Rock Climbing Wall

Rock Climbing: Powerful Tips for Becoming a Good Rock Climber

You’ve decided to become a rock climber.  Yet all you know is what you’ve seen on television or in movies.  That doesn’t matter.  You’ve decided and that’s that.  Let’s pretend that you come from a land where there are no large rock formations whatever.  Here are some basic tips and suggestions to help in your understanding of what it takes to engage in this extreme sport. 

Tips for Good Technique. 

-  Rock climbing is mentally challenging.  The ability to clear your mind and focus is essential to your success as a climber.  If you’re able to meditate as you climb, you’re worlds ahead of those that can’t.  Use whatever works for you.  There is no one way for all.   

-  Control the center of gravity (COG).  This is usually at the center of your body, somewhere in your abdomen.  (Hopefully not lower than that!)  All of your movements begin here.  You’ll want your legs directly beneath you or to equal distances on each side of you. 

-  Observe other climbers.  This is especially educational when you are belaying a good climber.  Ask questions as they come to you.  Understanding will go a long way when you try the moves yourself.

-  Practice the techniques you’ve observed.  Learn them.  With repetition, these techniques will become more and more comfortable.  Eventually, you may discover that these new moves are exactly what you need to complete a particular section of a climb.    

-  Climb when you’re tired.  It seemed a bit nuts when I first learned this.  But it really can help a new climber.  Climbing tired forces you to plan each move with deliberation and not speed.  It also forces you to consider your energy reserves and learn just how far you can go in this condition.

-  Work on your weak points.  Spare some climbs just to work on your weak points.  You’ll vastly improve your climbing ability and bring you closer to becoming a good climber.  Remember that it isn’t a good idea to work on your good points during the same climb.  Work on one or the other, not both. 

Tips when Climbing.

-  Rock climbing can be done at any speed you’re comfortable with.  You may climb slowly and methodically.  Or you may climb with speed and finesse, if that suits you better.  Whatever the choice, it should depend upon the strengths you already have.

-  Whenever possible, rely on your legs to move you.  It is very unwise to sap unnecessary energy from your upper body when your legs can easily get it done.

-  Raise one foot at a time.  This will further prevent you from using your upper body to lift all your weight.  Avoid doing so whenever you can.

-  When you feel your muscles tightening, when you feel that a cramp is coming on, just stop.  Go no further.  Don’t wait for the cramp to happen to stop.  Look for a nearby ledge or just hangdog (rest on your gear or on the rope) until all muscle tightening has disappeared.

Tips when Resting. 

-  Check and secure your footholds.  Make sure that the next handholds are above your head.

-  Keep your arms in a relaxed position by straightening them out.  It really does make a difference.

-  Lean back into the wall and not away from it.  Energy is uselessly lost when you lean out and have to pull yourself back in to continue the climb.  Your COG will have been in your arms and you don’t want that.

-  Plan your next move.  Locate your next holds.  Position your hands and feet, even practice the movements.  This improves each chance for a smooth execution, especially on difficult sections.  

These are very basic tips and recommendations to quicken your understanding of what it takes to engage in the sport of rock climbing.  When you understand, you can better implement safely and then improve quickly.  And once you’ve received certified instruction on how to climb, you’re outta’ here.  Just remember to always respect the air and space around you for there is no safety net.  Be safe up there. 

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Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and an adventurer who strives to protect the natural world.  If you would like to learn about

            -  Knife Sharpening:  How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them

            -  Tests for Sharpness, Steeling and more

            -  Sharpening Other Edges    (e.g. Lawn Mower Blades, Chain Saws,

Gardening Tools, Axes)

Find it here at www.MakeKnivesSharp.com. 

Rock Climbing: so You Want to be a Rock Climber

So you want to be a rock climber.  You’d like to climb a rock wall or maybe hang off the side of a rock formation somewhere.  Well, you’ll have several styles to choose from to do it.  It could be pretty easy and safe or you could seriously risk your life.  Either way, you’ll need to know exactly what you’re doing.

Rock climbing is climbing to the summit of a natural rock formation or climbing to the summit of a manmade rock wall.  It could also be climbing to a designated endpoint on a climbing route.  It doesn’t always mean that you’ve got to reach the very top.  A sectional climb like this is referred to as a pitch.  If you’re climbing several routes consecutively, it would be considered a multi-pitch climb.

Rock climbing has been around for nearly a hundred years.  Climbers have encountered many kinds of rock formations all around the world.  It’s not surprising then that rock climbing has branched into several more distinct styles.  Most of the rock climbing done today is considered to be a form of free climbing.  This involves using solely one’s own physical ability to climb.  Equipment is used but only as a means of protection from falling.

-  Aid climbing.  The safest method of rock climbing is aid climbing.  Equipment is used for all handholds and all footholds, meaning that the climber is assisted every step of the way.  When rock climbing first began, this method allowed for ascents that were believed impossible.  It was this fantastic enabling quality of aid climbing that helped to bring such interest to the sport.

- Bouldering.  This style of rock climbing involves short climbing routes that are near enough to the ground that a fall should not result in the climber’s death.  There is no rope or harness but, preferably, there is a helmet.  The only other option for protection is to use a bouldering pad (protective mat).  The climbing partner (an absolute necessity) on the ground usually directs the location of this pad, aligning it with the climber’s location.  The climbing partner is also the all-seeing eye that warns the climber of hazardous areas.

-  Top Roping.  This is probably the easiest and safest way to free climb.  A rope is already secured through an anchor at the top of the climb.  A belayer, your climbing partner, holds onto the opposite end of the rope, controlling any give or take while keeping it taut.

-  Lead Climbing.  This involves a lead climber who ascends with one end of a rope tied to his harness.  The belayer, the leader’s partner, holds onto the other end of the rope, giving or taking up slack as needed.  The lead climber sets up a belay system as she climbs, securing safety anchors for her partner to use, which is also the fail-safe system to catch the lead climber in case she falls.

If this is a multi-pitch route, the partner picks up the anchor points on the way up.  The climbers then proceed to the next pitch.  If it’s a single pitch, the anchor points are cleaned (taken out) on the way down by the last climber.  This is a great way to help keep criticisms at bay that rock climbers litter the natural landscape.  All climbers should live the creed:  Take nothing, leave nothing.

-  Traditional Climbing and Sport Climbing.  These methods of climbing are both styles of lead climbing.  The difference is in how the protection is placed.  In sport climbing, the anchors are already set.  You needn’t worry about placing them or removing them.  In traditional climbing, the anchors are placed as the climb progresses and then removed by the last climber.

-  Free Solo Climbing.  This is also called free soloing.  It is the most advanced form of rock climbing.  The climber uses nothing for protection.  No anchor points, no belay, no rope and no harness.  If he falls, he falls unencumbered all the way down.  It’s quite frightening.  Accidents, in this case, are tragic.  You’ve got to be fit, skilled and have great emotional and psychological control to do this successfully.  Be more than ready.  Be extremely more than ready.  Your life depends on it.

If you decide to free solo, be very weary of the weather.   The climbing may be going just fine and then it rains.  This could prove fatal to this kind of climber.  Dry, sunny days are what you want.  Don’t risk your life.

-  Deep water soloing.  The only “safe” method of free soloing is deep water soloing.  This is climbing done on sea cliffs over water.  While falling into the ocean beneath a cliff face seems better than falling on hard ground, it isn’t particularly safe.  You’ve got to be aware of the tides and of prevailing wave action, of submerged boulders or coral islands.  Not only that but, if you’re climbing more than 80 feet above the surface of the water, the impact alone could prove fatal.  Mind your elevation.

-  Indoor Climbing.  This designation is for all rock climbing done indoors.  Climbing is done on man-made rock climbing walls.  Any style is permitted, although not free soloing.  You’re required to wear and use all safety gear.  This would be the safest and most recommended way to learn how to rock climb.

There you have it, all the ways to rock climb.  It could be a highly dangerous activity where you risk your life at every moment.  Or it could be very safe and protected without worry.  Just use caution at all times.  And, please, don’t ever climb outdoors alone.  You know you’re just asking for it.

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Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and an adventurer who strives to protect the natural world.  If you would like to learn about

-  Knife Sharpening:  How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them

-  The Fastest Way to Sharpen, Tests for Sharpness and more

-  Sharpening Other Edges (Maintain and Store Them)

(e.g. Chain Saws, Gardening Tools, Axes)

-  Or maybe you could use a Free Guide on  Sharpening Lawn Mower Blades

Find it here at www.MakeKnivesSharp.com.

The Varieties of Rock Climbing

There are several different kinds of rock climbing that people engage in for sport. Rock climbing first began to be recognized as a sport when it was independently developed from the rock climbing techniques of Victorian era mountaineering in the late eighteen hundreds. Over the years since then, a lot of specialized safety equipment and proven techniques for staying safe and making a secure, controlled ascent have been developed. However, the sport of rock climbing can still be split into two major divisions: free climbing and aid climbing. Free climbing uses only the natural features of the rock face being climbed, and is significantly more dangerous than climbing with the assistance of safety gear.

Even when safety gear is being used, however, many climbers try to follow the ethic that their climbing activities should not damage or change the surface of the rock face any more than is absolutely necessary. For some kinds of short distance rock climbing, such as bouldering, purists believe in free climbing assisted by some kind of pad on the ground to catch them if they fall. This allows them to climb without leaving marks in the rock. Cams are also a good way to climb without leaving too much of a mark on the surface, while driving spikes into the rock to use as handholds and places to tie rope lines is one of the more invasive ways of climbing.

Lead climbing is one of the most common types of rock climbing, where climbers go up in pairs and the lead (or topmost climber) is attached to the lower climber, or second, by a length of rope. Whoever is lowest at the moment is the second, and is in charge of belaying the rope, keeping the belaying system secured attached to the rock, and stopping the rope to keep the other climber from harm in case of a fall. While lead climbing, safety devices will usually be left on the mountain at regular intervals. For traditional lead climbing, these safety devices installed by the lead climber, will usually be removed by the second during the ascent. This leaves the climbing surface close to the way in which it was found, and leaves the same level of challenge and enjoyment for future climbers.

Top rope climbing is a variant on the two person climbing system where the one in charge of belaying the rope and keeping the system secure is at the top. The person at the top will place an anchor and help to hold the rope steady while the other climber makes his or her way upwards.

Not all rock climbing takes place outdoors ‘ indoor rock climbing is increasingly popular and is the way that many people start to get involved in the sport. Rock climbing walls with regular handholds can be built inside of a building to teach people climbing techniques and this style of climbing with holds on a wall is also sometimes used in sporting competitions and is a lot of fun in its own right.