Climbing Rocks - Rock Climbing

Artreus

A couple of months ago I started really getting into rock climbing. The majority of it is in a great climbing gym but over spring break I managed to take a trip out to Arkansas to do me some real rock climbing outside.





I've posted about it here and there and it seems like we have more people who are into climbing than you'd think would be on a video game forum. So I'm making a thread to talk about it because I like talking about climbing.

It's fun.

I might add an actual informative OP about climbing later but this will have to do for now. Because I am going to go climb.

LTM

I fully support this thread <server busy>

risumon

I've only been once in a climbing gym, but it was awesome. I always loved climbing shit as a kid and definitely have been wanting to get back into it. I know we have gyms here, but the downside is I don't have anyone to go to. I think they may have some programs for finding a buddy, but I have been too lazy to find out.

I know I could just go and boulder around on the walls, but that isn't as much fun.

Climbing is cool.

Nirya

Whenever an event would have a rock climbing wall, I would have my $5 out ready to climb it. I think I figured that I would impress the ladies by making it all the way to the top.

But then you get to the top and all you see are people waiting for you to come down so they can climb.

Either way, climbing is fun.

POKÉMON MASTER WT SHERMAN

there's a climbing gym in rockville i've wanted to check out for a few months, it seems like it would be a fun thing to get into

but none of my friends want to try it

:<

RedZero

There is a place in Dulles that offers a three-session basics course for $95 that I've been looking at. After that membership is $95 to start and $65 per month, which I guess isn't too bad? Not much to compare it with around here.

Any suggestions on good places to look at gear, beyond REI?

Squall

I starting climbing on the indoor wall on campus last year and it's been a blast

haven't had much time lately to go since it's my last semester

i want to start outdoor climbing this summer, but i need to learn how to lead-climb first

losing about 10lbs would help out a lot too; i've been climbing 5.9s for a while but cant get over that hump (gotta work on technique)

Squall

also the price here on campus is great

$50 for a year pass, just need to be a student or in the alumni organization

Peccavi

I actually have a rock climbing lesson Thursday night, should be fun. After, I've got a 15 day pass at the gym, during which I'll go a few more times and see if I want a membership.

Anosognos

I would like to climb.

However, it's unlikely I will ever live in a place with anything to climb outdoors. The prospect of doing a lot of indoor climbing and making trips once or twice a year to climb outside is not compelling.

Septus

Ugh, it's $75 a month at the local rock gym here, and it would cost even more than that to use my alumni gym I think, because it's such a sweet rec center.

It's kind of a daunting amount, when taken with really expensive shoes, before I know that I would really get into it.

Crashmo

I should look into climbing around here

There's an odd satisfaction that comes with grappling your way up a wall, and it's been much too long.

Fire Truck

I was on that same trip as Artreus:



Here's me taking an awesome fall while leading Crimp Scampi, probably the most fun outdoor route I've done. About half a second after this picture was taken my ass was planted firmly on my belayer's face:



I love climbing. Been at it for a year and a half or so. But I recently moved to a place where the nearest gym is over an hour away, and I'm broke, so I'm getting fairly rusty.

Squall

you can get a decent pair of climbing shoes for $60-70

Fire Truck

Septus wrote: »

Ugh, it's $75 a month at the local rock gym here, and it would cost even more than that to use my alumni gym I think, because it's such a sweet rec center.

It's kind of a daunting amount, when taken with really expensive shoes, before I know that I would really get into it.

Holy shit that is expensive.

Puts the 35 a month I have to pay in perspective...

Hacksaw

Incoming Blake post in 3...

2...

1...

Crashmo

Huh apparently there is a climbing place here built in/around an old co-op silo, complete with winter ice-climbing!

I can't decide if this looks fun or intensely horrifying

Also I'm not too sure how I haven't noticed this place right off the interstate by the most popular theater in the state

Fire Truck

I'd love to ice climb. I learned a few basic techniques a while back, and it'd be rad to actually develop that skill set.

Ice gear is expensive though.

Darkness Mundus

I'm going to go with horrifying.

Fire Truck

That route on the outside of the silo looks rad.

Crashmo

I'm getting claustrophobic just looking at dudes climb into those dark towers, and I didn't even think I was claustrophobic

Seems like a good way to conquer a few fears at once.

Blake T

Septus wrote: »

Ugh, it's $75 a month at the local rock gym here, and it would cost even more than that to use my alumni gym I think, because it's such a sweet rec center.

It's kind of a daunting amount, when taken with really expensive shoes, before I know that I would really get into it.

Check closely.

Most gyms have one off visits for ten bucks or so or you can get a frequent visitors pass where you buy a block of climbs all at once.

Caveman Paws

I prefer tree climbing. The poor mans rock climbing. All the same fun of climbing up and maybe falling to your doom with no money down.

Now, if I can only start doing it sober and during the day...

YaYa

http://foddy.net/GIRP.html

Crashmo

no yaya nooooooo

pooka

Crashmo, do you typically go to Bricktown or drive east (e- oops) of downtown? i mean, it's not like the silos stand out as being anything other than grain silos... that said, it's a fun place, and rather impressive from the inside. i never actually climbed there, but i remember their prices being pretty reasonable.

if anyone wants to go backapacking, bouldering or climbing in Oklahoma (stop laughing, damnit!), Charon's Garden near the Wichita Wildlife Refuge is a good time, lots of choice spots. i was born near there, so i have a (largely uninformed) fondness for the area.

Munkus Beaver

I have been 100% barred from engaging in this activity forthenear future.

Blake T

Someone go to my Facebook and find all of my climbing photos for me as I am lazy.

Blake T

Munkus I feel a little bad about this because I totally encouraged you to go to the gym.

Not super bad though.

Crashmo

I admit I don't go to Bricktown near as much now that I live in Norman, especially with the Warren Theater being so close by.

I did spend quite a bit of my youth racing up and down those Wichitas, though never the cliff faces or any of those technical climbing spots.

Artreus

God. Third day in a row of biking the 6 miles to the gym and then bouldering. Although today I did a bit of toproping.

Everything hurts.

Definitely improving in the bouldering area though. I'm able to do a bunch of V2s and maaybe a V3-. Still have to build up a lot of strength though. I really need to start eating more so I can actually build the muscle I need instead of having all that work go to waste.

Atheraal

i love indoor bouldering, mostly because i hate harnesses and belaying.

it's like a full-body contact puzzle

Munkus Beaver

Blake T wrote: »

Munkus I feel a little bad about this because I totally encouraged you to go to the gym.

Not super bad though.

I get to call you Blanket from now on.

Blake T

I actually really enjoy lead belay it is an interesting challenge being a good lead belayer.

Artreus

Also I love the climbing gym I live near. It is a really good gym in general and it is about $40 a month, with a free month if you pay for a 6-month thing.

I want to get back outside sometime though. There is that place in Kentucky I might be able to go to and maybe we can plan another trip for Arkansas sometime. It was really fantastic. I just don't know how destitute I will be this summer. also I need to buy my own harness and possibly a rope but stuff is expensive.

Blake T

Munkus Beaver wrote: »

Blake T wrote: »

Munkus I feel a little bad about this because I totally encouraged you to go to the gym.

Not super bad though.

I get to call you Blanket from now on.

Well it's better than "the reason why I am currently shitting blood" I suppose.

Blake T

Artreus wrote: »

Also I love the climbing gym I live near. It is a really good gym in general and it is about $40 a month, with a free month if you pay for a 6-month thing.

I want to get back outside sometime though. There is that place in Kentucky I might be able to go to and maybe we can plan another trip for Arkansas sometime. It was really fantastic. I just don't know how destitute I will be this summer. also I need to buy my own harness and possibly a rope but stuff is expensive.

HAH.

HAH I SAY.

Everything is twice to three times the price over here.

Artreus

Blake T wrote: »

I actually really enjoy lead belay it is an interesting challenge being a good lead belayer.

Yeah it is way different from toprope belaying with a grigri. In the latter situation I tend to lose focus and pay attention to other climbers and just automatically take in slack. But with lead belaying you need to be focused all the time and paying attention to your climber. It is a much more active experience.

Also catching falls is way more fun on lead.

pooka

i never did get climbing shoes/harness/etc., so all this lovely limestone bouldering near Tulsa is wasted on me, feh. i tended to prefer face climbs, anyway.

[tiny]Blarney Castle grounds, yo. let's just say i'm 'whimsical.'[/tiny]

god, lead climbing is a frightening thought -- too much responsibility.

Artreus

Damnit. I wrote a post about lead climbing being scary and also falling and almost kicking my belayer in the face but the server ate it. So just pretend I said something really interesting.

AMP'd

sport lead isn't any scarier than climbing in a gym

trad lead is like

get years of experience, man

also bouldering is the most fun you can have with your clothes on