By: Nate Hemmert
Rock climbing is an extremely intense sport. It’s both physically and mentally challenging, and as with most adventurous sports it carries some risk with it. But by doing your part, learning some of the proper techniques, and using the right safety equipment you can reduce the risk of injury.
First things first, the equipment – where to start and how to know you’re getting the right stuff. The first thing you going to need is a harness. A rope doesn’t do you much good without a harness. There are many different styles of climbing harnesses out there, ranging in price from a mere $40 all the way up to $150, but realistically a basic harness is more than suitable for the beginning climber. As long as it’s a climbing harness you’re good to go. As far as fit is concerned, find the correct waist fitting and the harness can be tightened from there. A proper climbing harness should fit rather snuggly – it is what’s keeping you connected to the rope after all. A good rule of thumb is to put your flattened hand through the waist of your harness as you’re wearing it, put your hand into a fist and if you can’t pull it back out you’re all set. Guys don’t worry these harnesses disperse the weight away from the important areas! Of course, I also have to mention a helmet - but just like everything else, it's optional - the harness: not so much!
Next comes the rope; and it’s not just any rope we’re talking about here. Sorry, you can’t just go grab any old rope from the tool shed (well, you could but it’s probably not the safest idea)! Climbing ropes are specially made; they have more elasticity than a typical rope helping to absorb the weight and fall of a climber. Climbing ropes vary only slightly from one another– simple things like length and the fiber and weave densities. Generally though, any climbing rope will work fine for a beginner. Experienced climbers tend to prefer a finer fiber that’s more tightly wound as they tend to last longer and are easier to handle. The most important thing about a climbing rope is to keep it clean! Dirt and debris greatly damage the integrity of the rope and its overall safety. To curb this effect there are rope bags that you can purchase, which manage and protect the rope. These are pretty simple bags too; just make sure the tarp is out and coil the rope onto it. Dirt problem: solved!
Now onto the hardware itself – carabiners, cams, belay devices, etc. There are literally hundreds of different types of carabiners, but there’s no need to worry yourself with that right now. Especially since most beginning climbers are usually going out with someone a bit more experienced – and this person typically has the load-out you will need. Belay devices too, vary greatly. This is really just a matter of personal preference in how a particular device works, but from basic belays all the way to the ones with self-locking features, they all serve the same purpose. Cams are nothing for the novice, or even the intermediate, climber to worry about – these devices are for extreme climb paths, most of which have no direct path or have never been scaled before. Cams are an eco-friendly climbing tool as well; since they do not do any damage to the rock face. Again, you won’t have to worry about most of these items in the beginning, but when you do start building your own collection a belay and carabiners are the place to start. Remember this is safety equipment and it holds your life in it hands, so don’t buy just any keychain carabiner! Make sure you are shopping for all of your equipment at a trusted sports retailer – as long as you’re buying your equipment at a place like this you can be assured it is proper safety equipment! There are shoes available which are made specifically for rock climbing. They work wonders for the grip factor, but they aren’t necessarily required for the amateur climber. If this is a hobby your thinking about sticking with though, they are definitely recommended.
Now that you’ve got all of your equipment taken care of let’s start the climb! Planning here is required too. Never climb alone! You don’t want to end up like Aron Ralston – the climber who was forced to cut his own arm off! Be sure to allot enough time for possible delays, such as fatigue and other climbers on the path. You don’t want to be caught halfway through your climb and realize the suns almost gone!
As with all physically demanding sports, a thorough warm up is recommended. Many injuries occur due to cramped or strained muscles. To prevent this, begin with a light cardiovascular workout – maybe some jumping jacks. After you’ve warmed up be sure to get a good stretch in. This is especially important when rock climbing, as it is extremely strenuous on the joints and tendons. Most importantly though, know your body – if you have shoulder problems, avoid overhangs. As a rule of thumb: don’t do anything that hurts!
Proper climbing technique really takes a lifetime to develop, but with a few basics even the beginning climber can make it to the top of most paths. The most important thing, from this climber’s perspective, is learning to use your body’s natural rigidity and bone structure. When your arms or legs are bent it is sheer muscle power holding you onto the rock face, by keeping yourself straight-limbed when you’re climbing it helps to disburse weight to your bone structure, rather than putting all of the strain on your muscles. The other major climbing technique, which benefits climbers of every skill level, is to climb with your legs! A person’s legs are much more powerful than their arms. As you’re making your way up the rock face, it should be your legs that are getting you up there. When climbing, the arms are primarily use for stabilization – helping hold you to rock face, while your legs are supporting your weight. Between these two basic techniques you can be sure to preserve you energy and enjoy many climbs to come.
With just a little bit of information and the proper safety equipment, rock climbing can become a minimally dangerous and exciting new hobby for just about anyone! Although not for those with a fear of heights, climbing is a truly invigorating and addictive thrill. So if you don’t mind hanging by a rope atop a ninety foot cliff, let’s get out there and climb!
No comments:
Post a Comment