ADV301 students have been testing themselves rock climbing at Titahi Bay. Students Noah Jones and Holly Collins report.

This week, on two pleasant mornings, both 301 Adventure classes were prepared to scale and climb huge rocks, to conquer inner challenges and personal fears. The van was tense, the music - ecstatic. Students were full of adrenaline, anticipating this extreme adventure. 

Once we arrived at Titahi Bay we met with Pete, the mystical rock climbing wizard himself. He briefed the class and gave us some encouragement, as well as helmets, and then we made our way down the perilous trail towards the rocks.

Once we stood before the cliff, the class became intimidated, some nervous, some excited. We put on harnesses and divided into groups of three, some expressed their inner spider person better than others. Everyone attached themselves to the ropes for safety and began to conquer the cliff. 

While a person was climbing and conquering, the other group members were harnessing their belaying and back up belaying skills by ensuring the climbers did not fall to their doom. We had been taught sufficient belaying knowledge by our own rock climbing wizards Mr Weakley and Mr Jaffrey so we were well prepared.

The climbing was not only hard on the mind, but hard on the body. There were different grades you could choose to climb ranging from 11 which was a warm up climb to 19 which was the most challenging climb. Most students were happy with just achieving the assessment with three grade 14 climbs. Although other students pushed themselves further to attempt higher graded climbs, wow!

After we were pleased with our efforts and the day was drawing to a close, the tide was coming in, the great rock climbing wizard Pete, and less great rock climbing wizard Mr Weakly, began to voluntell students to help disassemble the climbing equipment. Some had to coil ropes, others had to carry huge packs of coiled rope up the treacherous, devastatingly annoying trail. Said trail gave most students unfortunate flashbacks to the tramp we completed earlier this year, but once we finally got to the summit, although fatigued we were relieved to be on our way home and grateful to be next to such beautiful Aotearoa scenery.

Finally we were back in the van on route to our lovely UHC, despite the bumpy ride students were excited to share their experiences and stories about this wonderful adventure and even more excited for the next adventure to come, which will be when we are kayaking the Marlborough Sounds. So exciting!