Katie: Cliff Notes

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric

(CBS)

It's Friday, and many people will be hopping on trains, planes, and mostly automobiles for a weekend getaway. Here's a novel idea that will bring you to new heights – literally.

Rock climbing!

In the spirit of "new things keep you young," I decided to give this popular pastime a whirl. I'm told it's gotten increasingly popular. So I traveled to New Paltz, New York, to a famous climbing area called "The Gunks" (which somehow, did not sound very appealing…is that the residue your body leaves after a traumatic fall?) Actually according to their website, "it's an ecosystem of pitch pine barrens, dwarf pine plains, quartz conglomerate cliffs, slabrock (huh?) and virgin hemlock forests. The area is home to many rare and endangered species…" (like, say, an anchorwoman who thinks she can be Spiderwoman for a day?)

In 1994 the Nature Conservancy designated the Shawangunks (their official name) as one of the 75 "Last Great Places" in the world. People come here to hike, cross country ski, mountain bike and, yes, ROCK CLIMB! As we made our way to New Paltz on the 4th of July, I couldn't help but wonder…what am I doing?

Experts say it's a sport that requires endurance, strength and mental discipline. (Gee, none of those is my strong suit…) And there are two kinds: free climbing and aid climbing. Needless to say, I went for the "aid climbing," which meant I had to wear a harness and a helmet, along with special climbing shoes that allow you to "smear," which means scale a fa?ade, even when there are no nooks or crannies (somehow, I doubt that's climb-speak) in which you can place your toes.

My guide was hilarious -- something that helps you when you want to "laugh in the face of danger!" His name is Nick Farley, and he taught me all about climbing, the equipment (which makes you feel like the coolest handyman--or woman—ever) and the terms you use when you're doing a climb. "Belay?," the climber asks the person who is on the ground controlling their fate with a rope and tool called a belay device attached to their harness. "Belay on," he or she responds. "Climbing!" is said when you want to start moving. "Climb on" is the response from the person on the ground. When you make your way up the mountain, and particularly when you're ready to come down, and are prepared to lean back with your feet on the face of the rock, you say, "Tension." When you want more slack, you say – shockingly -- "Slack!," and proceed to make your way down, your back more or less parallel to the ground.

I did a beginner's Level Five climb. It was a bit chilly that day, but soon I was sweating and my heart was racing. Putting my toes in a tiny crack and grabbing a small natural nob in the rock was not easy, but ultimately it was exhilarating! I can't wait to go back, especially in the fall.

I'm never going to be a free climber…one of those guys who walks around with a mattress which they put on the ground and little webs seem to shoot out of their fingers as they scale the cliffs. But climbing with someone I trust, like Nick, and surrounded by beautiful vistas, it's a great way to challenge yourself, bond with others and commune with nature.

I realized afterwards I no longer had rocks in my head -- just my head in the rocks -- and I loved every minute of it.

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by gwaggo July 9, 2007 7:58 PM EDT: I personally enjoy your evening news program. Actually I don't watch any other program. It would be a sad day if you left the anchor spot. Your presentation is special and you are most pleasent to look at.; Reply to this comment


by petersemkiw July 9, 2007 5:30 AM EDT: I had the privilege to meet Sir Edmund Hillary once, too. It was a meeting that I will always remember, and he also gave a great lecture about his great expedition up Mt. Everest. It's also interesting to learn that Senator Hillary Clinton was named after him as well.Thanks for sharing your stories with us, George.

And by the way, Katie, when are you leading your expedition back up to climb the Shawangunk Mountains?(or the Gunks as the locals like to call them)
Will you be needing any Shirpa guides to help guide you up the Gunks, like Sir Edmund Hillary had up Mt Everest? They may not be the Himalayas, but if you're going to go up the Gunks, a Shirpa guide is the way to go.
But watch out for all those skunks,
and don't carry any junk.
And be sure to bring a hunk,
of fried Kentucky chicken chunks.

Shirpa Peter; Reply to this comment


by thy1138 July 9, 2007 4:11 AM EDT: Sounds exciting. When I was in Miss Loman's third grade Sir Edmund Hillary visited to tell us how lucky we were to have school on Wood Road (and for that matter wood) and he was going back to Nepal to help build schools there. I think he was with the World Book then, one of the teachers, Mr. Hubbard, used to sell them, handicapped from a Long Island duck farm family but a boxer for Notre Dame. The reason I brought it up was that Senator Hillary Clinton was named by her mother after him I read! We had a local "Ranger Warner" a German mountain-climber as our guide in the Congregationalist "Stockaders" as kids. I think we stayed away from the dangerous stuff, then, but visited around there. In drought the snakes come to lower elevations.; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 July 8, 2007 3:27 AM EDT: C*U*M* LAUDE is Latin, not obscentity, CBS IT Police.

I HATE the I.T. Police. The censor out common terms such as ***... S*E*X... the way all we human beings got on this censored planet.

Eric; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 July 8, 2007 3:19 AM EDT: But I DO like Cliff Notes.

After all, they got me through college. *** Laude.

But after college, I came to appreciate literature in its full. I read more literary masterpieces after college than before. And came to appreciate History more, also.

Its amazing how adults can be motivated to learn when they dont have professors to adulterate learning!

Gosh, if only we could have been old enough to attend Woodstock! Perhaps, Katherine, we would have been Flower Children!

Eric; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 July 8, 2007 2:50 AM EDT: In the end, I think we are all climbing the cliff of Life, foothold by foothold, handhold by handhold...

And I am holding on by my fingernails!

To heck with the terminology!

Be good, Katherine.

Eric; Reply to this comment


by aimeeclimbs July 7, 2007 9:53 PM EDT: Oh Katie, did you not listed to Nick when he described the difference between "free climbing" and "aid climbing"? You actually were "free climbing", which means to ascend a rock face without using the rope or gear to assist in your ascent (only your body). "Aid climbing" is when you actually pull on the gear or rope. The crazy type of climbing where people use no ropes is called "free soloing"- much different. And bouldering is where you carry the "mattresses" and it's not so crazy because you generally don't climb very high.

Anyways, it's great that you tried it and we won't get into the intricacies of what "smearing" really means or what exactly a "beginner's level 5 climb" is (in my 11 years of climbing, I've never heard of that). Maybe when you go in the Fall, you can listen to Nick a bit closer...; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 July 7, 2007 5:42 PM EDT: Katie,

Sometimes I am a little homesick for the northeast, being from CT. I went to college just over the border in Danbury. In my younger days, I did a lot of hiking on the Appalachian Trail and still have fond memories of the heights and the peacefulness.

I remember my first time rappelling. I was next to go over. The Special Forces sergeant who was instructing us saw my hesitation and asked me, "Are you scared?"

"D**n right, Sergeant!" was my earnest reply. And then I took my first leap of faith...but not my last. Parachuting went a little better than that experience, though! Not as much time to think about it!

It is beautiful in the hills and lakes and streams of the midwest where I now live, but part of me---the part that still thinks he is thirty years younger---wants to be there with you, Katherine.

Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith to see the world from a whole new perspective. I guess that's true in rappelling, parachuting, and Life.

Have a great weekend!

Eric; Reply to this comment


by jcolmantnc July 7, 2007 5:19 PM EDT: You can learn more about the spectacular Shawangunk Mountains on The Nature Conservancy's web site @ http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newyork/preserves/art12373.html; Reply to this comment


by petersemkiw July 6, 2007 11:12 PM EDT: Dear Katie,
By sheer chance it just so happens I know those sheer rock mountain face cliffs very well... from a distance. I always drive through that hair pin curve road on Rt.44/55 on the way back to New York from my rustic summer shack in the Catskill Mountains, which just so happens to be only about 15 minutes away from that awesome Shawangunk Ridge that you climbed. (Yes,of course,you're invited.)

Katie, how did you do it? I never had the time to try mountain climbing, like you obviously have, but then, you must be a lot lighter than me anyway. But I have chosen a safer sport and cross country skied that area in the winter extensively with my friends,some of whom are now in Spokane, Washington,like Truvor and Helen, where they do expert skiing in the Washington and Idaho Mountains now. The Shawangunk Ridge is a beautiful area and there is a lot to do there. I hope you had a chance to see the historic and beautiful Mohonk House resort and lake, and Lake Minnewaska while you were there. And maybe a resort called Soyuzivka which is a favorite hangout of the Soyuz cosmonauts when they're on vacation from the International Space Station...and not climbing sheer rock mountain face cliffs.

And whatever you do next, don't become a free climber! It's not the same as free speech! And please... don't even look at any hang gliders!; Reply to this comment