Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.
The ultimate climbing experience
© THE NORTH FACE
By Kim Bo-eun
By Kim Bo-eun
Years ago as a college student, I took a one-month climbing course at my school gym. It had a tiny little wall where I learned only the basics of climbing, but I was feeling pretty confident when I visited The North Face’s Outdoor Culture Center recently to take a one-day class. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.
After a brief set of stretching exercises, I squeezed my feet into a pair of climbing shoes that were so small I could imagine the pain Chinese women suffered from foot-binding. Soon my feet were the last thing on my mind, however, because I had more important things to consider – like clinging for my life on an 11-meter wall.
First the instructor gave me a chance to make my way across a horizontal wall using the holds (grips), which I thought I aced, because he then asked if I had learned to climb before. I humbly told him I had completed a one-month course, but that it was years ago, only for him to reply that I didn’t seem to remember anything I had learned back then.
© K2 Korea
After being taught how to make a triangular shape with my body as it moves, which I didn’t quite understand, I was given another chance to cross the wall and I didn’t do much better.
I had already used my almost non-existent arm muscles extensively – which I wasn’t supposed to have had I climbed properly – by the time I stood in front of the towering wall.
The instructor assured me multiple times it would be fairly easy, and that I wouldn’t fall and die because he was holding onto the rope tied to my waist. But none of that mattered when I started climbing.
After blindly making my way up, about halfway I realized I was quite high and started getting nervous. At snail’s pace I continued upward, with my legs shaking and hands sweating so much I thought I would lose grip and become the woman who died at the climbing center.
With much encouragement from the instructor standing beneath me, I somehow managed to reach the top. The problem now was: I couldn’t let go.
I thought I would instantly fall. It didn’t help when the instructor explained that he would slowly let the rope down. I was stuck.
Soon other climbers and the deputy manager who had been sitting outside came to see what was going on.
Eventually, the instructor persuaded me to let go, one hand at a time, and I came down in one piece. But it was undoubtedly the most terrifying experience I have had in the past couple years.
The second time round was better. I felt a lot more composed and ready when I arrived at the K2 Fitness and Climbing Center.
The team manager went over the basics of making the triangular shape with your body and how to utilize more of your leg muscles to spring yourself to holds that are out of reach.
Again, after stretching a bit, I was wearing another pair of feet-squeezing shoes in front of yet another 11-meter wall, which had visibly fewer holds.
With aid from the manager, who seemed to have tugged the rope a great deal to help me up, my hands reached the top hold, and I was able to come down without any fuss.
I was even feeling confident enough to go for a second time, which, according to the manager, was better than the first.
THE NORTH FACE DYNO WALL
The center is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. The training program, which lasts for an hour, is held at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, and participants are able to practice freely on the climbing walls afterward.
Reservations should be made at least a day in advance, and each reservation requires at least two participants. The program admits up to eight participants, and the fee is 20,000 won.
Address : 4F, 418-25, Beon-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul
Phone number : 02-900-4312
K2 F&C CENTER
Opening hours for the climbing center are from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. The training program lasts for 90 minutes and accepts up to 10 participants. The fee is 40,000 won.
Address : 277-70, Seongsu-dong2ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Phone number : 02-3408-9400