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Rock Climbing: Start Local and Go Global

Posted by Rock Lover on June 6th, 2009

Many people are drawn to the sport of rock climbing because it allows them the opportunity to see the world from a unique vantage point. If you are a fitness buff who loves to travel, rock climbing can help you indulge your passion for exploration while you push yourself to reach your athletic goals.

People who fall in love with this unique sport often build their vacations around the opportunity to explore notable and exciting climbing routes, and more than one climber has traveled the world with the goal of reaching the highest peaks and enjoying the most stunning vistas on the planet. When you take up rock climbing as a pastime, you are opening up a whole new world of sightseeing possibilities.

If you are new to the world of rock climbing, the best thing you can do is gain skills in your region before you head out to more exotic locales. If you invest some time in improving your technique and becoming familiar with the tools of the trade before you hit the road, you will find you are ready to enjoy the challenges that unfamiliar terrain provides. Even if you don’t live in the midst of a stunning mountain range, with a bit of research you will probably be able to find several satisfactory climbing routes within a day’s journey, or at least close enough to be a plausible destination for a long weekend’s vacation.

If you start your rock climbing journey by finding some good routes and experienced climbers in your area, you can be sure you will be ready to make the most of the opportunities that will come your way when you do eventually travel to stunning foreign destinations.

Most veteran climbers agree that whether you are interested in “sport” climbs, which are usually short in duration and fairly easy to complete, or “trad” climbs, which are more challenging in terms of both difficulty and endurance, the ideal way to learn your way around the rocks is by following a leader who is competent and confident with climbing equipment and technique.

Some climbers are self taught, but trying to climb without an experienced guide often leads to injuries and mistakes that could easily have been avoided if a teacher had been present. A master climber can help you achieve your goals while making sure you are taking the necessary safety precautions at every step along the way.

Thanks to the Internet, finding a ready and willing climb leader is easier today than ever. Rock climbing message boards are popping up all over the world, and spending some time reading the information on these boards can be very beneficial for both novice and experienced climbers.

By posting on a popular climbing site you can find leaders in almost any region of the world, including yours. In addition to offering you the chance to link up with other climbers in your area, the athletes and hobbyists who frequent these websites can offer you tips on the best equipment, and firsthand accounts of what it is like to tackle the different routes in your area.

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Rock Climbing – Preserve Your Experiences

Posted by Rock Lover on May 20th, 2009

Rock climbing is a great way to escape the rat race, live on the edge and get a heck of a view. Alas, your rock climbing experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a rock climbing journal.

Rock climbing Journals

Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent rock climbing experience. What sticks out in your mind? Did you go bouldering at Joshua Tree for the weekend? Now think about the first time you ever went rock climbing. Undoubtedly, you remember few things about the geography, people you went with and the particular rock climbing routes. The experiences you’ve forgotten are lost to time. If you keep a rock climbing journal, this won’t be the case.

There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. In her diary, Anne kept a running commentary of the two years her family spent hiding from the Nazis. While your rock climbing experiences better be more lighthearted, keeping a journal will let you remember them as the years pass.

A good rock climbing journal combines a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact so you don’t have to take up unnecessary space for other things. Second, it should have a case to protect it from the elements and so on. Third, the journal should contain blank areas to write your notes. Fourth, the journal should contain cue spaces to remind you to keep notes on specific things. Cues should include:

1. Who you went rock climbing with,

2. The nature and quality of the rock,

3. Who you met and contact information for them,

4. The geographic and weather conditions,

5. Any unique things that occurred while rock climbing,

6. The routes you took up the ice and alternatives.

7. The equipment you needed to make the climb, and

8. Any inside information provided by locals or other climbers you met.

At the end of the rock climbing trip, you should be able to get the following from your journal:

1. Contact information for other climbers you met,

2. Enough detail to provide you or a friend with a route guide if you climb the location a second time.

3. Memories to reflect upon years later, and

4. Something to pass on to your friends, children and grandchildren.

To get the most out of your rock climbing journal, you should write in it just before you climb and when you return. It is always interesting to see the different impressions you have before and after a climb. Was it harder than you thought or easier?

Rock climbing is a great way to commune with nature and spend a weekend. Make sure to preserve the experience with your rock climbing journal.