Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Rock Climbing
Do you think you might enjoy outdoor rock climbing? Before you try and take on this exciting adventure, there are some things you should know.
Have you ever looked at the sheer face of a cliff and thought to yourself, “I bet I could climb that”? If so, you might enjoy the fun of climbing rocks and going up to the top of steep cliffs in a manner that most people would never try. Of course, you can’t expect to be an expert overnight and need to start from the beginning with some guided steps and things to know.
Are there different types of climbing?
Climbing is broken down into three types to give you a few ways to enjoy this outdoor sport. These three types are bouldering, top roping, and multi-pitch climbing.
Bouldering
This type of climbing happens near the ground without any ropes. Spotters or foam crash pads provide a landing place for climbers when they fall. This can be one of the best ways to get started climbing, but it doesn’t give you the adventures of going up the sheer rock face of a large cliff.
Top rope climbing
During this type of outdoor rock climbing, a person at the top of the destination lowers a rope to the climbers at the bottom of the cliff. This situation gives the type of climbing its name because the rope comes from above. The climber ascends the rope while another person on the bottom holds the rope to provide some added safety. This gives climbers a great feeling of going up the cliff while having a rope and a spotter available for safety.
Multi-pitch climbing
Experienced climbers use special hardware to place in the cracks of rocks as they go up the cliff. They clip these metal pieces to the rope using carabiners or metal clips while other climbers follow up to the ledge as the lead climber reaches the top. The leader eventually attaches their harness to an anchor, which is something solid, and then acts as the belayer to bring the follower up to the same ledge.
There are other types of climbing, but they are not suitable for beginners and can be dangerous. Solo climbing is only for the most fit and experienced climbers and even then, several climbers fall to their deaths each year.
How do you get back down?
One of the easiest and most successful ways to get down from a high point is to rappel to the ground. This is done by securing one end of the rope behind you and pushing off of the rock face with your feet. As you descend, you let out some rope and drop a few feet at a time until you reach the bottom where you began. Rappelling to the ground is one of the most exciting and fun parts of outdoor rock climbing.
Communication is essential
Climbing seems like an individual sport but considering there are generally two to three people sharing a rope at the same time, its truly a team activity. Like any other team activity, communication is key to success. You’ll need to practice commands, responses, how to handle stressful situations, and what to do in case of an emergency. These things can help save your life and the lives of others in the climb with you.
Work on your technique
The first time you experience outdoor rock climbing, you might make a few mistakes, but as long as you have experienced team members, you should be fine. Taking classes or working with a group allows you to focus on your technique and perfect it. No matter the rock face in front of you, these general tips will help improve your technique:
- Climb with your eyes first. Look for hand and foot holds.
- Try various holds. You might be surprised how strong a small hold can keep you secure.
- Climb with your legs, not your arms. This means finding good foot holds first before searching for the right hand holds.
- Try to follow your rope. Avoid moving too far to one side or the other.
- Keep your heels down. This means sticking your butt out and putting as much foot on the rock as you can.
- Wear your helmet.
Outdoor rock climbing can be one of the most exciting and fun activities that you’ll enjoy. After each climb, you’ll probably find yourself planning the next trip to another great rock to tackle it. You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world when climbing; just remember to be safe and practice good techniques.