Climbing can be a rewarding, energetic activity that helps build strength and self-confidence. Many beginners start at an indoor climbing gym where they can learn the fundamentals and try various climbs. Here’s what you should do when learning how to start rock climbing.
Once you have learned the fundamentals of climbing and belaying, it is time to advance to top-rope climbing outdoors.
Basics
Rock climbing requires balance and core strength as well as finger and arm strength to be truly effective. Climbers also must learn to think on their feet; often finding the most efficient path through challenging maneuvers requires mental focus that may prove challenging for beginners; yet mental focus is crucial to becoming an accomplished climber.
Beginners often start off their climbing careers by bouldering, which involves climbing without ropes and harnesses. Bouldering can be simpler for novice climbers as you develop movement skills necessary for more advanced climbs; however, some find bouldering intimidating; these individuals might prefer top-roped climbing at either a gym or outdoors as their gateway into this form of exercise.
Top-rope climbing involves having a partner set the rope at the base of a wall, secure it, and then follow you up the rock or walls. This type of climbing provides beginners with a safe way to explore this sport since falls or fatigue are protected against. But still there are technical skills you must learn, such as checking and communicating with belayers as well as understanding commands used by climbers.
Your next challenge should be learning how to choose an indoor climbing route that matches your skill level. Most indoor routes use the Yosemite Decimal System, which assigns numbers based on difficulty but doesn’t measure danger; for beginners this means selecting routes with numbers in the low to mid-range ranges.
Before venturing beyond beginner climbing routes, it’s advisable to spend ample time in the beginner area of a gym until you feel ready to progress further. Many beginner climbers make the mistake of pushing too hard or trying harder routes than they are ready for and injuring themselves as a result. Also important: allowing calluses and blisters on hands so that gripping the holds comfortably becomes second nature.
One final piece of advice for new climbers: be respectful to other climbers. Climbing requires intense concentration, so don’t allow another climber to disrupt your flow. Also, refrain from offering advice (known as beta) until asked; most climbers prefer finding solutions on their own.
Equipment
Beginning climbing requires several key pieces of equipment: a climbing helmet, harness and belay device with carabiners that you can rent at most indoor rock climbing walls. Quickdraws – short fabric slings that allow climbers to set up top-rope climbs by clipping into bolts – may also be useful; most indoor walls provide these but it might be prudent if climbing outdoors as these may not usually be provided.
Climbers tend to be generous with their gear, sharing what they have. However, it is essential that any piece of equipment used be thoroughly cleaned first – clipping into holds while someone brushes them can damage or dislodge them, leading to injury for yourself or the climber in question.
As well as cleaning, outdoor climbing requires setting up and clearing anchors. A common method involves using four locking carabiners and two long slings to form a personal anchor system you can attach yourself to at the beginning of a route – commonly referred to as “cleaning.” You can then use these to lower climbers down their route back down safely when finished and bring them back down when finished.
Climbing shoes are essential. These specially-designed trainers fit more securely, so you can better feel the holds on the rockface, and provide extra comfort once climbing has ended.
Rock climbing comes in many different forms, but for beginners top-rope may be the ideal approach. Here, the climber attaches their harness to a rope which passes from somewhere at the top of their route – usually bolts – down through their route until reaching another person, called a belayer, who holds tight to keep their climber safe while they ascend their route. This process is known as belaying.
Your climbing protection includes bits that clip into rocks to stop you falling off the end of your rope. Cams are one of the most commonly used forms, distinguished by their color and head width; other climbing pieces such as hexes can fit into small slots where cams won’t or nuts work great for tight corners on rock formations.
Top-roping
Climbers depend on ropes to prevent falls from distance, with top-roping being the safest and most popular form of climbing. This approach can be found both indoor climbing gyms and outdoor crags; when top-roping begins, climbers wear harnesses with locking carabiners that secure them to anchors on walls via belay stations; once secured to their anchor, climbers use various colored handholds to navigate obstacles up the wall before signalling their belayer by saying, “On belay.”
Belay devices are used to keep rope taut in order to catch and lower climbers in an accident and return them safely. At first, new climbers should work with an instructor trained in top-rope climbing to learn how to properly set up and use their belay system, following all verbal commands exchanged between climber and belayer to ensure safe climbing conditions on rock terrain.
As you become more adept and develop confidence, it is time to move beyond the basic skills of top-roping. Once this step has been mastered, practice various climbing moves such as smearing, flagging and backstepping to conserve energy and stay safe while conserving energy on the wall. Furthermore, learning how to engage your core can assist with maintaining balance against gravity forces.
Once you’re comfortable leaving the safety of the ground, lead climbing is another worthwhile progression. This advanced technique involves tying into the sharp end of a rope and traversing up walls without an additional safety net underneath you. Some climbers prefer this step entirely while others find that lead climbing helps them push themselves more physically and mentally while experiencing more of what nature offers them.
Once you’re comfortable with lead climbing, you can return to either an indoor or outdoor climbing environment and continue learning and developing your skills. Many climbers find rock climbing truly addictive; many choose a career in rock climbing while some simply continue enjoying casually.
Climbing outdoors
Climbing outdoors can be daunting for beginner climbers, particularly novices. There is much more to consider outside than within a controlled gym environment such as weather and falling off rocks (although even at gyms this does still happen). When climbing indoors or outside it is always essential to practice safe climbing techniques – that means using appropriate equipment correctly as well as abiding by all climbing rules and adhering to outdoor climbing etiquette rules.
Starting outdoor climbing safely requires learning the necessary skills from an experienced climber or guide, who will teach them in an organized fashion. Once these have been mastered, then exploring routes on your own becomes an option.
Based on your location, this can range from as simple as using a guide book to locate an attractive route, to learning how to set up and enter it, or more complex steps such as learning how to set up a top rope with quick clip system (known as “protection”) on either side of a wall; or learning lead climbing without a belay belay system.
Climbing outdoors demands that climbers abide by Leave No Trace principles and respect for the fragile ecosystem, such as staying on established trails, packing out trash and erasing tick marks. Climbing requires physical strength and endurance – take your time as you build strength while training slowly for climbing; be patient with yourself as your body adjusts – you may feel discomfort as new muscles wake up; this is perfectly normal as your strength increases with training!
One of the keys to being a successful climber is cultivating a healthy relationship with your belay partner. Feeling safe and at ease while climbing requires developing this important relationship; to strengthen it, enrolling in an introductory course at your gym or from a certified instructor may help build that comfort and confidence needed for both indoor and outdoor climbing environments.
