Anyone Enjoy Rock Climbing?

[BlackTigers]

I ask because I've been taking it up as my new hobby since last fall, lol.

I've usually just borrowed my bud's gear, but yesterday I splurged and picked up a harness, chalk bag, some carabiners, and a belay device.

I actually prefer repelling, a 100ft rock face was my biggest one, that was scary, considering I did it using a super-8 (dear god trust in my right hand basically, lol).

Tomorrow after class we're heading down a few miles, there's some cliffs and trees that need to be climbed. Looking into a few rock climbing "adventure" things for us to do for a vacation this summer, some of them look really awesome.

 

[Jzero]

Been doing it on and off for the last 10 years. I haven't climbed in nearly 2 years now! It's funny you bring this up because one of my climbing buddies just asked me to commit to a weekly session at the gym so that we can get back in shape.

I am fortunate enough to live near "The Gunks" and we used to go there 2x/year for weekend expeditions, and we want to get back into that as well as making some local crag trips. If you are in the northeast US and looking for an adventure, we have hired guides from the EMS Climbing School in New Paltz a number of times and have had great experiences with all of them. They seem very good at gauging the climbers' abilities and providing appropriate coaching and route choice. There are a few gorgeous 300+' freefall rappels where you get amazing views across the valley as you descend.

I would not recommend just randomly climbing cliffs and especially not trees which often look sturdier than they are. Make sure you go with someone who is familiar with the area and knows how to set anchors safely.

 

[ViviTheMage]

My extent of rock climbing is the 50-100 foot walls in REI, it's fun, but I can't imaging doing an actual cliff or anything, haha.

 

[BlackTigers]

Been doing it on and off for the last 10 years. I haven't climbed in nearly 2 years now! It's funny you bring this up because one of my climbing buddies just asked me to commit to a weekly session at the gym so that we can get back in shape.

I am fortunate enough to live near "The Gunks" and we used to go there 2x/year for weekend expeditions, and we want to get back into that as well as making some local crag trips. If you are in the northeast US and looking for an adventure, we have hired guides from the EMS Climbing School in New Paltz a number of times and have had great experiences with all of them. They seem very good at gauging the climbers' abilities and providing appropriate coaching and route choice. There are a few gorgeous 300+' freefall rappels where you get amazing views across the valley as you descend.

I would not recommend just randomly climbing cliffs and especially not trees which often look sturdier than they are. Make sure you go with someone who is familiar with the area and knows how to set anchors safely.

Nice! I like the sound of that.

As far as the cliffs and trees, my friends have been climbing and repelling there for about two years now, and have taken several classes to learn how to do everything properly, so I trust they know how to tie off. I hope, at least.

It's definitely an experience. There isn't a more surreal feeling than leaning backwards off a 100' cliff right before you begin your descent.

 

[IronWing]

I love rock climbing. It's the plunging to a horrific death that I don't so much like.

 

[Regs]

People don't bounce

 

[PlasmaBomb]

That's what the belay device is for...

 

[HannibalX]

I like it and go when I can but it's been a year or so since I've had the opportunity.

 

[Sloper]

I started last August and fell in love with it. So much, in fact, that after lurking for the past few yrs I decided to register with a climbing lingo.

I live in NJ and have been to the gunks several times last year. Beautiful location and outdoor climbing is definitely an exhilarating way to spend an afternoon.

For now, I mostly prefer indoor bouldering, which requires no harness and the walls are only 12ft high maybe. A lot of people think you need a lot of arm strength to get into rock climbing but it's simply not true. You see skinny girls climbing difficult routes all the time. It's about climbing efficiently, which requires you're entire body's core muscle to work in unison.

Rock climbing problems tend to be very similar to brain teasers. Often times it really comes down to problem solving (how the hell do i position my body to get past this?) rather than brute strength. It's the perfect balance of demanding both mental and physical acuteness.

 

[mmntech]

I got invited to do the indoor stuff but I'm not sure when they want to go. I did film some ice climbing for a documentary I was doing. Got a friend to do the actual climbing though because I'm a wuss. If you like rock climbing, it's definitely something you should try.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

I got into climbing pretty hardcore for a few years. I haven't really been in the last two though.

It gets really addictive. When i was really into it i would climb 5-7 days a week between the gym and outdoors. It helps to live in california where you can find a spot to climb outdoors year round.

As i got more into it I started liking bouldering the most. The lack of gear and the difficulty of the moves and the social aspects really got me.

 

[illusion88]

I've been climbing for the past couple of years. I climb both trad and sport, but I'm a stronger sport climber then a trad climber. In case anyone is unfamiliar, trad is where you place your own protection in the rock and (usually) build your own anchors. Sport climbing involves clipping two carabiners attached with webbing (called a quickdraw) to a bolt and hanger that has been permanently placed into the rock as protection. Sport climbing is usually regarded as safer.

The easiest, and cheapest, way to get into climbing is to follow a friend on some sport routes. Learn how to clean routes and set anchors. When you are strong enough and confident enough you can start leading yourself. Start easy and work your way up. If you can access the top of the cliff safely, where the anchors are, you can set up your own top rope. Please have someone show you how to do this safely. Although those bolts can hold up to 23Kn, if they are inappropriately loaded you can get them to fail.

The best thing for a beginner climber to do on a vacation is to go somewhere that looks fun and hire a guide service. They will be able to safely lead you to fun climbs within your ability. They will also teach you about climbing, technique, gear and safety. I would recommend Moab, Utah. Yosemite might also be a real fun area. Red River Gorge, Ky, "The Gunks", New York are all popular climbing areas with routes ranging from 5.0 (so easy you can do it in tennis shoes) to 5.14 (only the immortals can ascend).

Oh one last thing. YOu didn't mention shoes. You need some specialized rock climbing shoes. They have hard, sticky rubber soles that aid in climbing. You probably want to go a size or two smaller then your regular shoe size. REI or a local outdoor shop will have some. Make sure to talk to the sales clerk and get their recommendations on brand and size. Like most types of shoe, different brands fit different people, so try a few on and see what works!

 

[Regs]

Thanks for the info illusion.

Do they have size 14 rock climbing shoes? :/

 

[BoomerD]

You mean like this?

 

[BlackTigers]

Boomer, you have balls the size of world record holding pumpkins.

 

[lokiju]

I heard NuclearNed does.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I think it would be awesome to get in to...but I have enough other hobbies. I will say the couple rock climbers at my work are probably the most fit motherfuckers I know. Skinny as rails, but they have more strength in just their fingers than should be humanly possible.

 

[BoomerD]

Boomer, you have balls the size of world record holding pumpkins.

Well, since you mentioned it...I do. They're part of the set, but I only took those pics...they're NOT of me. :biggrin:

 

[xanis]

I went twice and loved it. Unfortunately, I'm not in nearly good enough shape to do it... my upper-body strength has severely declined.

 

[GoSharks]

Yes. I've been climbing since 2003 and have redpointed 5.13a.

 

[Sea Moose]

I have done indoor climbing, my mates call me spider man.

 

[Locut0s]

Well, since you mentioned it...I do. They're part of the set, but I only took those pics...they're NOT of me. :biggrin:

Are those guys free climbing!? The pics aren't quite sharp enough to tell if there are ropes or not. If they are free climbing that indeed does take balls of steel. If not then not so much.

 

[GoSharks]

Are those guys free climbing!? The pics aren't quite sharp enough to tell if there are ropes or not. If they are free climbing that indeed does take balls of steel. If not then not so much.

They are not free-soloing; you can clearly see harnesses.

(free climbing is just climbing w/o artificial aids to help upward progress, free-soloing is free climbing w/o a rope)

 

[Locut0s]

They are not free-soloing; you can clearly see harnesses.

(free climbing is just climbing w/o artificial aids to help upward progress, free-soloing is free climbing w/o a rope)

Thanks for the clarification. Yeah that I meat was free-soloing, those guys are nuts!