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The Ultimate Date: Indoor Rock Climbing

Fit Community — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:32 -0800

Women That Rock (Climb) community members Spacekatgal and her husband Spacekatdude give you their take on why indoor rock climbing makes a perfect fitness-inspired date.

Spacekatdude and I are married, so we're always looking for fun new things to do. Recently, we decided to give indoor rock climbing a shot! We totally loved it! We wanted to post a bit about it for newbies.

We each signed up for a $160 class, which included gym membership for two weeks. We got free equipment rental and a really great instructor named Nate that taught us the basics, focusing on safety. We were taught to tie our own knots and how to "belay" your partner safely, meaning how to catch them if they fall off the wall.

I will be honest and say it's a real trust building exercise. I love my husband dearly, but I also know it's in his nature to be distracted. It was a little hard for me to put my life into his hands and trust him to catch me if I fell. Throwing myself off the wall for the first time was very scary - but I quickly learned that I could count on him for this. Working as a team to guide the other person up the wall is both fun and good for your relationship!

It's also a great workout. Within a few weeks of rock climbing, I've greatly increased my upper body strength. If you have moxie, I would definitely say it's a sport you should try!

To hear Spacekatdude's perspective, read more.

A guy's perspective - Spacekatdude here. Rock climbing is awesome. It's not just a physical thing - it's very mental, as you try to figure out set paths up the wall, only being allowed to touch rock outcroppings of a particular color - very challenging. Whenever we go to the gym there are a lot of women there, and it's great to watch those who love the challenge and love to push themselves, I think that's awesome. Our instructor Nate also told us that it was great for kids - one of the best rock climbers he knew was an eight-year-old girl, who showed him some excellent routes during an outdoor climb.

I mentioned that climbing is a mental exercise. This is because you have to constantly concentrate on what you're doing. If you go in mentally weak or lazy, bad things can happen: I read of some climbers who went to Half Dome at Yosemite, all ready to hammer in their own ropes to descend from the top. But there were ropes already there, embedded in the rock, and they just used those. As they climbed down, the ropes gave way, and they fell to their deaths. So laziness has no place in rock climbing.

Also, as you climb, it's important to remember to use your feet for power, and not to try to pull yourself up by your arms. So the mental challenge is to keep concentrating the entire time you're roping yourself in, climbing, and belaying.

Share your climbing tales in the Women That Rock (Climb) group and spread the love! Not a climber? Be sure to take a look at our other community groups - there's something for everyone!

Source: Flickr User Charlie Brewer

Join the FitSugar Women That Rock (Climb) Group

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:30:41 -0800

Are you looking for a place to talk to other women who climb or who are involved in mountaineering sports? Are you thinking about giving climbing a try and want to learn more about the sport? Even if you just like hanging out at an indoor climbing gym, FitSugar has created a group just for you - Women That Rock (Climb).

Swap stories, share advice on training and technique, talk about your favorite climbing spots, and give gear advice. It's your place to share all of your thoughts and stories about climbing with other women who get it. Join Women That Rock (Climb) and be a part of the ongoing conversation.

I can't wait to see what you ladies post - some of your most inspiring stories and sound advice may just find its way onto the FitSugar homepage!

Definition: Approach Shoes

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:49 -0800

Designed for scrambling up steep and exposed rock while being able to travel long distances, an approach shoe is a cross between a hiking boot and a rock climbing shoe. Most often used in mountaineering sports, the shoes are given their name because they reference the approaching path the wearer must take to get to a rock climbing destination. Depending on the area, the approach can be a mixture of walking, hiking, and scrambling up rocks.

Because there is often steep and exposed terrain (meaning there is a drop-off on one side of the path) encountered in rock climbing approaches, the shoes are more than just a hiking boot with a sticky rubber sole. The laces of an approach shoe usually extend down the entire area of the foot - like a climbing shoe - to ensure a snug fit that is helpful for getting up rocky terrain.

Approach shoes have a specialized sticky rubber sole that can adhere to rocks on a steeper gradient than a hiking boot would. The outer area of the shoe that surrounds the toe area - called the toe rand - is also made with this same sticky rubber for extra protection against scuffing and to perform well in situations where climbing is necessary.

Compared to a hiking boot, the sole of an approach shoe is made from softer rubber to ensure flexibility for scrambling up rocks. If you compare the sole of a hiking boot to an approach shoe, you'll notice that a hiking boot usually has deeper set lugs to ensure greater traction on dirt and ground. The flat, smoother surface of an approach shoe adheres better to rock than the lug soles of a hiking boot does - especially on slab terrain, which is vertical, flat rock lacking natural places to grip.

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: Reel Rock

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:23 -0700

I was lucky enough to hit the Reel Rock Film Tour - an annual showcase of the best new films about climbing - when it passed through San Francisco this weekend. Highlights of the festival include the world premiere of Progression and a preview of First Ascent, a new series for the Nat Geo Adventure Channel.

Climber or not, the Reel Rock festival is a must see for adrenaline junkies, outdoor enthusiasts, film lovers, and those seeking some kick ass motivation. Beautifully shot in locations around the world like Patagonia and Yosemite, the films follow the emotional and physical journeys of the sports' top athletes as they push themselves to the extreme. There were definitely more than a few heart stopping moments where I stared at the screen mouth gaping in disbelief of what I was watching.

To see clips from the films, read more.

One of the crazier stories chronicles Alex Honnold's free solo (meaning no ropes or gear) of Half Dome in Yosemite. Honnold climbed about 2200 feet alone and unprotected in just a matter of hours. I'm sure many will view Honnold's feat as being just plain careless but watching his story was an incredible look at the intense mental aspect of the sport and just how far these athletes will take themselves in the name of progression.

Reel Rock is just underway and chances are it's coming to a city near you - don't miss it! The films highlight some of the strongest athletes you'll ever see and brings to light a relatively unknown sport in an accessible way. Check out the preview below.

Photo courtesy of Reel Rock

Definition: Crimping

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:30:10 -0700

Crimping is a type of hold used in rock climbing that relies only on the fingertips for support. It's characterized by the hyperextension of the first joint in the fingers and a contraction of the second joint. An easy way to picture this is to visualize your fingers bent at your first knuckle while grasping onto a small edge. As a rule, the technique is best used on holds that are no deeper than an inch to avoid unnecessarily stressing your tendons.

Source: Flickr User A_E_P

Aquatic Climbing Wall: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:30:00 -0700

This 10-foot Aquatic Climbing Wall ($8,000) combines two great warm-weather activities: rock climbing and swimming. It builds upper-body strength and takes the danger out of climbing, since if you fall, you just splash into the pool. If money weren't an object, would you go for a climb on this device?

Indoor Rock Climbing

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 08:45:00 -0800

If cold weather is forcing you to move your workout inside, you might want to investigate the fun to be had while indoor-rock climbing. There are tons of rock-climbing gyms with artificial structures made to look and feel like real walls of rock. Learning to rock climb indoors in a safe and controlled environment is a great introduction to the sport if you're looking to rock climb outdoors someday.

Not only does it do an amazing job of strengthening your upper body and your legs, rock climbing is great for women since our center of gravity is at our hips. This makes gals really great at maneuvering our bodies up the wall with grace and efficiency.

Check out your local climbing gym and sign up for a beginner class that emphasizes the basics of climbing equipment, knot tying, safe-climbing practices, and belaying. You'll pay a flat fee for the lessons and any equipment you may need such as shoes and a harness.

Some places even offer women-only classes taught by women that offer a supportive environment for learning and perfecting climbing skills.

Fit's Tips: Check out this site to find a rock-climbing wall or gym near you.

Is your next vacation all about R&R, sightseeing or adventure?

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I hope you are planning a summer vacation!!! It is always great to have something to look forward to.

If you are taking a vacation I am wondering if it will be all about rest and relaxation - massages and margaritas on the beach. Or is it all about adventure like rock climbing in Yosemite or canoeing in the boundary waters. Possibly, you are going sightseeing - Mt. Vernon and the Smithsonian, or even more exotic the Louvre and Versailles.

Get Physical: Indoor Rock Climbing

FitSugar — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Want to try rock climbing but can't bear the summer heat? (Before it was the cold weather that moved you inside, now it may also be the hot weather.)

Then this weekend, grab a partner (your husband, your best friend, etc) and head over to an indoor rock climbing wall/center. It's a great thing to do with someone else because rock climbing typically requires having at least two people, a belayer (the person holding the rope at the bottom) and a climber (the person climbing) to participate. You can always opt to have a staff member of the gym balay for you, but I don't always feel comfortable having a stranger ~~stare at my butt~~ watch me while I climb-up the wall.

I especially love rock climbing because of how amazing it is for strengthening my upper body and legs. My husband loves it because of how macho he feels if he beats my time up the wall. We, like everything physical we do together, make a competition out of it -- First person who loses their grip on the wall does the dishes or makes the bed for a week. Nine out of ten times he loses, with his need for speed rather than thinking about his next move (I like to carefully think about my next move), but he's always willing to take on the competition.

Now, belay on.

Source

Women That Rock

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Are you not really the adventurous type? Oftentimes we shy away from new, riskier things because we just don't have the support that we need.

Women that Rock is a grassroots organization that aims to share skills and tools that will enable participating climbers to become safer partners and more confident leaders, to create awareness & cultivate the capability to identify & manage the inherent risks in climbing, to raise money for and awareness of access and safety issues, to create a group for women to talk to each other about climbing. Pretty cool right? Groups like this can (and will) motivate you to try something you may not ordinarily do, like rock climbing.

Check it out online at WomenthatRock.com for your chance to really get away. Say it with me now, "I am woman, here me rooooaaaaar!"