Our Best Tips for Rock Climbing

Whether you’re trying out one of the gorgeous climbing areas in North Carolina or working in a climbing gym close to home, rock climbing is an exhilarating experience. Climbers challenge their ability to concentrate, their patience, and their physical strength, so a successful climb is something to celebrate. Like any complex activity, there’s a lot to learn about rock climbing. We think these tips may help you focus on the essentials:

Different Types of Climbing

In a good climbing gym, you’ll usually find three types of climbing available:

• Bouldering, where you stay at a relatively low height and climb without a rope or harness. A crash pad sits below the wall to cushion any falls.
• Top-rope climbing with a rope secured to your harness. The rope then runs up through an overhead anchor and back down to your belayer.
• Lead climbing, also with a rope and harness. Here the climber clips the rope into a series of quickdraws on the wall while the belayer handles the free end from the floor.

Climbing Techniques

Reaching the top of a climb takes more than strength and stamina. You’ll best be able to tackle this challenge if you’ve learned about the techniques climbers use in a successful climb. Find out how to choose hand and foot holds, how close to stay to the wall, and how to handle a fall by practicing at a climbing gym before setting out to scale the nearest cliff.

Pre-climb Preparation

It should go without saying that warming up and stretching before beginning a climb is a good idea, but not every climber heeds this advice. Those who don’t, pay for it later with pulled muscles. And learn how to preview and read your route before taking step one up the wall. You don’t want to find out you went the wrong way when you’re 20 feet up.

Partner Trust

One of the most important decisions climbers make is their choice of climbing partner. You need someone with patience to spare, a steady temperament, and a long attention span. Although The Ultimate Climbing gym offers auto belays, it’s good to find a climbing gym that offers belaying instruction for you and your partner, so everyone knows what they are doing.

Finally, relax. Over-tensed muscles tire quickly. Take your time and have fun! 

Next time you’re ready to climb and take action on these tips, try The Ultimate Climbing Gym in Greensboro.  Feel free to come as a group or a single climber.  It’s a very welcoming local climbing community and we’d love for you to be a part of it.