S.O.S

Anyone here ever go rock climbing or go to a rock climbing gym? I went this afternoon for the first time and its an awsome workout. My back and forarms feel pumped afterwards and with how hard you have to work it seems to be an awsome calorie burner. I would recomend trying this if you want to have a strong upper body or if you want to see just how strong your upper body is.

Mudge

Sawheet is a rock climber.

Kinesiology Vote @ Top 25 Deads Comp Bench
Motivation Bench form MaxCalc Charles Poliquin
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao-Tzu
I don't know any sources so don't ask - thanks

J'Bo

So am i Its a great back/forearm/leg workout and fun as hell

....and thats my $.02

S.O.S

Yeah it is really fun, but my back hurt like hell today. I think im gonna go to the climbing gym like once every other week so i can build size on my back with wieghts the other weeks. But my back definatly hurt more after climbing than any workout ive done with wieghts.

J'Bo

well the key is to use more legs so that your forearms and arms dont do all the work. make sure you concentrate on putting your center of gravity in line with your moves and always look for your holds before you make a move let me know how your doing

....and thats my $.02

Timmy301

YAA HOOOOOOO!!!!! I Have'nt been in years but, boy oh boy what fun it is! If I can remember, try to keep your waist in toward the face of the wall, it will help with your balance and save your arms. Also, whenever possible, keep your heels down this may help avoid your lower legs from getting the jitters!!!

Timmy301

S.O.S

Thanks for the advice J'Bo and i'll be sure to let you know. Im planning on going again next week. Also i think my back hurt so much because my friend and i where trying to climb up one part of the wall, that was on an angle, without using our legs just to see how far we could make it up.

Also how often to you go climbing?

Peace

S.O.S

Also thanks to you Timmy for the advice

Trump

What are the prices near you?

The place near me wants $17 to get in the door, then more money for the belay gear

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."

Timmy301

Only been to one "Climbin"Gym. I f ya get the chance, take a trip to a place where you can get on some real rock! It is one of the greatest things I have ever experinced in my life,and I am not to fond of heights.I guess I was able to put myself into a position where I felt comfortable.
Anyone here do any real big climbs?

My greatest was the Gallatin Tower,just outside of Bozeman Montana. I think it was over 900' straight up.

Thanks, Timmy301

MeatheadSam

Never did any climbing out west where the real "big walls" are but here in the southeast there are a few good cliffs I have scaled. I have not climbed since about 1996 however. Not enough time to commit to it at the level I would like to. I hate gyms. The climbing experience for me is all about the great outdoors.

Anyway, the largest cliff around here I climbed was Whitesides Mountain in North carolina, around 1200 feet, 7-800 of it verticle or overhung in places. I frequented Tallulah Gorge in North Georgia and it is in my opinion some of the best traditional rock climbing in the southeast. Looking Glass, Big Green, Laurel knob, Tennessee wall, Sand rock, and Linville Gorge are all great southern climbing crags.

As for plastic walls, not my preference. I did it for a short while betwwen climbs on real cliffs until my work schedule forced me to choose one or two activities to focus on. Cycling, (mountain biking and road cycling) and weight lifting were my choices.

If I ever have the kind of free time that staying in good climbing shape demands then I may do it again.

A note about climbing though. You can involve the muscles a lot when climbing for the pump but you will be a much more adept climber once you learn to weight the ligaments/tendons and minimize muscle dependance. Balance, finess, technique, will get you much farther up a cliff than raw power. Muscles will fatigue too early for extended climbs. You will develope phenominal grip and at one time I could do 45 wide grip chins in a single set at a bodyweight of 185. Could do 3 full single arm pull ups then also.

It is a wonderful experience. Find a competent climber who knows the ropes and get them to take you out. Get very familiar with all the equipment and safety before getting up on a cliff. You can get into big trouble real quick if you do not have the experience to handle unexpected scenarios. I had a felloow flip out on me once about 400 feet up off the base of a cliff and had to rappell both of us down the mountain. It took me 2 hours to accomplish this task with a 165 foot climbing rope which is the normal gear for a two party ascent where speed and weight is a factor. This fellow was a good climber but had never climbed over a couple of hundred feet. The bigger wall scared the shit outta him once the difficulty level increased.

Just a regular guy.

S.O.S

Trump, the place by me costs 40$ a one time fee cause they have to teach you how to baley then after that its like 18$ each time you go but that includes the baley gear. You can also get like monthly or yearly passes not sure of the price though ( usually a better deal) and depending on how much you go you can buy your own gear

S.O.S

I went to the climbing gym again today for 3 1/2 hours. Wanted to make sure i went before New Years. I tried using my legs a little more. It definetly made a differance. I also tried following set paths with harder grips. So my hands kinda burn.

I Are Baboon

I've only tried it once, when I was on a cruise a few months back. I was proud of myself for reaching the top of the wall on five different "paths." Not bad for a NEWBIE. I wanted to try some more, but my hands and forearms were completely shot. It was a shitload of fun.