Q: Why is choosing the right climbing partner so important?
A: Once the basic course is completed the difficult part begins: finding responsible and reliable partners with whom to climb. Finding someone you trust to work on your car is hard enough, finding someone you trust with your life is something else entirely. Sloppy belay technique and inattentive belayers are pandemic at climbing areas worldwide.
When at a climbing cliff (known as a crag) watch the person on the ground (the belayer) and observe the level of attention he or she gives to the person who is climbing. A good belayer will be close to the bottom of the cliff, watching the climber when moving, and managing the rope as the climber rests or plans their next move. A good belayer considers themselves a part of the climbing team, and is committed to performing the role flawlessly. Sloppy and inattentive belayers will sit down, pet stray dogs, eat power bars and converse with other crappy belayers, even as their climber looks to take a vertical ride at any moment.
Q: Where do I find gear and the cliffs to climb?
A: Both answers are generally found in a local climbing shop. If you are lucky enough to live close to areas of high vertical relief (cliffs) chances are good that other people have climbed on them. Since the early 1990's rock climbing has consistently been one of the fastest growing sports. This has led to numerous retail outlets dedicated to providing the specific equipment for the sport. Purchasing all the ropes, harness's, climbing shoes, carabineers and other miscellaneous gear will cost less than $400.00, -- less than a pair of skis, and no lift ticket is required.
To discover where to take all this gear and put it to good use find a good guidebook. Most established climbing areas have guidebooks that describe both the location of the cliffs as well as the routes themselves. Generally these books will give vital information, in terms of the equipment required for each route, as well as other pertinent information about land management and cliff closures for raptor nesting. One of the best uses of the guidebook is to keep the new climber from getting in over their heads and attempting routes more difficult and dangerous than new climbers can handle.
Some climbers will find themselves stranded in locations that aren't conducive to rock climbing -- like Florida. In the not so distant past some flatlanders simply resorted to climbing trees and buildings. With the advent of in-door climbing facilities climbers can get both the instruction, and practice they need in the midst of a frozen Wisconsin winter.
Who is Todd Gross
Todd Gross has made more than 400 first ascents to his credit and he has guided more than 5,000 clients during his 13 years of running Paragon Adventures in southwestern Utah.
