Rock Climbing

SemenMoustache · 2014-07-24T06:23:52+00:00

Great fun. I started indoor climbing towards the end of last year. Bouldering mainly which I recommend you look into.

Bouldering routes are a few metres high and a lot more intense. Plus no equipment needed, you just have a crash mat below you so you can go on your own and keep at it.

Finger wise... For the first 2 months or so I was getting my skin ripped and hanging on at most places on my hand. 'Flappers'.

After my skin had toughened it was my tendons which started to struggle. This lasted another two months and I found it tough to clench my fist and it was really difficult in the cold weather. I started to think I'd done some damage.

Then had a couple of weeks off over Christmas and it was all fine. Only have the occasional flapper now.

Also your forearms will get ripped to fuck.

aorroa · 2014-07-24T04:42:28+00:00

/r/rockclimbing

friestogo · 2014-07-24T12:01:18+00:00

does it hurt your fingers?

Fuck sake, grow a pair.

Mrswhiskers · 2014-07-24T07:18:28+00:00

Rock climbing isn't a hobby of mine but I've gone out with church groups and climbed a few cliff faces on retreats. It's pretty damned awesome. It did hurt my hands but you grit your teeth and bear it just to see what you're capable of. When you get to the top it's the most amazing feeling to know what you have just done and to look out over the landscape. You look down at your hands (that may be bleeding) and think "I just climbed a mountain. I just climbed a fucking mountain!" (It's not actually a mountain but it feels that way when you're up there) And when you're all done taking in the exhilaration, you lean backwards off the cliff and repel down.

It's really fun. You should try it at least once!

skoobled · 2014-07-24T10:42:24+00:00

I like the team work aspect: the guy on the floor has a totally different view to the guy on the wall, so you can help each other find the best technique for the route

I'm a total beginner though ;)

RAL9000 · 2014-07-24T12:09:18+00:00

Bouldering would be a good start! You only need shoes, chalk and a place to do it.

mudra311 · 2014-07-24T14:58:53+00:00

Types of rock climbing:

Bouldering: the cheapest but you don't climb very high. Problems are very difficult and short. Gear: shoes, chalk, crash pad

Sport climbing: the next step up. You'll be climbing short to longer routes setting your rope as you go. Falls are scary but are generally less dangerous than bouldering. Gear: shoes, harness, quick draws, anchors, and rope.

Trad: really awesome form of climbing. There are no bolts so you'll be setting gear in cracks and nooks while climbing. Terrifying form of climbing because you never know if your gear will pop out of the rock when you fall. Gear: shoes, harness, helmet, multiple ropes for multi pitch, cams, nuts, quick draws, etc.

Start with bouldering and top roping then move to sport.

penguincheerleader · 2014-07-24T15:48:34+00:00

I rock climb a lot, it is a good and enjoyable work out and it is cheaper to get into than sports like skiing. Unless you live in a real ideal place then my advise is that you train at an indoor gym and then make some outdoor trips. Outdoor rockclimbing is great but there is a larger time comitment, where I live I can only go outdoors for part of the year, and I have to do at least a half hour of driving. The investment you need to make is buying shoes and a harness (under $200 at high quality), then paying for a gym membership. Outdoor equipment will require at least under $300 but will last a few years, and require some additional expertise.

Yes your fingers will hurt when you first start. As an additional stretch you should fully open and close your hand stretching your fingers out, as well as shaking them out. After a few times though the finger pain goes away. Otherwise you will grow muscles rockclimbing, I certainly did, but the realemphasis is on tactics which require stretching and flexibility. As a result people who do a lot of yoga do better at climbing than those who do lots of weight lifting. Core muscles are a big deal, which gives people a hotter body and strong abs.

It definitely adds some SMV to able to take a girl rock climbing. In addition I feel like it is a more positive sign if a woman is interested in a date at a rock gym than if she is interested in a date at a bar. I have never picked up a girl at a rock gym but I have had success with having dates at the rock gym.

ImCheshire · 2014-07-24T15:58:12+00:00

I'll cover first the TRP aspects of climbing.

As you know we have basically two types of climb. Bouldering and vertical (which includes top rope, sport and trad climb). The main distinction is that the former doesn't require a rope while the later does and is more complex. I'm making this distinction because the social aspects of each are quite different.

In bouldering people hang up in groups. It's very social and casual. People constrain themselves more into the gym for convenience I believe because the risks are greater outdoors. You see people are more athletic. Girls are leaner and guys are more bulked.

In vertical climb the social is different. Here you need to work as a team. You need a belayer. Your climbing partner is your buddy, you're trusting him your life. You need to learn more about safety and risks. It's quite technical so I feel the atmosphere is not as casual. Of course you will eventually be part of a larger group of vertical climbers but you will be socializing when you're not actually climbing. If you're belaying, your attention must me focused on your partner.

Either modality is fun and a great way to meet people and form bonds. Going outdoors in groups brings the game to a new level as you expand the mutual experiences to a wider range, such as hours of carpooling, camping and hiking. You can fuck around as you please but one advice is don't fuck your belay partner.

[deleted] · 2014-07-24T16:05:13+00:00

As a beginner, the best place to start is at a rock climbing gym. That will give you a chance to get familiar with climbing technique, build strength, and network with folks who climb in the wild (if you eventually find interest in climbing outdoors).

Cost depends on gym fees (admission or membership, gear rental (until you get your own shit)) and what you wanna do at the gym. There are three types of climbing available at most gyms: bouldering, top roping, and lead climbing. Bouldering is short routes with no ropes and does not require a partner. All you need are climbing shoes and chalk (friction!). Top roping is climbing on walls where the rope is fixed at the top of the route. As you climb the wall, your partner (the belayer) takes slack out of the rope so if you fall, you don't descend more than a foot or so. This type of climbing requires the aforementioned gear plus a harness, belay device, and a partner. And finally there's lead climbing, where you're tied in with your belayer and you clip the rope into clips hanging on the wall as you ascend the wall. This kind of climbing requires all aforementioned gear plus a rope (unless your gym or partner provides one).

Anyway, shoes run you around $80-$160, depending on how fancy you wanna be. Go for something on the cheaper side for your first pair because you'll likely blow through the rubber quickly as a newbie learning proper footwork. You'll wanna purchase these at your gym or local outdoor adventure store because you need to try them on to fit them. Every shoe and foot are shaped differently. I had to try 6 different pairs until I found one that fit properly.

If youre gonna rope climb, you'll need a harness and belay device. Buy that shit online when its on sale and will probably run you around $50-60 in total.

If you're serious about climbing, buy your own gear and forget about rentals. You don't want to wear those ratty ass gym shoes. Plus, they make you look like a total putz because everyone assumes you're a newb when they see you rocking rental shoes. So, initial gear purchase will be about $160 but you'll prob never have to buy another harness or belay device. After that, your only real cost is admission or gym membership. You'll have to figure that math on your own.

Yes, your fingers will hurt, skin-wise and muscle-wise. Blisters are common until you build calluses. Also, you will fatigue very quickly even if you're a jacked mother fucker. Climbing is difficult and uses muscles you're probably not accustom to using. You might feel like newb, watching other guys fly up routes countless times with little to no effort, while you're huffing just tryna stay on the wall. The only way to remedy this is through time and training. Keep climbing regularly and you'll quickly build the strength, skill, and endurance required to take on more difficult routes. Never be discouraged by other climber's abilities. You really get back what you put into climbing, so be patient and diligent.

bsutansalt · 2014-07-24T17:46:05+00:00

It's good for fitness, it's fun, and it's a great date activity because it's a natural filter for fatties because A) they won't be able to do it and B) the other women there are going to intimidate them because of how fit they are.

A harness will be $50-100, shoes are another $100, give or take, and gym memberships will vary. A drop in at my local indoor place I think is $10 a person. Unlimited visits were something like $60 a month.

Title	Rock Climbing
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	5
Comments	18
Date	July 24, 2014 4:03 AM UTC (12 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/2bkch4/rock_climbing/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/rock-climbing.194862 https://theredarchive.com/post/194862

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