rock climbing

I climb occasionallyl, but it's been a LONG while. I stick to the climbing gym.

Gear is EXPENSIVE! Its right up there with bass gear spending. I don't have my own gear, but I wish I did.

Shoes alone are a few hundred bucks, and thats just for a "good" pair.

Its quite the workout, and it's my favorite physical activity. Have fun with it. I sure do!

 

I will be one of the rock climbing counslers at the rock climbing wall at my camp next week. I havent climbed in a long time, but its a lot of fun, although i could never imagine climbing a real mountain.

 

I have been rock climbing for about 4 years now. I do indoor and outdoor (there are some great cliffs where my parents live). As for info, the climbing gym is a great place. IME, people are friendly and easy to get along with. Asking for suggestions on certain climbs helps and I have often had people offer advice if they see me struggling with a problem. I try to do the same for others when I can. I would suggest that fellow climbers are one of the best sources of info, especially the owners and employees of the gyms. There are some books out there as well, and these may offer some useful information, but IME the best way to learn to climb is to get out there and develop the balance, coordination, strength and thought process yourself.

You have to learn how your body works as well. My climbing partner is about 4 inches shorter than me and incredibly flexible (he hates that I have almost 6" more reach than him). My climbing style won't work for him and vice versa.

Geoff

 

Cool, thats actually the same thing as I did all last summer and the summer before at the camp I worked at. Not too far out from you either.

 

Walls are hard, till you have to climb something real.

 

Sorry for bumping this, but could you tell me anything about wallclimbing and the way it affects your hands?

A friend/guitarplayer of mine stopped doing it because he didn't feel it was beneficial for his hands...

 

http://bjsm.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/38/5/545

Almost all of the injuries in that article are due to accidents. I'm sure that it can trigger repetitive stress type injuries in the hands as well. I've also read that it can increase the risk of Dupuytren’s disease.

It does strengthen the hands/forearms considerably, but like any activity you have to take proper care of the body parts being used to prevent injuries.

 

Ok cheers man

Last time I went climbing I remember being scared because I didn't trust my "partner"

And I'm not a huge fan of heights, but as long as you don't look down

 

@Geoff; have you yourself found climbing to be disadvantageous to your bassplaying?

 

I spent the last 2 summers (11 weeks each) as a climbing counselor at a Scout camp. We have a 70 foot face, and running that was the most fun I'd ever had. Tons of hard work, but moving a hundred kids through a day felt great. From setting up the routes, to rappelling, to practicing rescues...it was great. I never got any shoes though, I made do with Converse (Doable in this situation, I don't climb enough for shoes).

After the summer, I ended up with a bunch of "retired" gear. Too old to keep, according to the standards, but mostly ok. Me and some friends sometimes go over to the park and rappell out of trees. Can't wait to do it again next summer!

I have much more fun rappelling though....

 

Not at all.

 

I have a darn good build for rock climbing... strong upper body and no weight in my legs (but they're strong enough to do everything I need) but unfortunately my wrists are too fragile (and I have to be careful with them as a bass player)

I miss it.

 

I've been wall-climbing. I'm PETRIFIED of falling from heights, so when I get to the top, it takes 10 minutes for them to convince to jump.

For some reason...I keep going back.

 

I know what you mean, I have some trust issues. If I or one of our staff sets up the climb/rappel, I have no problem. I know how our ropes and gear are checked and taken care of. This personal touch makes trust alot easier to come by than using someone else's, whatever group/organization/company that may be.

 

I've been climbing for longer than I've played the bass... about 5 years.
Started in the gym, and got hooked there, but outdoors has been my main playground for the past few years.
You can usually get a decent pair of shoes for under $100 if you look into places like Sierra Trading Post, REI outlet and such. As for advice, I would say just climb a lot, and watch those who are much better than you with their footwork and body position as they move on the wall. It's hard to be smooth and precise at first, but try to pay attention to where your feet are going, and use your legs to push yourself up instead of hauling your body up with your arms. Get to know the other regulars, and employees at the gym, and you'll always have someone to give you input on technique or a particular climb.

 

Bumping an old thread!

Went bouldering today, and I loved it. My arms and fingers are incredibly sore, but it's a great workout. You're building strength AND control, which I miss in most weightlifting.

Anyway, on the vertical wall I pulled of the easiest routes and the second easiest routes, on the small overhang (maybe 20° or so) I pulled of the easiest one (3a to 4 c I think, probably less).

 

used to a lot when i was a pre-teen.




Climbed lots of stuff in yosemite.

 

I used to do it almost daily in high school. After school I would go bouldering by myself all the time. There's a million places to go around here that aren't more than 15 minutes away.

I always enjoyed bouldering more than a wall, because it didn't require a second person or a harness - just a crash pad, shoes and a chalk bag, all of which I kept in my car.

Now I'm 6'1" and 185 lbs., and pull ups are hard, let alone rock climbing.