Last week, Adam Boyd, the director of Camp Merri-Mac and I went rock climbing at Rumbling Bald, one of the many premier rock climbing areas that western North Carolina has to offer. We climbed a route called “Flapping in the Breeze.” It was a multi-pitch climb that required Traditional lead climbing. Let me take a moment to define some of the terms that I am referring to.

Multi-pitch climbs: A climb divided into sections, called pitches, with intermediate belays. Each pitch is a section of the climb about the length of the rope or less

Lead climbing: One climbs a pitch and places pieces of equipment called protection in the rock as he climbs until reaching the belay station.

Belay: is managing the rope to catch a falling climber, and lowering the climber when it is time to come down, aided by the friction of the belay device.

We chose this particular route for several reasons.

1) Adventure: We had not climbed the route before and there was a quality of mystery to the route. The route demanded patience and work to figure it out. There is something incredibly rewarding both the successes and failures in attempting a task with an unknown outcome.

2) Stretching our comfort zone: The skill and ability needed to climb the route was just above the level of difficulty that was in our comfort zone. Every move in the climb demanded attentiveness to our technique and ability. It is in this zone that learning and growth is most likely to occur.

3) Community: In multi-pitch climbs there is a lot of time to connect with your climbing partner. There are no distractions, just the route and climbing partner. This context facilitates rich growth in friendships and creates opportunities to take the experience far beyond the climbing.

4) Safety Margin: Anytime there is an element of unknown there is an element of real risk. We deal with real risks every day of our life. Part of choosing this climb or any adventure for that matter involves choosing what level of risk is acceptable. Adam and I chose this climb after evaluating the level of risk and accepting the consequences whether they are positive or negative.

We successfully reached the summit of the climb and were rewarded with a magnificent view at the top. More valuable than the view at the top were the lessons learned on the climb and the quality time we had together.

These ideas around our climb are some of the very same ideas behind Black Mountain Expeditions. The great reward of the successes and lessons learned while attempting tasks and experiences with unknown outcomes. Stretching one’s self outside of his/her comfort zone because that is the most fertile place to learn and grow. Developing rich and authentic relationships with peers and experiencing the richness of life when it is not just about you. And doing all of this within a structure committed to the physical and emotional safety of the group.