Why Start Rock Climbing?

Rock climbing can be what you make of it. For some people scaling mountains is a way of life, for others it is merely a way for them to escape the trouble and worries of the outside world. There are several types of mountain climbing and several ways to get started in them. Probably the best way for any person to get a taste of climbing is to take some time and visit an indoor rock climbing gym.

Why Join a Gym?

Gyms are a great way for people with any type of schedule to get there feet wet in rock climbing. Just because you work a 9-5 job and spend your weekends working in the yard does not mean you don't have time to learn how to rock climb. The beauty of the indoor rock climbing gym is that most are open into the late hours of the night.

Remember, for some hard core climbers it's a way life. Another great advantage to indoor rock climbing gyms is that they provide a controlled environment. Should you enjoy the sport of rock climbing so much that you decide to go out on some guided climbs you will soon appreciate the cool, dry environment that the rock climbing gym provides. Some people like it so much that they never climb any where other than the gym. These people are called gym rats.

Indoor rock climbing gyms are also great ways to meet other climbers. You can meet people of the same climbing abilities as your self. Then you can practice with each other and help keep each other motivated to do better. You can also meet more experienced climbers that can help you in your learning and provide answers to questions you may have about the sport, gear, or techniques. Most gyms also plan outdoor climbs in the area. These are great ways to get a taste of climbing outdoors in a very safe environment.

How to Get Started

FIND A INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING GYM

Almost every major city and some smaller ones have very nice indoor rock climbing gyms. The first place to start looking for a gym in your area is the local phone book. If there is not one in your city try looking in the phone book for the largest city that is close to you. Rock climbing gyms don't make much money so they need to be in very prime locations to get as many climbers in the doors as they can. Most of these indoor rock climbing gyms will also have websites online. The websites will give you some more detailed information about prices and directions.

TAKE A CLASS

Once you find an indoor rock climbing gym that is close to home you will want to see if these gyms offer any types of classes. Most indoor rock climbing gyms offer introductory classes to rock climbing that will teach you the basics about equipment, using your body, and different climbing techniques. These classes will also teach you proper climbing etiquette and how belay and top rope with a partner. These are very important aspects of climbing to learn if you think you may like to plan your own climbs one day.

BECOME A MEMBER

Once you find an indoor rock climbing gym that you like, become a member of it. It is a lot of money up front for a full year long membership but hopefully all that money you spent will help to keep you coming back to the gym. The more time you spend at the gym the better you will become. It is also a lot less expensive to join for a year than to pay the rental fees once a week.

Gear You Need

When you first start out rock climbing there are only a few piece of gear you need. However, if you start to do outdoor climb, more advanced climbs, or some mountaineering you will need more gear. Take the time to talk to experienced climbers before you plan any trips of your own.

HARNESS

The harness is the item that connects you to the rope. This piece of equipment can cost anywhere from $50 to over a hundred. If you are just starting out there is no reason to get anything more than the basic harness system. Indoor rock climbing gyms will rent these out if you're still not sure that climbing is for you.

CLIMBING SHOES

When shopping for climbing shoes you want to get the tightest pair of shoes that you can still move around in comfortably. As a rule of thumb you should be able to wiggle all your toes, even if it's just a little bit. These will cost around $60 and up. These too are available at the gym.

CHALK BAG

These come in all sorts of cool designs. These are made to hold your climbing chalk. This chalk helps to keep your hands dry while you climb so that you won't slip out of hand holds. These usually cost around $15.

BELAY DEVICE

This piece of device is clipped to your harness by way of a carabineer. This device is what will let you help other climbers up the wall. When you are setting belay you are the person that pulls up the slack of the person climbing and pulls the rope tight if the climber should start to slip or fall.

CARIBINERS

When you first start out climbing you won't need more than 2 or 3 of these. These are pieces of equipment that help you connect to the rope, mountain, or other climbing devices. The more you get into climbing the more of these you will need.

What's Next?

Once you feel comfortable climbing indoors see if you can find a trip in your area for new climbers. Try talking to some of the more experienced climbers in your gym if the gym its self does not provide any trips. See if they would be interested in taking you out on a climb or if you could tag along on one of their trips. Climbing on real rock is the first step to a lifetime obsession with rock climbing.