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General Climbing Discussion

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getting started?

prentice

12-Oct-2009
5:31:44 PM

hey there. i have climbed arapiles and morielta and indoor with my school and am ver interested in starting up my self. just wondering what things i need apart from harnes, chalk and shoes... do i need to get a certificate or something to say that i can climb with my friends who are also a little experianced?
cheers.

nmonteith

12-Oct-2009
5:41:26 PM

On 12/10/2009 prentice wrote:
> do i need to get a certificate
>or something to say that i can climb with my friends who are also a little
>experianced?
>cheers.

Climbing does not require any certification to get out there on the real rock! However its good to get some sort of training (from a guide, club, mentor or a book) before you take to the rock. There is lots to learn - take it slowly and be extra careful when you start out.

gjoh

12-Oct-2009
7:23:31 PM

A harness, chalk and shoes is enough to climb in the gym. If you plan on climbing some outdoor sport routes i'd recommend starting out with a 60 m dynamic climbing rope, 12 quick draws, a belay device, a couple of screw gate locking carabiners, a few slings and a helmet. Your local outdoors shop or gym should be able to help you out. However this can be a costly exercise for someone still in school. Your probably looking upwards of $500.

DEFINITELY start out with someone who knows what they are doing, and start on easy routes to get to know whats going on. Obviously climbing can be a dangerous sport. For example, you need to learn how to clip the rope into a quickdraw properly, otherwise it can unclip itself in the event of a lead-fall and you may hit the ground with deadly consequences.

But dont let that scare you off, climbing is an extremely rewarding experience and you will have a great time. When you get some experience you can advance into trad climbing, mountaineering and ice climbing.

Let us know how you go.

howzithanging?

12-Oct-2009
9:15:23 PM

I WOULDN'T GET INTO IT IF I WAS YOU

take up surfing much better

Olbert

12-Oct-2009
11:02:09 PM

I'm assuming you are from Melbourne as you have been to Araps with a school group. This has a significant impact on how you are able to learn to climb as there is virtually zero easy sport climbing in Victoria. This means that a set of 12 quick draws won't get you anywhere-though you will have 12 expensive bits of shiny metal and bright nylon that will look cool for your friends.

If you are with a group of your friends and you all have limited experience (school trip to araps plus gym experience) then I would recomend joining the VCC or maybe a uni group (Im pretty sure they wont mind that you dont go to uni...there is no harm in asking). You could also try a climbing course with your local gym or maybe a commercial outdoors place though this will be more expensive. If you can make friends with a climber at the gym who might take you all out then that would be good but they will probably be unlikely to take you all out unless you make really good friends with them.

As for the gear you need, if you can go with a climbing club, commercial enterprise or find a competant climber willing to show you the ropes then you will only need a harness and shoes. They will supply everything else you need (maybe invest in a helmet as well though if you are going with a climber only). I would recommend *not* buying anything until you have had a little more experience and know yourself what you want to do, what you can do and what you need to do it.

If you do decide to go it with just your friends then buy a good book(not sure which one, ask others), then make sure you get on really really really easy stuff in well traversed area's, for example Araps. Get yourself a rope, some nuts, a couple of largish hexes, some quickdraws, a few lockers, a belay device and throw yourself at everything at least 10 grades under what you reckon you can climb in the gym.

If you do decide to get into climbing then it is really really really rewarding and may take over your life.

Edit:saw that you live in Adelaide from your profile. Not sure if there is any easy sport climbing in SA, if there is then a set of quickdraws will be more helpful and it will be easier(still not easy) to teach yourself. Still-try to join a local club! Best option short of getting someone who knows what they are doing to take the time to show you.

rockranga

13-Oct-2009
10:18:26 AM

Go to the gym, go to the gym and go to the gym..... get yourself the harness, chalk and shoes and climb at the gym with a mate (or anyone that will climb with you) for a few months, if you decide you like it you can start to buy the shiny stuff..

as for certificates, there's nothing official, each gym has their own safety check off so you'll do a few of those at the start as you go to new gyms.

If you choose to get into outdoors after you've climbed indoors for a while then the above advice is all good, get some instruction from someone competent on how to do trad climbing and how to set up anchors. Initially it may be worth just doing outdoor top ropes at places like araps then move onto trad once you have a feel for outdoor climbing.

you'll here a lot of terms thrown around, the two main ones which apply in this instance are:

Trad climbing = Climbing with the nuts, hexs, slings and cams.... placing gear in cracks and around 'chicken heads' as you climb.
Sport climbing = Everything is pre-bolted, either with 'Carots' or with 'Rings' (various types of rings around). 'Carots' require bolt plates, these are placed over the 'Carot' then you clip in with a quick draw. With 'Rings' you simply clip your quick draw straight onto the ring.

IdratherbeclimbingM9

13-Oct-2009
12:12:06 PM

On 13/10/2009 rockranga wrote:
>Go to the gym, go to the gym and go to the gym.....

Hmm.
Many climbers started when gyms were somewhere that iron was pumped.

prentice wrote;
>hey there. i have climbed arapiles and morielta and indoor with my school and am ver interested in starting up my self. just wondering what things i need apart from harnes, chalk and shoes... do i need to get a certificate or something to say that i can climb with my friends who are also a little experianced?
>cheers.

You already have the essential ingredient.
~>Enthusiasm.
Keep climbing with whoever you can. Learn from as many people and sources as possible, ... as there is no substitute for experience.
In the meantime you can get by with very little gear, if you climb with others more experienced, who have the gear already.

bl@ke

13-Oct-2009
6:05:35 PM

Go climg on some boulders.

racingtadpole

13-Oct-2009
10:42:51 PM

I assume that because you have climbed at Morialta in Adelaide you are based in Adelaide. If so join up with CCSA, it will probably be the best $15 you are likely to spend at this point.

http://climbingclubsouthaustralia.asn.au/index.html

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