A Perfect Adventure at Bear Rock
(By Emma, Lucy, Indraa, and Nabha)
Next door neighbors, best friends, and bubble-mates Emma, Lucy, Indraa, and Nabha joined together over the weekend for their first outdoor adventure together, climbing at Bear Rock with Green River Preserve and Mighty Boots (along with their families). As a returning camper, Emma was excited to share a little bit of camp with her sister and best friends. The day had all the elements of a perfect adventure: challenge, growth, and reward.
We met Danny and Courtney of Mighty Boots in the morning on the lower road through the Preserve, near Prayer Rock, and got climbing shoes fitted to each of us, and went over some basic safety. We then started up the trail, which is itself a highlight, climbing between ferns and up rock steps deeper against the mountain. By the time we got to some fixed ropes to aid the ascent, the kids were well ahead of the parents, and already proud.
At the base of Bear Rock, we got settled, put on our helmets, harnesses, and climbing shoes, went over the basics and started climbing. Lucy felt scared to start, she said, but as soon as she was tied into the rope and on-belay, she said she no longer felt afraid. The first time, Lucy only went part of the way up the wall, but once she got going, she didn’t look back (down). Lucy says her “daddy was an ok belayer, but that Danny is my favorite.” Indraa and Nabha were eager climbers, too, and even convinced their dad to try.
By the time everyone had climbed multiple routes, learned how to work with figure eight knots and carabiners, and even learned about trad climbing, a picnic lunch and time in the hammocks was a great reward. The chestnut oaks kept dropping acorns, so we kept our helmets on, and started collecting acorns to share with the squirrels back home. On the trail down, Emma tore a hole in pants sliding on a rock, a point of pride, in addition to the Mighty Boots “Climb Like A Girl” stickers she affixed to the group’s water bottles. Everyone felt exhausted but satisfied with the day on the mountain, and eager to return again soon.
A final reflection from the adults: the morning on Bear Rock felt like a portal into summer camp. Danny and Courtney are such expert environmental educators, who cultivated a sense of growth for all of us, from the youngest climber to the most experienced. Green River Preserve really is a magical place!
Thank you Emma, Lucy, Indraa, and Nabha for sharing your story! If you too have a story you would like to share with the GRP community, please email Anne at anne@greenriverpreserve.org
