Climbing in Turkey: two months at JoSiTo

It is Tuesday afternoon. After a weekend of cold, dreary, beautiful solitude in Norway I am standing at Antalya’s international airport, rope & rock gear in tow, looking for the driver who is supposed to pick me up as I am reporting for work at JoSiTo, a climbers’ camp in Geyikbayiri on the Lycian coast.

JoSiTo! the view from my tent

beautiful Oekuezini, one of the sectors in Geyikbayiri

I arrive at the camp about an hour later, and even though it is completely deserted (the season is yet to begin – the summer months in Turkey are too hot to climb) I am immediately in love with the place. Cliffs all around, a big mountain towering over the area, lovely little huts dotted along the camping areas and a bar/restaurant that has as much character as the team running the camp.

part of the JoSiTo gang behind the bar

a day in the life... Ela, Eddie and my tent

I soon meet the crew and all a sudden find myself in the middle of the best summer adventure I could possibly have asked for. It feels as if the world has stopped turning, and for two amazing months (which initially were supposed to be four and a half weeks, then turned into six weeks, finally into nine – and even so it is still hard to leave at the end) life consists of nothing but climbing, eating, sleeping, and a little bit of working in the kitchen in between. Great people, great climbing, for the most part great weather and great guests.

bar fun with JoSiTo guests

happy on a multi-pitch route

One of the highlights of my time at JoSiTo is a day of deep water soloing close to Olympos, where my climbing partner Tim and I team up with two guests to spend a day at the sea, soaking up the sun and loving life amid crystal clear water and glistening cliffs. What a life.

deep water soloing

ZimTim

Climbing continuously for two months is pushing my limits, both physically and emotionally. At times I am frustrated and struggling with the question of why I climb at all, close to throwing out my rock shoes. Then there are moments of crystal clear focus where every move feels right, every contact with the rock is joy, and every route I start feels like a meditation. All in all I spend an amazing nine weeks expanding my comfort zone and living an fantastically simple and intense live. I come away from my time in Turkey with great new friends, the knowledge that climbing will be an essential part of my life for a long long time to come, and the firm intent to return to JoSiTo as soon as possible – Christmas 2012, if not before. Thanks for an incredible time, team JoSiTo!