Partner check is a very important step that should never be skipped and ensures safety. 

Great job guys!

The post Amy and Zachary try Rock Climbing Outdoors appeared first on Rock Climb Every Day.

Improves Muscle and Endurance

Climbing requires more than just upper body strength. It relies on various physical factors that include lower body strength, lean muscle mass, and footwork. It is one of the activities that can get your heart pumping, just like how jogging or climbing the stairs does. One-hour session of rock climbing can burn more than 700 calories. And when you encounter tricky situations, your flexibility is developed in the process.

Fosters Brain Development

Aside from being a cardio workout and building up different muscle groups, climbing can also improve how your brain functions. You need to have good problem solving skills in order to conquer a wall. Aside from problem-solving, it also involves body awareness. The best way to go up is often not the direct path. You need to focus on the rocks to find where to grab and where to place your foot before moving.

Stress Reliever

A lot of people go on rock climbing tours because they want to let out stress. It is one of the best activities that allow you to lose yourself in the flow, and enter a state where the pain is not a factor. Spending time outdoors can also lower stress levels, which makes rock climbing tours the best way to get rid of stress.

Teaches Life Skills

For intermediate and advanced climbers, rock climbing is more than just relieving stress or having a good workout. It is also a way to learn skills that are applicable to their daily lives. Some of the life skills that can be learned through the activity include determination, balance, and focus, just to name a few. Overcoming challenges become second nature to climbers.

And while rock climbing can be seen as an individual sport, it can also be regarded as a team sport. That’s because you will never be alone when doing it. You also need to learn how to trust the person holding your rope.

If you are interested in trying out the sport, then go on one of the adventure tours in California. You can choose to go on a trip that will take you to the Joshua Tree National Park, where you will learn how to do rock climbing outdoors. It is definitely one of the things to do whenever you are in California.

The post Things to Do in California – Outdoor Rock Climbing appeared first on Rock Climb Every Day.

Rock climbing outdoors is far more involving than climbing inside at a climbing wall and often feels slightly strange when you first try it – it is often physically a lot more subtle than climbing on a indoor wall with more emphasis being needed on precise footwork, body position and stamina. Outdoor conditions such as; weather, rock formation, vegetation, and technical terrain, can increase the level of risk and ability to focus needed to rock climb outdoors.

Personal climbing techniques need to be expanded because climbing outdoors is not just about pulling on crimps; you will need to learn to climb sloping cracks, smeary slabs and even the odd chimney. The character of the rock outside often offers a lot more potential solutions to climbing a particular section, but knowing which of those solutions to choose is dependent on experience.

We will help you understand how to deal with all these different situations whilst also helping you learn about the technical aspects involved in climbing outdoors – equipment, rope systems, anchors, constructing belays, belaying correctly, placing gear and retreating.

The post Rock Climbing Outdoors appeared first on Rock Climb Every Day.

We asked this climber a series of questions on why and how she set up this top-rope anchor:

How come you chose to set up this anchor from the top?

“It’s the end of the day and I am too tired to lead it.”

What options did you have?

“I had three options; trad lead a pretty easy 5.8 dihedral, sport lead a well protected 5.11a, or simply walk to the top. Being relatively tired at the end of the day, I chose the third option thinking it would be the easier of the the three.”

This rock formation seems to be on an overhanging edge. How did you manage to build your anchor?

“After scrambling up I realized that the top of this formation was very narrow and exposed. To get to the main bolts, I had to worm my way to the edge of the formation to avoid tripping over my own shadow; as high up as I had already gone I was not going to turn back.  Once there, I got to work; my anchor consisted of a large sling doubled up, two opposed locking carabiners on a magic-x for the master point, and limiting knots for redundancy.”

Did you secure yourself somehow?

“With all the climbing rope and anchoring gear I had on me, creating a back end anchor and securing myself would be a little complicated; the thought came to mind: ‘What would MacGyver do?’ so I wrapped two giant boulders with one end of the rope, attached myself to it with a prusik knot that I attached to my harness, then started my worm trek to the edge. You can’t really see it on the photo, but it’s there. Being as high up as I was and as scared of heights as I am, laying on a narrow block of rock was a tad scary for me, but the back end anchor I was attached to gave me much confidence.”

Was this setup easier than the alternative choices?

“Not at all. Setting the rope from the top was definitely much faster, but more complex than the alternative. However, I didn’t need to gear up for a trad lead, nor did I need to hunt down a good lead-belayer.”

With this experience, would you build this anchor from the top again?

“Probably, yes. I like facing complex situations when it comes to anchor building, since set ups can vary from crag to crag. I try to go for the best course of action that will keep me safe at all times and this scenario will probably not be the last I will encounter.”

If you were using the rope itself to secure yourself, how and when did you switch it for the top-rope?

“After passing the other end of the rope through the master point and throwing enough of the rope down to make it to the ground, I did the reverse worm crawl back to a secure area, untied the two boulders and threw the other half of the rope over. I think MacGyver would have given me a high five. Haha”

Were you setting this top-rope for yourself?

“No. I was too tired at this point of the day, but wanted all others who still had energy left to enjoy it. When you look at the big picture, this anchor had 2 or 3 really fun routes making this corner one of the favorites of the day.” 

The post What to consider when setting up a top-rope on an exposed formation appeared first on Rock Climb Every Day.

Clinics will be held in different locations, based on our service areas. Add RCED to your favorites, to check upcoming events and updates. Find out more and how to Register!

All clinics will include general information and things to take into consideration when in the outdoors environment; plus a more detailed breakdown of the proper gear to use, when/how to use it and safety.

• CLINIC 1 – CLIMBING THE CRAG, TOP-ROPE CLIMBING, BASIC GEAR AND SAFETY 
• CLINIC 2 – CLIMBING TECHNIQUE AND MOVING ON WALLS
• CLINIC 3 – KNOTS FOR CLIMBING AND ANCHORS, BASIC GEAR AND SAFETY
• CLINIC 4 – PRINCIPLES OF ANCHOR BUILDING, BASIC GEAR AND SAFETY
• CLINIC 5 – SPORT CLIMBING, LEAD CLIMBING, CLIPPING, BASIC GEAR AND SAFETY
• CLINIC 6 – CLEANING ROUTES, RAPPELLING, BASIC GEAR AND SAFETY
• CLINIC 7 – TRAD CLIMBING, GEAR PLACEMENT, BASIC GEAR AND SAFETY
• CLINIC 8 – BASIC SELF-RESCUE CLINIC, BASIC GEAR AND SAFETY

PREREQUISITE FOR ALL CLINICS: Prior rope-climbing experience and gear required, which is listed below each clinic.

Clinic 1 – Climbing the crag, top-rope climbing, basic gear and safety We are setting up several top-ropes for everyone, running tie-in and belay test to ensure safety, going over basic gear needed and how it is used. Throughout the day, we will have several discussions on fundamentals and differences between indoor and outdoor climbing. Gear required: Harness, climbing shoes, belay device, belay locking carabiner (HMS), helmet.

Clinic 2 – Climbing technique and moving on walls We are setting up top-ropes for everyone, running tie-in and belay test to ensure safety. Clinic will focus on climbing technique and tips to help you become a better climber. We will be climbing all day, while practicing correct use of techniques learned. Gear required: Harness, climbing shoes, belay device, belay locking carabiner (HMS), helmet.

Clinic 3 – Knots for climbing and anchors, basic gear and safety During the first half of the day, we will be practicing knots that can be used for climbing, anchor building, ground anchoring, protecting and friction. Then we will move on to using them on different scenarios/formations. If time allows, we will set up top-ropes for everyone, running tie-in and belay test to ensure safety and climb the rest of the day. Gear required: Harness, climbing shoes, belay device, belay locking carabiner (HMS), 4 foot 5mm cord, 20 foot 7mm nylon cord, two 48″ nylon runners, 6 or more locking carabiners, climbing rope.

Clinic 4 – Principles of anchor building, basic gear and safety Clinic’s main focus points are; safe anchor building, accessing the formation, what to use, what anchors to choose, etc. We will be building anchors and breaking them apart. We will discuss bolted, natural and pro anchors. Gear required: Harness, climbing shoes, belay device, belay locking carabiner (HMS), helmet, 4 foot 5-6mm nylon cord, 20 foot 7mm nylon cord, assorted 24″ and 48″ runners, 6 or more locking carabiners.

Clinic 5 – Sport climbing, lead climbing, clipping, basic gear and safety We are setting up top-ropes for everyone, running tie-in and belay test to ensure safety. We will be addressing fundamentals and risk involved in lead climbing, differences between indoor and outdoor lead climbing, proper clipping techniques and practicing mock leads all day. Gear required: Harness, climbing shoes, belay device, belay locking carabiner (HMS), helmet, quick draws (10 or more), climbing rope.

Clinic 6 – Cleaning routes, rappelling, basic gear and safety Clinic will focus on cleaning top-ropes and address difference scenarios you will encounter when doing so outdoors. We will review gear needed and how to keep yourself safe while cleaning. You are not required to lead routes to be able to clean them, so this clinic offers great benefit to climbers of all levels. Gear required: Harness, climbing shoes, belay device, belay locking carabiner (HMS), helmet, 4 foot 5mm cord, two 48″ nylon runners, 4 or more locking carabiners.

Clinic 7 – Trad climbing, gear placement, basic gear and safety We are setting up several top-ropes for everyone, running tie-in and belay test to ensure safety, going over basic gear needed and how it is used. During the day, we will have several discussions on fundamentals and differences between indoor and outdoor climbing. Gear required: Harness, climbing shoes, belay device, belay locking carabiner (HMS), helmet, trad rack, 4 foot 5mm cord, 20 foot 7mm nylon cord, assorted 24″ and 48″ runners, 6 or more locking carabiners, 10 or more non-locking carabiners.

Clinic 8 – Basic Self-Rescue Clinic, basic gear and safety We are setting up top-ropes for everyone, running tie-in and belay test to ensure safety. We will be switching belays, creating scenarios in which a climber or belayer would need help, assisting a climber from below or above, and much more. Gear required: Harness, climbing shoes, break assisted belay device (such as Petzl, GriGri or Trango Cinch), belay locking carabiner (HMS), helmet, 4 foot 5mm cord, two 48″ nylon runners, 6 or more locking carabiners.

Find out more and how to Register!

The post Easy transition to outdoor climbing appeared first on Rock Climb Every Day.

Carlos working a set of moves on sport lead. He is strong, determined and wears mega cool pants!

The post Carlos lead climbing appeared first on Rock Climb Every Day.

Chris working the route on sport lead. He is looking for and calculating the next set of moves before reaching the next bolt. I believe he mentioned something about “Jurassic Park” music going on in his head at that moment… Haha… Climb on!

The post Chris working the route on sport lead appeared first on Rock Climb Every Day.

Pamela working the high step. She is a natural when it comes to walking on walls.

The post Pamela working the high step appeared first on Rock Climb Every Day.

Olga working on her belay technique. Always happy to belay others and encourage them to achieve their climbing goals. 

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Christina working her way up the Shark’s Fin. What an incredible shot taken on a beautiful day out. The mix of sun and clouds made for a perfect day to be climbing outdoors.

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