I Figured Out My Uneasiness Climbing

[Birdyman88]

Jeez. I cant help but laugh a little at all this. But, thats the bright side to being old, though. Things just seem easier to figure out nowadays.

 

[Figanko]

Hi Jemco, I can't but agree to climb you have to get guts. That's it. But without fear, you will never know if you've got the nerve to do it. Realizing you've got the scare of something is in MHO the first step to overcome it. I had never been a bold type, but I knew what my main fears were. I was decisive enough to overcome them. The fear of height that frightened me that much was the first in the list) Well on the net I came across a band of some crazy guys who offered a trek to Kilimanjaro, though people say it is one of the least-demanding mountains for a first-climber. Well, it was real crush suspense and constant fight with myself. Every day the distance was about 6-8 km, but nothing is in vain for me. My guide from local agency https://en.altezza.travel, big and muscle, taught me to hold the rope with both hands no matter what is going around you at that moment, 'cause the life of others depends on you.

 

[Barnyard]

"Never turn your back on fear. It should always be in front of you, like a thing that might have to be killed" - Hunter S Thompson

 

[Jemco]

IN this biz, you should fear not being prepared and equipped to deal with the inevitable.

There will be blood, bees n broken bones.....

Are you equipped to deal with it?

Are your crews?

A little bitty Home Depot first aid kit ain't gonna cut it.....

Just like fifteen bucks a fuggin hour......

Jemco

 

[Mowerr]

Okay, I don't want to overplay any climbing fear here. To the casual observer, and even to my groundie, I probably look perfectly at ease and have no issues accessing even difficult parts of the tree. I may not be the fastest climber out there, but I also try to measure myself against a higher standard. Nonetheless, I still have moments in the tree when I slow down considerably and operate at a slower pace to which I am more comfortable. I always thought it was just my experience level, and that things would get faster with time, but I am now totally convinced my discomfort is actually attributable to something else - my peripheral vision, or lack thereof.

I've been at height since I was 7, whether it was sitting in deer stands, climbing ladders in the family painting business, putting on roofs with my brother, doing tree work with my bro-in-law, or jumping off cliffs at the local river. No fears, no worries, no accidents.

Yesterday, I was cleaning the roof of my rental property getting it ready to list. It is not a steep roof, heck I'm the one who put it on in 2004 - solo - but I felt uncomfortable yesterday. Much the same sensation I get in the tree sometimes. I was constantly looking to make sure I didn't step off the edge, and thinking to myself " geez, you're a tree climber, get over it". I had no feel for the boundaries. This was definitely something new for me. That's when I realized what it was. It's no mystery that my sight is not what it used to be, but I never considered my periphery to be an issue.

Well, at least I know what it is now, so maybe I can figure out a way to adapt. I have the blood pressure of a 25 year old, but damn, sometimes being 53 sucks.

I'm assuming you weren't wearing a harness and tied in when you were on the roof?
I think the feeling of the harness and the rope tension is something we unconsciously rely on that reduces "fear".
We are at height in an inherently dangerous environment but have learned that when wearing proper ppe and using proper technique (tied in etc.) We are safe.
Not that you are wrong for going on your roof untied etc. But you were off the ground and your mind probably wanted to feel that harness and rope because if your in a tree and don't feel that harness and rope- your probably in grave danger, at least in your mind.
I think these are little things our minds learn over time that make us safe in turn reducing fear and the uneasiness fear can cause to our bodies, because up in the trees, all decisions whether conscious or unconscious, must be safe.