Are you planning to go on your first rock climbing trip with your friends? Rock climbing is not that simple, but these rock climbing tips should help! You should really be prepared before you go out on your first hike. One needs to be in physical shape. Rock climbing requires you to be fit and also to have the right energy for climbing up all those steep rocks. Go out on a hike on your own to get yourself into the right shape you need to be in for a real rock climb. Here are 10 tips about rock climbing that you should know.
1. Get Your Legs into Shape
Rock climbing is all about using your leg strength. Go to the gym and work out your legs so they won’t easily get tired hiking up each rock. It’s never a good thing if you feel your legs locking up and you can barely move another step. Be able to flex your legs. Strengthen those core muscles so you can reach your legs across to other rocks that may not be in the closest reach.
Muscles are not used to this sport yet which is why you have to adjust them to this new activity. The muscles build faster than tendons and can build more stress.
2. Buy the Right Rock Climbing Shoes
Shoes make a huge difference when you are rock climbing. The best tip is that you should never wear shoes that are open-toed. Little pebbles can easily get stuck, hurting your feet.
Get advice from a shoe specialist to fit you with the right hiking shoes. Instead of going online to buy a shoe that won’t even fit, go to a store and try shoes on. Having the wrong shoes on during a rock climb only makes for a miserable hike.
Aside from training on the rock wall indoors, you should go for a hike outdoors. That is the best way to get yourself adjusted to your climbing shoes.
Want to know what the best store is to buy your hiking gear. REI stores are the best places to find all the equipment you will need.
3. Practice on the Rock Wall
The steeper you’re climbing up that mountain the more you’ll find how hard you have to grip the rocks. Keep in mind that these rocks can easily come loose. Practice on a rock wall. Rock climbers have advised that one should pretend the holds on the rock wall are made of glass. Think about it. You should move quickly.
Don’t spend time on the rocks thinking over your day. Always stay focused. And stay close to the wall. Before you start your training, you should be aware of the vertical angle in which you will be climbing.
Don’t keep your back straight. It will only strain your body. Stick your butt out. This stature helps you find your center of gravity. This technique allows you to consider each movement you make and place your hands and feet in the precise places.
4. Start Out Your Training Slow
There is no need to strain yourself before you take that big hike. How are you going to get up that mountain if you do a vigorous training session in the weeks before your big hike?
This advice also goes to those who are professionals at rock climbing. Slowly warm yourselves up to get into shape. You have time. What’s important is that you should not take things too seriously.
Don’t be afraid to fail. We all have our own frame of time for our muscles to get the right strength. Make expectations for yourself each day to strengthen your muscles. Try hard during each session. Besides strengthing your muscles, you are also helping your own mental attitude.
Once you feel that it is time to move outside, again take your hikes slow. Don’t hike up the mountain that you are planning to do the rock climb on as a warm-up. Find little areas that have trails to loosen up your legs. Climbing outdoors gives you more motivation to improve your strength
5. Get Help from a Professional Coach
You’re not going to do this alone. Get a professional coach to help give you tips through the rock climbing process. It’s no shame to get help.
A professional will teach you how to change your core muscles, how to grip rocks, and what else you should be aware of prior to your hike. It’s a chance to watch another climber take mental notes about techniques. Watching is the best tactic when trying to learn anything.
Just because the trainer has more experience never means that you should be ashamed if you are not up to their level. You should know that it is never a bad thing to fail. Failing helps you learn what you can do to improve your training in the future. Don’t get frustrated because it will only mess up your motivation. Stay relaxed and remember to breathe.
6. Trust Your Feet to Guide You
In actuality, your feet are what guide you through the rock climbing process. Rock climbing is all about your feet. Trust your feet instead of your arms to help climb the mountain. Push with your feet once you pull yourself up with your arms. Use your feet properly. This is no time to have two left feet.
Practicing helps you become a better climber. When you first start out, watch your feet. Then, once you get to real rock climbing, look ahead of you instead of down at your feet. Looking at your feet distracts you from reaching your goal. Watch each foothold you place them into. Each foothold is different for a reason. Now, it is a test to see if it feels uncomfortable or right.
This is the best way to stabilize your balance. Being honest is essential in rock climbing. Eventually, you will get the hang of it (no pun intended). Think before you move.
7. What to do with Your Arms
Keep your arms straight when rock climbing. Always keep your hands out in front of you so you can see them. Now, it is time to do pull-ups because you need all the arm strength that you can get. Climb with straight arms and then relax them when you grab something that helps support you. You are going to find that this advice will help save a lot of energy.
Hiking on a rock wall and outside are two very different forms which you have to try. Your techniques will only improve if you climb outside. Flex your arms in the positions that you are recommended to climb in. Blisters are sure to form on your hands. That’s why you should wrap your hands in athletic tape to prevent painful blisters. That’s not going to make rock climbing any easier.
8. The Importance of Warming Up
Never start a strenuous exercise without warming up! You’re only going to wear yourself out easier. You need to warm up your body before rock climbing to reduce the risk of injury or worse, pulling a muscle in your body. Stretch your legs, back and arms. Other than stretching take a job to get the blood flowing.
Take care of your body. You will perform better after warming up. Rock climbing is both a physical and mental work out.
9. Importance of Hydration Before a Rock Climb
Aside from all the warming up and training that is essential to your first rock climb, hydration is a major factor that you should never forget about. Think about how much you are going to sweat along your hike. Climbing is very strenuous. Your backpack can only handle enough space which is why you should pack a small amount.
Take a water bottle or two or even a hydration pack. A couple of hours, or even the night before, to get your body ready for this exercise. Take a rest every twenty minutes or when you feel that you need a break. Keep yourself hydrated. Definitely, drink water after your climb to refuel the liquids in your system.
10. Have a Positive Attitude
The most important piece of advice for any rock climber is to never give up in the training process or during the hike. We need to believe in ourselves. Hiking is a risk that you need to take. One other tip is that you should hike with people who have the right motivation instead of those with negativity. That affects your performance. Hiking with people who motivated and positive helps you stay motivated. During the climb, you can cheer each other on and share stories during breaks.
One more thing is that rock climbing should be fun. Have fun, stay positive, and most importantly be safe. Make the right decisions. What is the reason that you are doing this? Climb for the experience. Go to bed the night before and get a good night’s sleep. Never be afraid to ask for help or advice during your first hike. The results are what make the climb worth it.
