22 May
On an early Saturday morning, the parking lot of the Student Sport Center slowly filled with ESAC members, ready to leave for the Belgian Ardennes. Freyr, to be precise. While the last climbers arrived, everyone divided themselves among the cars present, after which the journey began, up to the mountains!
Once arrived and surrounded by the beautiful nature to which the Ardennes owes its reputation, the adventure began. After everyone sat down with the home-made cakes and other delicacies, the mums and dads accompanied their groups to the climbing area. The path that had to be taken to reach the quarry was zigzagging down and was pretty steep. Once down, a path stretched along surrounded by meters high rock faces. Arriving at the rock wall to be climbed, the lead climbers started hanging the ropes, after which the routes could be safely climbed.
Everyone prepared their equipment for use and formed teams of two, with changing roles as climbers and belayers. Once the climbers were ready, the belayers had the ropes under control and both had checked each other, the climbing adventure really started! Step by step the inexperienced climbers gradually got higher and closer to the view that the rock face had to offer. When the first climbers arrived at the summit, the first cries of joy were released! Whoehoe! The feeling when the top is reached is therefore indescribable. After reaching the top, the descent started. The belayers made sure that the climbers came down safely again.
After the afternoon, the ropes were picked up and the groups returned to the parking lot where the camping gear was picked up. These were moved to a nearby field where the camp was being prepared. The tents were set up, food was prepared and wood was gathered for the campfire. There was a vegetarian dish on the menu, which was being eaten afterwards. In the evening the day was evaluated while enjoying a beer and the soft chords of a Ukulele.
The morning that followed consisted of fried eggs, song festival music and, unfortunately, cleaning up the camp. After this we left quickly, on our way to the next destination; Maastricht, where some of the ESAC members spent their day bouldering. At the end of the afternoon, everyone left for Eindhoven.
The weekend summarized in one word: 'Climb fulness'. On to the next climbing weekend!