights down at Mistletoe Flats campground, a cute dainty space much akin to tourism posters for New Zealand. The space had ample room for campers, with a cute stream running down one side - perfect for a face wash and a freshen-up.

Castle Hill almost feels manmade. It’s nearly too perfect to be true. The type of environment we all had a laugh about and assumed was only allowed in movies like Lord of the Rings. Yet here we were having a muesli bar and a packet curry over a gas fire underneath the shelter of a sloping boulder. It’s a New Zealand treat.

The simplicity of connecting with the world through tiny crimps on large rocks is something very soothing. It’s you, rock, and some funny-looking shoes. You’re up against the element, but like many things in nature, the experience feels very pure. There is no assistance, no help, just the trust in yourself and the rock. 

It’s an experience I truly cherish and won’t be forgetting any time soon.

All Castle Hill photos shot on film.