Rock Climbing

[Denchi]

Anyone else into this? My buddy and I started doing it regularly in September and I've just been super addicted to it. So far I've just been doing indoor gym stuff, but I know how to top-rope and lead-climb and all that stuff and I'm just itchin' to get outside.

Progress has been slow, I started out climbing 5.8, then quickly got to 5.9, and I haven't really top-roped in a while but I'd say I'm at about a 5.10+ - 5.11 range right now. I've been bouldering mostly since i've been traveling a lot by myself and I pulled my first V4 today. Just wondering if anyone else is into this, I'm so enamored by everything but I also know I'm real new to it (most of the people I talk to have at least been doing it for 3+ years) so I have time to get better.

I also just bought the new Chris Sharma video King Lines and it's amazing. If anyone here is even slightly interested in climbing, watch King Lines, it'll blow you away.

King Lines Trailer

[Ace-o-fire]

Anyone else into this? My buddy and I started doing it regularly in September and I've just been super addicted to it. So far I've just been doing indoor gym stuff, but I know how to top-rope and lead-climb and all that stuff and I'm just itchin' to get outside.

Progress has been slow, I started out climbing 5.8, then quickly got to 5.9, and I haven't really top-roped in a while but I'd say I'm at about a 5.10+ - 5.11 range right now. I've been bouldering mostly since i've been traveling a lot by myself and I pulled my first V4 today. Just wondering if anyone else is into this, I'm so enamored by everything but I also know I'm real new to it (most of the people I talk to have at least been doing it for 3+ years) so I have time to get better.

I also just bought the new Chris Sharma video King Lines and it's amazing. If anyone here is even slightly interested in climbing, watch King Lines, it'll blow you away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vEJS2AwGA8

The real thing and the gym are two very different things. If you really itching to go do the real thing you should take a course in out door climbing, they will go over knots and paths. If your really going to go try to have two veteran people take you 5 years + of out door. You take one and your buddy the other. They are generally helpful teaching you placement.

also rope and gear is a tone of fucking money so if your really into it get about 2k of gear after you have tried it out.

If you live any where near Lake Tahoe, Donnar’s pass is a really good place to learn. You can start a week at the basic wall and get to over hangs in no time. Best part is a lot of little shops on the way up you can ask for path maps.

[Blarg]

I did a fair amount (1-3 times a week) of indoor rock climbing over a period of a month or 2, I was kinda like yourself where I started around a 5.9 and got up to the easier 5.11's when I stopped. I think I had just learned to top rope the week before too lol, I wish I was still doing it but I don't live at home so I can't get to a gym too easily. It's really an excellent and very fun way to get in shape, your forearms will get an amazing workout and your hands will get much stronger as well.

[Pyro]

I don't really do any big climbs as there really isn't anything near me. I tend to do a lot of bouldering and spend outrageous amounts of time at Georgia Tech's gym. My usual spots were Boat Rock in Georgia and Horse Pens 40 in Alabama. In Arizona there is a lot of bouldering south of Flagstaff and you also might want to check out Queen Creek.

[BIGSTIC]

Back in college i was either climbing or skiing. Never was formaly trained in climbing, which i highly advise against. It was just something one of my friends braught up that his room mate had rope and harnesess he never used so we went up and made a go of it. Looking back i am lucky i never died from not knowing how to tie a knot or properly secure your rope. But i have to admit it was hella fun and a great workout. At the moment i live about 5 miles from an amazing outdoor climbing wall. Although i havent touched climbing in 5 years due to me getting lazy and not having the time/cash for the gear anymore. Yeah work got the best of me and also got into Rock Crawling wich too all my $$$. This thread makes me want to take it back up.

[Denchi]

Yeah it is a super expensive hobby....... I just moved to Flagstaff, AZ and am trying to get a job at an outdoor shop. So if that works out I'd get a severe discount on my equipment which would be awesome.

But until I find a cute girl to belay me at the gym up here (Still don't know anyone) I'll be bouldering, which isn't as expensive. It is a super good workout. I'm a skinny guy and since starting to climb I've definitely gotten bigger pretty much everywhere in my upper body which is awesome. But my fingers are constantly throbbing even when I'm not climbing (not painful, can just tell they've been worked hard) so I am a little worried about injuring myself. I went from V1-V4 just this last month so I might be straining my tendons a bit much.

good to hear there are other climbers in the world. Keep the good outdoor spots coming, I'm writing them down lol.

Have any of you ever done Trad climbing? That seems like something I might not wanna try....I might just stick to Sport

[Kinto]

I never had the means to actually climb but if I ever got ther chance to I'd do it in a second. I remember seeing a video (http://current.com/items/76401762_climbing_the_crack) and ever since then it made me want to do it more and more.

[Ace-o-fire]

Yeah it is a super expensive hobby....... I just moved to Flagstaff, AZ and am trying to get a job at an outdoor shop. So if that works out I'd get a severe discount on my equipment which would be awesome.

But until I find a cute girl to belay me at the gym up here (Still don't know anyone) I'll be bouldering, which isn't as expensive. It is a super good workout. I'm a skinny guy and since starting to climb I've definitely gotten bigger pretty much everywhere in my upper body which is awesome. But my fingers are constantly throbbing even when I'm not climbing (not painful, can just tell they've been worked hard) so I am a little worried about injuring myself. I went from V1-V4 just this last month so I might be straining my tendons a bit much.

good to hear there are other climbers in the world. Keep the good outdoor spots coming, I'm writing them down lol.

Have any of you ever done Trad climbing? That seems like something I might not wanna try....I might just stick to Sport

Traditional climbing sucks. The gear is the worst part. Try having to haul about 70 pounds of gear and 30 pounds of rope just blows. The exlopration and paths are what makes it fun.

[Pyro]

I've got a few friends who actually done The Shield at El Capitan and I'd love to be able to go out and do that for a few days.