Rock climbing here with a handful of rad locals the other day was the first time I felt anything close to surf stoke since relocating inland.

It is a feeling only a surfer knows; a mystical state of feeling excited, euphoric, thrilled, exhilarated, delighted, happy and overjoyed that only standing up on a wave and moving forward can produce.

For surfers, it’s the inexplicable essence of our existence and mental well-being. It’s what makes us who we are. Without it, we are like fish on dry land.

Being stuck inland during Mental Health Month, I decided to give rock climbing a bash in order to save what was left of my sanity.

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I had done a bit of climbing at varsity more than 20 years ago and vaguely remembered the feeling I got as our motley crew of students escaped Joburg on Wednesday mornings (skipping class) to go and scale the wide variety of crags at the Chosspile, a sport climbing area above Hartbeespoort Dam.

We were able to completely switch off, enjoy being immersed in nature and come back at the end of the day feeling as if we’d been away for a weekend. So I reached out to local fine artist and rock climber Donovan Willis.

With 23 years’ climbing experience, Willis has opened several advanced climbs in the Croc River Canyon and has spent many years redpointing hard routes other people have opened at Waterval Boven and in the Western Cape.

He has also previously climbed competitively and has compiled two climbing guides that are available online.Willis took myself, Leo Kirsten and Corné and Deni Kruger to Bundu – a leg-intensive slab near Rocky Drift. It was quite different to what I was used to in Joburg, as those climbs are a lot more arm-intensive.

I was hooked. The adrenaline rush of overcoming primal fear, pushing through fatigue as you figure out a way to the top, trusting in your gear and your belay partner who literally has your life in his hands … and once you get to the top, enjoying the breathtaking view and the exhilaration before laying back and abseiling down. It really is worth the scraped knees and raw fingertips!

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I find rock climbing to be similar to surfing in its therapeutic benefits. It demands focused attention and mindfulness (for your safety and to succeed). You have no choice but to block out the worries of the day and focus as you navigate the challenges presented by nature, and push your body and mind beyond what you thought was possible. It forces a deep mental break, flushing out the cobwebs and leaving your mind refreshed – stoked.

All this while getting a cardio-respiratory workout, building strength, sharpening your mind, building confidence and engaging in the sport’s built-in social opportunities.
The mental toughness honed on a crag translates seamlessly into day-to-day living, enabling one to navigate life’s challenges more calmly.

Mental health awareness is close to Willis’ heart. As such, he put an original pencil sketch of an oak tree on auction on his fine art Facebook page – Donovan Willis Fine Art. The proceeds will go towards the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag).

“I want people who struggle to be able to reach out to an amazing resource such as Sadag and other local organisations or groups. This has personal relevance to me in my art as well as my personal life. I want people to know they are not alone and don’t have to suffer in silence,” said Willis.
The auction closes on October 31.