The highlight of my trip to Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, was bouldering next to the ocean. I’ve been bouldering in a gym in Tokyo for more than a year now, but this was the first time I’ve done it outside on real rocks. I went bouldering with Will, and these pictures are of him on the rocks.
Will jams his feet into climbing shoes before starting. Climbing shoes are designed to be incredibly tight to help provide grip on rocks.
Will laces up his shoes.
A reach for the final hold on a route we designed ourselves.
Concentration, pain, or both. The sharp coral rocks on the beach were a lot more painful than the plastic holds in the gym.
A lot of the routes we found on the rocks were difficult, but the soft sand underneath provided a nice cushion if we fell. When there were rocks on the ground, we spotted each other to make sure it was safe.
The beach was a beautiful place to go bouldering. When we took breaks, we sat on the beach and looked at the waves. Not a bad way to spend the day.