Until now my fear of heights had kept me away from the Volcanic Rock Gym in Waipio. The towering wall with tiny faux rocks to grab for support had me imagining a horrible fate. When I finally did conjure up the courage to give wall climbing a try, I dragged my son and his friend along for moral support.

We all jumped into our harnesses and were all set to climb the ropes on the 22-foot wall. The kids climbed with the greatest of ease. I, on the other hand, stood staring at the wall for about a half-hour before making my first attempt. I made it about halfway up and then asked to be lowered down.

The kids started climbing on the other walls without ropes. I decided to stay low and climb sideways, which was no easier. Apparently, you get the same workout whether you scale the wall horizontally or vertically, which was a plus in my mind. Hiroshi Watanabe, an employee at the gym, hung out with me for encouragement as I inched my way across the wall. I probably would have just bolted for the door had he not been nearby cheering me on.

Climbing definitely requires a strong grip and a stronger mind to push beyond your personal limits. It’s an all-body workout that even utilizes the muscles in your fingers and toes. And it was much more mental than I had envisioned.

The gym has more than 3,000 square feet to explore. The color-coded climbing routes change every month to present new climbing challenges. A bouldering cave, tunnels and a massive overhang where climbers are upside down are among the attractions. New challenges and hanging upside down were not my concerns. I was more worried about falling even though I was only a couple feet off the ground with a giant, soft pad below me.

Apparently, I accomplished more than I gave myself credit for, since my arms, shoulders and legs were definitely talking to me the next day. Maybe I’ll go back one day and try to reach the top of the wall. OK, maybe not. But at least crawling sideways until I feel more comfortable is always an option.