“Attach the clip to the top loop of the harness and slide the lock into place,” Kevin instructs.
My fingers feel fat and awkward as I fumble with the shiny metal.  I turn the barrel both directions, listening to the click to tell me that I’ve successfully latched it.  Finally confident that I have it securely and correctly fastened; I look towards Del, my Belayer.
“Belayer ready?”  I yell nervously.
“Belay on,” he says.  “Climber ready?”
“Climb on,” I gulp.
My head shifts slowly back, as my eyes move up the enormous wall standing right before me.  I look up the wall, way up the wall.  A wall much taller than my house, much taller.  My brain is screaming in my ears, the questions pounding against my skull… What are you doing here?  What have you gotten yourself into and WHY did you volunteer to go first!
I take a deep breath and look for a rock that my hand can grab, my right hand.  Another deep breath, another hand; my left hand.  Standing on my toes, I reach and find the perfect match.  My fingers slide naturally around the molded plastic and into the smooth groove that seems was made to fit and hand just my size.  It’s as if my feet know what to do, and before long they are no longer touching the ground.  My feet and hands in unfamiliar territory, begin to tremble as they clutch to the knobs protruding from the wall.
I look for my next advance.  I reach and pull my weight to another level, smiling because miraculously every limb has found a new place to rest.  I stop to look down, I could still fall without seriously getting hurt, I think to myself.  I shift my eyes upward and begin searching for the grasp that will lift me to a higher elevation.
“Keep your hips as close to the wall as possible,” I hear my instructor, Kevin, shout.  Obediently, I pull myself closer to the wall and instinctively begin searching for my next move.  As I begin to pull myself up, I quickly realize that there is no way that my feet can follow.  I lower myself back down, to my previous stance, to look for another route.
“Go to your right!” Dell yells, “You have more climbing options to choose from.”
I look up, to my right, and find what I think will be the perfect grip for my right hand.  But this time, before moving, I look to make sure there’s a projection for my feet to hold onto.  Bingo!  I move quickly and hear the words, “Wahoo! Way to go, girl!” echo from below.
I am beginning to feel more confident.  I’m good, I’m a natural, what was I worried about, I think to myself.   But then… I make the mistaking of looking down- we’re talking HUGE mistake.  Panic starts to settle in.  Do I keep going or bail?  “Keep going, you’re almost there!” Dell yells, almost as if reading my thoughts.  “Come on, you can do it!” 
Ok, I think, I AM going to do it!  I CAN do it!  I look back up, switching my thoughts from my fear to my next grab.  I find it and use the strength of my arms to reach and pull myself towards my destination.  “One more and you’re there,” yells my belayer, from below.
I can’t look down or I know I won’t finish, so I don’t.  Instead, I look for my next move.  I take a deep breath, refusing to look down, and then go for it!
“You did it!  Way to go!  Now push your seat out with your feet flat again the wall,” Kevin commands. 
I realize that this will take every ounce of courage that I have.  I have to place my entire trust into my belayer, someone I had met for the first time, only the day before.
I slowly slide my feet closer together, edging them up the wall until they are both out in front of me.  I take another deep breath, sucking in more air, and then straightening my legs, push my rear end out and away from the wall, forming an “L” shape with my body.  My heart is pounding like it’s trying to beat its way out of my chest and escape to safety.
I feel the rope start to loosen, and begin backing slowly down the wall.  No jerky movements, as Dell gently and expertly releases the tension on the rope to carefully lower me to the ground.
Feet safely on the ground, and my heart still in my chest, I feel an adrenaline rush unlike any I have ever experienced.  I’d done it!  Excitedly, I unlatch my clasp and remove it from my harness, and then, looking straight into Kevin’s eyes I shout, “When is it my turn again?”