I'm not a climber.
In a town where no matter the direction in which you gaze there's a towering mountain peak, cliff or rock face - that admission seems akin to eating a double bacon cheeseburger while spanking a baby seal at a vegan convention.
It's not that I never tried climbing.
Well, I never did it in the safe, professional and practical way they do it around here.
When I was much younger and living "Back East," I participated in what I guess could most accurately be described as "stupid climbing." This involved freehand climbing up a cliff face without ropes or spotters or any safety, training or skill whatsoever.
We sometimes did it in the rain, at night or in the dead of winter on ice-covered rocks.
I'm not actually sure why we did it.
Perhaps it was some sense of male bravado. Maybe we thought we were invincible.
It could have been the beer.
I'm not saying it's something of which I want to express any amount of pride in whatsoever, but it's just to say that at one time I did have an interest in climbing, even if I was going about it in a more "Jackass" kind of way.
One day on a pretty tame cliff, I almost fell and my friend had to haul me up over the last foot or so to safety.
I'll never forget that feeling and I've never tried to climb anything other than my stairs ever since.
Sure, if I was being chased by a bear or was being shot at, I could probably climb better than Spiderman in a pinch, but my enthusiasm for the sport waned and my fear of going "ker-splatt" has since waxed.
That's why the recent coverage of a proposal for a "National Climbing Centre" in Squamish got my attention.
Had such a facility existed in my area when I first started to show an interest in climbing, perhaps I would have learned all about things like proper technique, responsibility and safety.
For a place like Squamish - so rich with climbing opportunities at The Chief, Smoke Bluffs and other places - the idea of a climbing centre or facility seems like such a no-brainer.
However, like some in the town's real climbing community, for whom I have a lot of respect, I wish the proposal was for just a recreational climbing centre, or didn't include quite so many townhome units.
We'll have to wait and learn more about how the proposed multi-use development will pan out with our OCP, Squamish residents and lawmakers.
One thing is for sure.
The subject has generated enough of a buzz that a climbing centre, whether this "national" one, or from another development - certainly looks to be a lot closer to a reality for the Squamish community.
Who knows?
Maybe if we do get a climbing centre I'll finally get myself some real training in technique, responsibility and safety - and get back on that cliff.
