FORT SILL, Okla. March 31, 2016 -- A great source for things to do around Lawton/Fort Sill (in addition to the Bucket List of course) is a Facebook page called "Go Play Lawton." It was through their page that I found Venture 2 Climb a company providing guided outdoor rappelling and rock-climbing trips. I'd been indoor rock climbing before, and I did rapelling that one time in basic training, but other than that, my rock-climbing trips were limited to boulder hopping (which I think is a thing).
I got in touch with Jesh Plumb, the owner and lead guide of Venture 2 Climb and scheduled a time I could come out and test my skills. Plumb, a former Army captain and airborne Ranger who was once stationed at Fort Sill, let me bring some additional people with me, so I made a quick call to the Fort Sill Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers president, Spc. Kevin Murphy (because who else would know a plethora of Soldiers available at a moment's notice?).
The day of the climb I woke up, checked the weather and then asked Google, "what to wear hiking." True story. Plumb suggested athletic pants instead of jeans, which made sense since I would be needing all the flexibility I could get. Google showed me pictures of women in loose fitting shirts and pullovers. So that's what I wore -- oh and my 2 year old's backpack, because that's all I had.
Plumb and I met Murphy along with his two friends, Pfc. Katie Penick, 15th Transportation Company and Spc. Devon Sabado, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery, at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center at noon. After quick introductions, and a few signatures on release waivers, we were off to the wilderness.
Other than Plumb, this was going to be the first time climbing a rock face for the rest of us. We arrived at the Narrows or rather a picnic area near the Narrows -- and immediately I was unimpressed. The scraggly trees and dead grass made me wonder what we would be rock climbing.
Plumb started the business a year ago and has already been featured in a Oklahoma Tourism commercial and a Lawton tourism commercial. In addition to owning and operating Venture 2 Climb, Plumb also works as an energy efficiency auditor and consultant for a local startup company. With Venture 2 Climb, Plumb takes groups as large as 15 to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, where he has a special use permit allowing them to conduct trips legally. The company provides all the gear and tailors the trip to fit the abilities of the participants meaning those without any experience, or athletic ability, can enjoy a climb (including children). The trips generally take the entire day, however we are doing an abbreviated trip.
As we walk, the terrain begins to elevate and then descend and soon the view changes. A creek comes into view beneath towering rock faces. It's beautiful. Our entire group stops to take photos and video. I'd love to come back and go swimming here except that it's not allowed and Plumb is pretty sure there are water moccasins. So I'll just let them have the water. You win this round snakes.
Soon we arrive at our destination: Zoo Wall.
Plumb climbs up the Dihedral, one of the multiple climbing routes on the wall, in order to secure our rope to the top. Plumb tells me I am responsible for keeping him alive, which doesn't put any pressure on me at all. My job is to provide rope to him as he climbs and to stop the rope should he fall (he has additional safety measures that don't involve me, don't worry). Once he reaches the top, he secures our rope and hops back down.
Sabado is the first up and sets the route for everyone else to follow. He chooses "Crazy Alice" as his route up and uses a lot of upper body strength to pull himself to the top. He does so relatively quickly. I'm next.
I decide on a different starting point but soon make my way toward Alice's route. I move slowly, remembering Plumb's description of his sister who takes climbing like a ballerina, making slow deliberate moves and dancing her way to the top. I love that imagery. Plumb guides me, suggesting places to move and encouraging me to move my feet inch by inch to gain height.
At one point I lose my grip and come swinging across the face of the rock, hitting myself and my camera in the process (everyone is worried about the camera -- I'm fine by the way). However at that point I lose my ability to make up my ground. I find it impossible to make any movements in any directions and in defeat make my way back to the ground.
Plumb tells me not to apologize and that I did well. I certainly feel pretty good (despite the scratch on my leg) and welcome the chance to sit back while Penick and Murphy take on the wall. Both complete the climb, despite my attempts at discouraging them ("You'll never make it" I yell. "Turn back now!" They don't listen. It's a good thing they don't).
By the time we leave, the base is flooded with people. Plumb says how most of his clients are not from the Lawton/Fort Sill area. With the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge having some of the best granite routes, climbers from Texas, Arkansas and as far as Ohio share the base with us. There's even a dog from Waco, Texas in our midst -- apparently an avid climber. We don't see a single person from Lawton or Fort Sill the entire day.
"We have this right here in our backyard and we take it for granite," said Murphy, making a play on words.
By the end of the day I am hungry (we talked about steak almost all day) and ready for a shower. Plumb invites all of us back when we have more time and says he'll take us to a place where we can rappel more. Who can argue with that?
Those who would like more information can check out their website www.venture2climb.com/.
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