Peoria, IL

Peoria, IL
Days 8-12
7/2 to 7/6/1999

Place at a Glance

Hung out with Pete, Paul, and Eric

Checked out the Peoria water front, looked for monkeys

Went to the completely packed river boat casino and lost $2.00

Watched the band "4 sisters and a cousin" and heckled them while they made fun of us

Saw some freaks dancing while the band played, very scary

Saw "Big Daddy" then walked into "Star Wars" and caught most of the movie

Went up to Wheaton for a BBQ at Pete's brother's house (free food)

Went to the Peoria museum of art and science

Checked out the Planetarium and saw "Where in space is Carmen San Diego"

Went "Rock Climbing" in an old grain silo in Bloomington, IL (more info)

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Hanging out in Peoria

In the climbing cave

Climbing in a silo

Nearing the Top

Climbing in a silo

I have got to be honest here; I am not to impressed with gym climbing and gym climbers. But out here, in the land of flatness, where there is nothing to climb, I am going to cut the gym a little slack. Now don't begin to think that I condone gym climbing, I don't, but at least now I am beginning to accept it.

The gym that Pete and I went to is in several old grain silos. Bolted to the inside of the 65 foot concrete silos are various hand holds that create routes with ratings from 5.4 to 5.11. On real rock there are usually many different ways to climb the same route, many different ways to work through the problem. The routes at a gym are set up by people, with holds strategically placed and, for the most part, there are not many options on how a route can be climbed. Gyms, although they sure help build strength and technique, take all the creativity out of climbing.

I still believe that climbing is just an excuse to get outside, in some beautiful country, and hang out with friends. Gym climbing just doesn't do it for me.

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