By Toby Adams and Pat Jarboe
Photography by Richard Fields
Photography by Richard Fields
Authors Toby Adams (front) and Pat Jarboe scale a cliff at Muscatatuck County Park in Jennings County .
The rock streaks past my face, wind whips past my ears, and my emotions sprint between fear of falling and elation of flight.
My climbing rope catches and I'm hanging-safe and comfortable-in my climbing harness.
"What have I gotten myself into?" I mumble, and promise that this will be the last time I do this. A few deep breaths help me remember that I checked and double-checked the system. I know the rope is not going to break. I begin to relax. Soon the utter joy and extreme rush of being above the treetops pushes back the anxiety.
When I first considered rock climbing, I thought the sport was for macho, muscle-bound guys with no fear-attitudes.
That description doesn't exactly fit me, so when I went rock climbing the first time, I was a little uneasy. Well, actually, I was downright scared.
Even though convinced that my partners knew what they were doing, I thought, "I have always wanted to try this. What have to I got to lose? Ummm . . . on second thought, let's not think about that!"
