My book, Schurman Rock: A History & Guide, is not only a guidebook. It includes a history of Camp Long and the construction of Monitor Rock, the first-known purposely built artificial climbing wall in the world, as well as a “day in the life”-style anthology of stories about the people who visit the park and climb on Schurman Rock. This story recounts a visit to the rock by brothers Rory and Chase—typical of the “wandering boys” (and girls) who have climbed Schurman Rock over the past eighty years—and their unsuspecting grandfather who, like most authority figures, admonishes them to “get down before you hurt yourselves,” to no avail. I hope they come back someday. They seemed to have had a great time.
Rory and Chase see the rock from across the field and head off at a dead tear for it, leaving their grandfather in their dust.
“The rock!” yells Rory, who is five years old, as he runs.
“The rock!” yells Chase, who is almost four.
“You kids wait for me,” Grandpa says, but they aren’t waiting, they’re running full blast down the grassy hill and across the clover-infested field. They arrive at the rock out of breath but excited.
“I’m going to climb the rock!” Rory yells, and he does just that, scampering up the big, easy ledges to the top where he pumps his fists triumphantly. He’s already on top before Chase arrives.
Chase hesitates on the way up. The rocks are slick, and it’s a little scary being so high off the ground.
“Come on, Chase!” Rory says. “You can do it.”
Chase tries another way. He has to crawl onto one of the boulders with hands and knees, but makes it to the top unscathed.
“This is the biggest rock in the world!” Rory shouts from the top.
“It’s not a rock,” says Chase. “It’s a bunch of rocks stacked up and cemented together.”
“You kids get down from there,” Grandpa says as he huffs up the path toward the rock.
“It’s easy, Grandpa,” says Rory. “You should climb the rock, too.”
“Yeah, Grandpa,” Chase says. “Climb the rock with us!”
“I don’t think so,” Grandpa says. “You should come down before you fall and hurt yourselves.”
“Okay,” Rory says. He scampers down quickly. Chase starts down, but stops at the first steep bit.
“I’m scared,” he says. “Help me, Grandpa.”
“I’ll help you,” Grandpa says, and he climbs slowly up the big, step-like ledges to reach Chase, who has gone back to the upper ledge. “It’s neat up here, isn’t it Grandpa.”
“It’s kind of high up,” Grandpa says. “Come on now. Sit on your butt and slide down. I’ll be right here to keep you from falling.”
Chase complies and they are both soon back on terra firma.
“I did it!” Chase says.
“Good job,” Grandpa says. “Where’s your brother?”
Rory, meanwhile, has run around to the other side of the rock, out of sight of Grandpa, and is already halfway up the tower, a steeper climb up a 15-foot high pinnacle. It’s easy going, on big holds and ledges, but ten feet up he hesitates. Being this high up is unnerving. He’s not sure he should keep going, but feels compelled to finish the climb before Grandpa calls him down. He tries one way, then retreats and tries another way, which leads him to an intermediate ledge just below the top.
“Get down right now!” Grandpa scolds as he comes around the corner and sees what’s going on. “I told you to not to do that.”
“But it’s fun, Grandpa,” Rory says. “I’m almost to the top.”
“Well, never mind that,” Grandpa says. “Climb down now. You’re scaring me.”
“Okay, Grandpa,” Rory says. He climbs down dutifully but a little dejected, knowing he was one move away from the top.
“Can we come back again someday?” Rory asks as they hike down the path back to the meadow. He’s already planning his next assault on the tower.
“Yeah, can we?” Chase asks. “That was fun.”
“We’ll see,” Grandpa says. “Maybe your dad can bring you next time.”