While on a camping adventure, there are so many activities one could engage in that you wouldn’t normally do while at home or somewhere else. One of those thrilling and adventurous activities include rock climbing. A campsite such as Murphy’s Creek Escape has some rock walls that would be great for free climbers and climbers looking to create some new routes. It’s important though to understand the rules and have an idea of the techniques needed to rock climb successfully in order to avoid injuries and other fatal accidents. In this article, we will be sharing some rock climbing tips that will come in handy especially if you are a beginner.
Ensure you have the right gear for Rock Climbing at Murphys Creek Escape
Having the right gear will definitely make things much more simple and enjoyable for you as the struggle won’t be as much. For example, if you don’t have the right shoes it is very easy for you to slip while trying to climb, that’s why having the appropriate pair is important.
Some of the necessary gear you will need include;
- Climbing shoes- They offer superior grip and allow you to stand on much smaller holds.
- Chalk- This is used for removing sweat from your palms increasing the friction you have with the wall. The chalk bags come in all shapes and sizes.
- Climbing harness- This gear helps with weight distribution. They are also designed to provide support and security and it is much better climbing with one as compared to climbing with a rope tied to your waist.
- Climbing rope- Having your own rope isn’t mandatory but it doesn’t hurt to own one.
- A climbing guide book- There are a variety of these books and you can easily get them online or in store. Some describe climbing techniques while others explain how to use a rope.
These are just some of the equipment you will need but note that most camping sites will provide you with these in case you are not ready to invest in buying your own.
Warm up and stretch
Stretching improves the circulation of blood and flexibility hence improving your climbing techniques. Also to avoid injury and maximize your climbing potential, you need to get your body properly warmed up. Some of the ways you can easily warm up your body is by doing jumping jacks, high knees or by jogging and walking.
It’s important to understand the different types of stretching which are static and dynamic stretching. Dynamic stretches are perfect for warming up as it’s a smooth movement through the full range of a stretch that focuses on spending an equal amount of time through each phase of the stretch. Some of these stretches include knee pull-ups, hip rotations, deep squats, flag and reach and shoulder rotations and arm circles.
Familiarise yourself with the climbing techniques
They say great climbers do not power their way up the wall but they technique their way up using a set of moves designed to help them tackle any issues. When you focus on technique, the moves start to align themselves perfectly.
When it comes to your feet, the basic techniques are edging and smearing. Edging is where you step on a hold with the rubber on the edge of your shoe. You can either use the inside edge where the big toe offers stability or the outside edge. For smearing, this is where you rely on your shoes rubber for friction against the rock. Some of the foot works you can keep in mind include keeping your feet directly below you, paying more attention to the foot placements and also keep your heel low so as to have plenty of contact with the wall.
When climbing, maintaining balance is important especially when you are on a route where you have to move and pull in different directions. Some balancing tactics you should keep in mind include pressing your foot in the opposite direction of the pull to create counter pressure and pull in the opposite direction with your other hand or a hooked foot.
When it comes to climbing efficiently, it’s important to learn how to use less energy and give your muscles a break as you climb. Straighten your arms so as to allow your skeleton to take most of the weight and not your muscles. Ensure you keep your eyes on the wall to look for holds that will help you take a quick rest. Taking a rest allows your pulse to slow down.
Note that you may not grasp these techniques after the first try so don’t be too hard on yourself. Practice makes perfect and with no time you will be a pro.
Keep calm at all times
When doing something for the first time, it can be quite nerve wrecking and your mind tends to replay scenarios on how things might fail hence going into panic mode. So before you start climbing, take in some deep breaths and don’t push yourself too hard. Cover a distance that you are comfortable with then from there you can keep going higher and higher as you gain more confidence. Most importantly, make sure you are having fun.