From gendarme and pitch to jug to crimp, the sport of climbing is rife with complex jargon, terms that are often indecipherable to beginners. One of these is the “gaston.” A gaston is a rock climbing movement that involves pulling outward with both hands, creating opposing pressure on two vertical (or near-vertical) planes, such as …
Climbing on gigantic, bucket-like jugs, or as I call it, “glory climbing,” is mega fun and makes you feel absolutely heroic. Unfortunately, in rock climbing, one cannot always go glory climbing. A lot of the time, you have to pull hard on narrow edges and other tiny holds that are crappy excuses for climbing holds. …
A falling climber is an inevitability of rock climbing– messing up beta, holds breaking off outside, endless pump, and practice falls in climbing gyms are all catalysts for taking the whip. All of these scenarios would be way more sketchy if it weren’t for a belayer on the other side of the rope operating a …
The Climber’s Most Important Tool: The Belay Device Read More »
“What came first, the chicken or the egg?” is a timeless metaphor to describe the ambiguity between two separate events and deciding which took place first. In terms of poultry, I’m going with the egg. In terms of rock climbing, I’m not so sure what came first. All I know is that rock climbing had …
The Arduous (And Dangerous) World of Aid Climbing Read More »
Are you looking to carry heavy loads, finagle with sketchy gear placements, and spend a metric ton of cash on gear? If so, you must want to be a trad climber! In all seriousness, traditional climbing is perhaps rock climbing’s most fulfilling discipline. Learning to place your own protection, build your own anchors, and lead …
Trad Climbing Gear: How to Build Your First Trad Rack Read More »
If you’ve been rock climbing for a while, you’re probably familiar with the heel hook. Although relatively simple on the surface, this technique has lots of nuance and takes time to master. Whatever level of climber you are, improving your heel hooks can help boost your climbing to a new level. Note: Interested in other …
If you begin to delve into roped climbing styles like sport or traditional (trad), you will inevitably begin interacting with rock climbing anchors. Anchor systems are what attach you and your partner to the wall. With a well-built anchor and competent belayer, you can go climbing and take falls with confidence. Whether you are the …
If you are getting into rock climbing then you are probably learning a lot about the different styles of climbing that exist and how they all fit together. You may even be trying to figure out which climbing style or discipline interests or suits you the best. In general, there are four popular styles of …
Trad vs. Sport Climbing: What are the Key Differences? Read More »
Traditional rock climbing, also known as “trad” climbing, is a style of rock climbing that does not rely on fixed or bolted pieces of protection. Instead, a trad climber must leave the ground and cast off with everything they might need to protect the climb clipped onto their harness. Due to the adventurousness of the …
Trad Climbing: What Is It and How to Get Started Read More »
Multi-pitch climbing, sending routes that are longer than just a single rope length, is one of the most fulfilling aspects of rock climbing. Unlike single-pitch climbing, where you’re limited by the length of your rope (maybe 100 feet or so, at most), a multi-pitch climber can ascend walls that are many hundreds, and even thousands, …
A Beginner’s Guide to Multi-Pitch Climbing: The Basics Read More »
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