About six years ago my then-girlfriend (now wife) rappelled (also known as abseiling) down a rock side and fell 50 feet uncontrollably, breaking almost everything from her waist down – she had to re-learn how to walk and has only recently started climbing again. Since then, I realized that not all rappelling techniques are equal … Read more
The definition of sport, according to the dictionary is: an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. Climbing is a sport as it uses significant physical exertion, skill, is competitive and is showcased on television for entertainment. Not only does climbing meet the … Read more
When I first started climbing, I was obsessed and wanted to climb every day. This got me thinking, how often should you climb? Climbers should climb between 3-4 days per week to get the most gains while also minimizing the chance of tendon injuries. If you climb more than 4 days per week, you significantly … Read more
Rock climbing is a great workout and you may be wondering how many calories a session of climbing burns so you can lose weight. For a climbing session that is moderately difficult, the average person burns the following amount of calories per hour, according to MET Value. A 100lbs person burns an average of 340 … Read more
The most important part of a harness is ensuring that you are wearing it correctly for safety. Luckily, learning it once is usually all you need to get it right. Here are the six steps to putting it on correctly: Orient the harness so the belay loop is facing forward Place your legs in each … Read more
Trad climbing gear has some overlap with sport climbing and in this case, quickdraws are relatively similar to sport climbing but there are some details that will influence what you purchase for your rack. Trad draws are lighter than typical quickdraws. The dogbone (nylon material between the two carabiners) is thinner than your sport climbing … Read more
Trad climbing is essential for many routes, especially multi-pitch routes but it can also be nerve-wracking. The added stress of placing your own protection instead of just clipping into pre-drilled bolts means that you’re more responsible for your safety and an error on your part can result in a ground fall. It sounds scary (it … Read more
Bouldering doesn’t require as much gear as rock climbing because most routes are up to 12ft and if you fall, there isn’t a belayer to prevent you from hitting the ground. For bouldering, the minimal gear you need includes a pair of climbing shoes and a crash pad. Most climbers also prefer chalk and a … Read more
A common mantra in Trad climbing is “the leader never falls.” Though it is ideal not to fall, the mantra may make you wonder how safe falling on gear actually is. When placed correctly, cams and nuts (gear used for trad climbing) are safe to fall on. Most gear covers 8-12 kN or 1,798-2,698 lbs … Read more
Hangboarding is known for being a great training tool for increasing your grip strength and grip technique. However, there is a lot of contradicting information for when it is safe to start hangboard training. When should boulders start hangboarding? The most common recommendation for boulderers is to wait until you have been bouldering for at … Read more