"Rock climbing is fun, challenging, and generally safe with the proper training. It will cause everything else that is going on in your life to disappear, as your entire world is pinpointed on a single flake of rock. It is doing something beautiful in a beautiful place, and nothing else compares." says Todd Gross of Paragon Adventures in St. George, Utah. Todd should know, because he’s been rock climbing for 17 years, has more than 400 first ascents to his credit, and has guided more than 5000 clients during the past 13 years he’s been running Paragon Adventures.
Here's what Todd tells people who are thinking about learning to climb.
Q: Who should try rock climbing?
A: Every one of us is a born climber. It is a rare person without the ascent of a single tree, jungle gym or ladder. Yet the vast majority of people with hundreds of ascents of stairs and monkey bars will steadfastly declare themselves incapable of rock climbing.
Perhaps it is the Hollywood perception of rock climbing portrayed in movies like "Cliffhanger" and "Vertical Limit" that creates the idea that climbers are constantly falling to their deaths. Or maybe the apparent complexity of the rope system gives the impression that rock climbing is insanely complicated and requires years of experience and knowledge of hundreds of knots. Neither perception describes reality.
Q: What's the first step?
A: The first step to get started in rock climbing is believing that you are capable of far more than you can imagine, and having the desire to strive and confront some basic fears. No amount of equipment, nor even the most talented instructors, will overcome a lack of belief and desire.
One of the hardest climbing routes in North America is called "Just Do It" and this is good advice for the novice climber. Get out and climb. No amount of talking, reading, visualizing or balancing your Chi is going to replace the raw experience and pure joy of climbing up a rock face.
Q: Don't I need instruction?
A: Unfortunately this is one of the worst pursuits to try to teach yourself because -- like do it yourself dentistry -- the learning curve is pretty painful. Finding a professional rock climber may actually be more difficult than finding a home-schooled dentist with a full set of teeth.
Typing "rock climbing" into the internet is a good place to start. Look for climbing schools and guide services that specialize in beginner instruction. Look for a program where the focus is climbing as many "routes" (the various paths up the cliff face) as possible. Introductions to rock climbing programs will minimize the amount of technical instruction in favor of climbing experience. At this point you don't need to know how to tie a clove hitch, or do a carabineer brake rappel --you need to know how to use your feet, connect the moves together and trust the safety system.
Q: How long does an introduction to rock climbing take?
A: An introduction to rock climbing program will take from 3 to 5 hours. Novice climbers wear out quickly due to the stress of being off the ground, which causes fear of death and over-gripping of the rock. Soon your forearms look like Popeye's and feel like a Christmas ham. An intro to climbing program is the best way to experience rock climbing for the first time and get a sense if it is something that you want to pursue further, or treat as a casual interest.
Q: What if I loved it and want to learn more?
A: The decision between serious pursuit or casual interest will determine what to do next. To pursue rock climbing as a part of your life means to attain competency with the technical aspects of the climbing safety system. The best way to achieve this is through a comprehensive course of instruction taught by an established climbing school or guide service.
You can certainly learn some of the finer points of climbing from friends or your uncle Billy Joe Bob, but gaping holes are generally left in your climbing knowledge, as they pursue their own climbing goals. A patient and talented instructor with good communication skills and a comprehensive syllabus will provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. This is the fundamental basis on which to build your climbing career. A basic rock-climbing program should also be taught over the course of several days. This will ensure that the student learns through repetition and that the fundamentals are not soon forgotten.
Click to Page 2 for the rest of Todd's interview, where he talks about choosing a climbing partner and where to get started rock climbing.
