The first outdoor rock climbing trip of Dreamstarter Adventure Travels became a reality with a group of familiar strangers. Daniel, an experienced climber from Spain, AJ from India, who had only climbed indoors, and Maya from Brazil, who was eager to learn rope climbing from the start. We all met through different paths but shared the same passion for adventure, so we teamed up for a two-day climb at Crazy Horse Buttress: the best outdoor climbing spot of Northern Thailand.
This climbing spot has the show stopping rock that looks like the head of a horse. Below that crazy looking rock are over 150 pitches, had everything—easy routes for learning and harder routes that pushed us beyond our limits. On the first day, I had a successful lead climb on a beginner route, feeling confident enough to try something more challenging. I picked a climb that looked tough but doable, though we didn’t know its grade. I figured the only way to find out was to start climbing.
From the ground, the big holds looked promising. But once I reached them, they barely had any grip. Instead of simply holding on, I had to jam my fists and arms into cracks to stay in place. It was exhausting. I fell a few times, but I kept going, determined to reach the top. Finally, I made it to the anchor, clipped my quickdraw, and reached to secure my rope.
Then, disaster struck. Before I could clip in, my grip slipped, and I tumbled down a long way. My arms were completely wrecked, but I still had to climb back up and try again. Instead of going the same way, I moved slightly to the side where the holds were easier. I reached another anchor, but when I went to secure myself, I realized—I was out of quickdraws.
I knew immediately what I needed, the lone quickdraw dangling from the first anchor. I carefully shuffled to the side, stretched out as far as I could, and managed to grab it. Securing myself felt like a victory, but I still needed to clean the anchor. Completely drained of energy and still riding an adrenaline rush, I fumbled through untying and retying my figure-eight knot. With some creative problem-solving: using an extra carabiner meant for my flip-flops to secure the hitch knot to my harnass, I safely cleared the anchor and got lowered back down.
It turned out that the route was a 6c, two grades higher than my current level. No wonder it felt brutal! But these are the moments that make climbing so incredible—the unexpected challenges, the problem-solving, and the pure determination it takes to push through.
Beyond the climbs, this trip was about more than just reaching the top. We laughed, struggled, explored stunning nature, and pushed each other to improve. I learned a lot more about lead climbing and I gained confidence in teaching others how to belay safely. Climbing at Crazy Horse Buttress was an unforgettable experience and I hope to see these crazy climbers again! For more adventure travel inspiration, check: Dreamstarter Adventure Travels
