Midnight Bouldering Adventure On Ring Mountain

Midnight Bouldering Adventure On Ring Mountain

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The Adventure:

The other week, I was happy to catch up with my good friend Indigo, who I haven’t gotten the chance to see for a few months. We were on our way to a friend’s going-away party, and started talking about one of her favorite hobbies, bouldering.

I had gone bouldering with a friend about a year ago (coincidentally the same friend the going-away party was for!), and have been meaning to try it again. When Indigo asked if I wanted to leave the party early to go bouldering under the full moon, I couldn’t have agreed faster!

I’ve always been a huge fan of  full moons, and this night was spectacular — a honey-colored full moon, last Friday the 13th.

After the party, we drove to a popular Bay Area climbing spot in Corte Madera, called Ring Mountain. This area is a popular running, hiking, and climbing spot, known for it’s spectacular bay views, and multiple bouldering/climbing spots.

Though I consider myself a bouldering novice, I was lucky to be in the company of Indigo, who is PCIA certified, as well as a member of the Stanford Climbing Team at Stanford University. After getting lost on the trail for a good twenty minutes (it’s much easier to find during the day), we finally found the rock we were looking for, Turtle Rock.

I put in two solid tries on the rock, and spent most of my time watching my friend in awe! Safe to say, I can’t wait to make this a full moon tradition.

4 Reasons I Recommend Bouldering:

1. You Don’t Have To Be A Pro To Have Fun

Though I wasn’t nearly as experienced as my friend, I was able to go at my own pace, and have fun. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you use the same rock! You can push yourself as hard or easy as you desire.

2. There Is A One-Time Buy Of Two Essentials

Though there are a lot of products geared toward bouldering, to get started you really  only need a decent crash pad and climbing shoes. It’s not too difficult to find both for a grand total of $250 or less.

Adventure Hacks Recommendations:

Crash Pads

Here are some great crash pads for around $180 or cheaper!

Save $50 including free shipping on this Metolius Magnum Crash Pad.  Also check out this 64 mm Black Diamond crash pad.

This crash pad is both affordable, and effective!

Climbing Shoes

For bouldering shoes, these great La Sportiva climbing shoes come in a variety of sizes for both men and women.

Save 31% on these Five Siren Climbing shoes!

3. This Is A Great Social Hobby

The first time I went bouldering, I saw a young couple on a date. What better way to get to know someone than trying a fun outdoor activity together? Each time I’ve been bouldering, I used it as a time to catch up with my friends.

4. Bouldering Gets You Up Close And Personal With Nature

How much closer to nature can you get when it’s you vs. rock, without even a harness? Bouldering is a great way to get push your boundaries, test your strength, and get close with nature.