Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

Feel the rush of adrenalin into your veins as you look down from this cliff (through this photo, that is)? I do feel like that when I am on top of a`mountain or rock and about to do rock climbing or mountain climbing. I get excited when I am on the site where climbing takes place (those that are into this kind of sports understand what I mean)!:)

In rock or mountain climbing it's not how fast you get to the top or summit. It is how you climb that matter the most. Been climbing for years (not since I got here in Ukraine five years ago though) with friends that has the same passion of this sports. In climbing you have to have a buddy, (same with diving) that will assist you when and if needed while trekking along the trails.

Some climbers start off fast and seems like in a hurry to get to the summit or top of the rock or mountain. But then, along the way to the top these climbers gets too tired and out of breath with the energy that they excert to get to the summit. Some of them doesn't get to the summit without dehydration or having a hard time to catch up with the group 'coz of lack of energy or weariness.

The key in climbing is to start in a normal pace of trekking and as the trekking progress try to find your own pace to catch up with the group in trekking. Each climber has their own pace in trekking. When you find that pace of yours, stick with it until you get to the summit.

There is what we called "take 5 or 10" - it means taking 5 or 10 minutes rest along the trail to give everyone time to rest and drink or have their trail food to energize them, especially those that are having a hard time to catch up and logging behind the group. Taking 5 or 10 minutes rest is depend how long is trek will be.

The important thing in climbing is to get to the peak with the group and that nobody got into any accident or illness while trekking. The goal is to get to the peak together safely.

Climbing can be compared to our lives. All of us "climb" in this life with a purpose to get to our "summit." Some "climb" faster and wanting to get to their destination but sometimes on the way they got tripped and got hurt or they tripped others and hurt others. These kind of "climbers" don't take time to find their "pace" and all of a sudden they stopped in the middle of the trail 'cos they are tired and weary. Some quit and give up as they find it hard to continue to their destination. As a result they feel un-fulfilled or a failure.

Others learned to find their "pace" in "climbing" and learned to stop from time to time to reflect and get some rest to re-charge themselves to continue their "climb" to the summit. They also learned to "climb" with other climbers with them, hence they have people with them to encourage them and help them to pursue and not give up as the trail gets tough and hard to trek. These kind of "climbers" get to their summit safely and learned along the way.