Climbing

At what age can a child begin rock climbing?

Rock climbing for kids: It's up to you when to start

Kids and climbing, when can they begin? I think they can begin when you'd like them to begin. Sometimes at climbing gyms they don't actually allow them to begin climbing at a young age, so if you have access to outdoor rock then you certainly can go ahead and provide them that experience. Sometimes in school yards and parks there's a climbing wall for folks to go ahead and play on in the playground area, so you can have your kid give it a try there. But honestly it's when you want to, when you want to provide that support, when you want to give that experience to your child, and it's up to you. For me I have two boys. I expose them to climbing on ropes gently and on boulders gently, and I never push them. I let them do it when they wanted to, and it turns out they like it now when they're 9 and 11, but when they were little I did not force anyone to do anything.

Kids can begin climbing when you want them to, though some gyms don't allow it. You can provide them with outdoor climbing experiences in schoolyards and parks, but ultimately it's up to you when to introduce them to the activity.

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The age at which a child can begin rock climbing is ultimately up to you as a parent or guardian. While some climbing gyms may have age restrictions, if you have access to outdoor rock climbing, you can introduce your child to the experience at any age. Some school yards and parks also have climbing walls in their playground areas, providing an opportunity for kids to try it out.

In my experience, as a parent of two boys, I gently exposed them to climbing on ropes and boulders without pushing them. I let them decide when they wanted to participate. Now, at ages 9 and 11, they enjoy climbing. However, when they were younger, I never forced them to do anything.

Ultimately, the decision of when to introduce your child to rock climbing is based on your own preferences and when you feel ready to provide that experience and support.

How dangerous is it to cliimb a new route outside?

Climbing New Routes: Choose Safety or Risk It All

How dangerous is it to climb a new route outside? I have put up hundreds of brand new climbs outside and I will say that there are routes that look very safe and I climb them and they are very safe. There's actually, it might as well have been climbed 10,000 times before I did it was so safe. So I've encountered that situation and I've encountered climbs where that I've wanted to climb a certain section of rock where there was some danger involved and I really had to navigate loose terrain or unknown terrain very delicately. Sometimes I would fall, sometimes the rock would come off. So that danger is all about what you're willing to do. So you can choose the ones that are not dangerous at all and that are very safe and you can choose the ones that are extremely dangerous and kind of put your life on the line each time. I choose to choose the safer ones.

Climbing a new route outside can be dangerous depending on the terrain, but it is possible to find routes that are very safe. Ultimately, it is up to the climber to decide how much risk they are willing to take.

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Climbing a new route outside can vary in terms of danger. As someone who has established numerous new climbs, I've encountered routes that appear and prove to be very safe. In fact, some routes feel as if they have been climbed countless times before due to their safety.

However, there have been instances where I've wanted to climb a specific section of rock that involved navigating precarious or unknown terrain. In these situations, I had to approach the climb delicately, as there was a potential for danger. Sometimes I would fall, and occasionally the rock would come loose.

The level of danger ultimately depends on your own choices and willingness to take risks. You can opt for routes that are not dangerous at all and are very safe, or you can choose routes that pose a significant risk and potentially put your life on the line. Personally, I prefer to select the safer routes when climbing new routes outside.

Can you explain why it would be important to camp away from a stream or a lake when on a climbing trip?

Leave No Trace: Why Camping Away from Streams Matters

Why should you camp away from a stream when on a climbing trip? Ultimately this is one of those leave no trace ethics and you can look up leave no trace online and essentially you'll understand that by you being closer to the stream you'll disrupt any wildlife that might be using that area. You'll also put more chance for you going ahead and adding non-native things to the waterway which we are drinking from and other things are needing for survival when I say non-healthy I mean urine and feces might get into there and when you have your food scraps fall into the river again that potentially changes the ecosystem. So you want to be respectful of the water, enjoy it, you can swim in it, you can cook from it, all that good stuff but putting your waste in it is usually the biggest issue. So we want to camp at least a few hundred feet away and then just walk to it to get the water that you need.

You should stay away from the stream while on a climbing trip in order to minimize disruption of wildlife and prevent the introduction of non-native things (such as urine and feces) into the waterway. You should camp at least a few hundred feet away and then walk to the stream to get the water you need.

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Camping away from a stream or lake during a climbing trip is important for several reasons, particularly in line with the leave no trace ethics. By camping closer to the water source, you risk disturbing the wildlife that relies on that area. Additionally, there is a higher chance of introducing non-native substances into the water, such as urine, feces, or food scraps, which can disrupt the ecosystem and potentially impact the water's quality. It is essential to be respectful of the water source, as it provides drinking water and supports other forms of life. To minimize any negative impact, it is recommended to camp at least a few hundred feet away from the stream or lake and walk to it when you need water.

Confronting Fear While Climbing: A Dynamic Emotional Journey

Do you ever feel scared while climbing? Some days you feel more fear than other days. Some days you're fearless. Some days you are not fit to be climbing, and that just kind of depends on your emotion, the things going on in your life, the stress you have, whether you're feeling good or not, training, relationships, all that kind of stuff. Sometimes you're just not prepared for a climb and you feel scared, and other days you get back on the same climb and you don't feel scared at all. So yeah, fear is healthy and a part of it, and you just have to listen to your body. And some days you've got to overcome it, and some days you just say, whoa, I'm going to come back another day.

Yes, sometimes people feel scared while climbing and it is normal to feel fear. It is important to listen to your body and know when to push through the fear and when it is best to come back another day.

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Feeling scared while climbing is not uncommon. The level of fear can vary from day to day, depending on factors such as emotions, life circumstances, stress levels, physical condition, training, and relationships. There are days when fear is more prominent, and there are days when you feel fearless. Sometimes, if you're not adequately prepared for a climb, fear may arise. However, it's important to listen to your body and assess the situation. Fear is a healthy part of the experience. Some days, you may need to overcome it, while on other days, it's best to acknowledge the fear and come back another time.

Have you ever climbed in extreme weather conditions and, if so, what tips would you offer to other climbers?

Master Extreme Weather Climbing with These Expert Tips

I regularly climb when the weather conditions are extreme. I believe that I enjoy managing the cold and the wind and the too hot conditions. That's like part of the fun for me. So I would say some tips for others are to go out and try to manage it sometime. Try to go out when it's a little bit cooler than you're used to. Try to go out when it's way cooler than you're used to. Try to go out when it's really windy and cold. Then you can just learn that you can do it. You don't just jump into the worst situation possible and try to figure it out. You go out a lot in these not so bad conditions and try to learn how to do that. What does your body need? What is the type of clothing that you need? What does my partner need? What are ways that I can go ahead and mitigate this challenging situation? And then when you're in the really bad situation you're all good. You've already done it a hundred times before.

To manage extreme weather conditions when climbing, try going out in progressively more challenging conditions to get used to it. Learn what type of clothing and supplies you need and practice mitigating the situation. This will help you be more prepared when you actually face the worst conditions.

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I have experience climbing in extreme weather conditions, and I actually enjoy managing the challenges that come with cold, windy, and hot conditions. My advice to other climbers would be to try venturing out in slightly cooler weather than you're used to, then gradually progress to even colder conditions. Similarly, try climbing in windy and cold environments to gain experience and build confidence. It's important not to jump into the worst possible situation right away. Instead, spend time in less extreme conditions and learn how to adapt. Pay attention to what your body needs, determine the appropriate clothing for different situations, and consider the needs of your climbing partner as well. By practicing in less severe conditions and learning how to mitigate challenges, you'll be better prepared for truly extreme situations when they arise.

How do you approach route-finding on a scramble to ensure the most efficient, safe, and enjoyable experience?

Mastering the Art of Efficient and Safe Scrambling

How do you approach root finding on a scramble to ensure the most efficient, safe, enjoyable experience? I'm looking for the least loose rock terrain that's also kind of comfortable and manageable to travel across. And how do you get good at finding that? You do a lot of traverses and scrambles and off-route travel. Ultimately you are choosing based on your gut instinct on what's going to be best and what's going to work out. And the more times you do that, the more times you find out you're successful and the more times you find out you're not. And then you can put all that information together in your old brain and process when you're out there and make the best decision you can. And some days you're going to win them and some days you're going to lose them. But practice is what gets you out there. There's just knowing that you got to commit and go.

The best way to get good at route finding on a scramble is to practice and use your intuition. Committing to the route you choose, even if it doesn't turn out as expected, is part of the process. Developing an understanding of what is safe and efficient will come with more experience.

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To ensure the most efficient, safe, and enjoyable experience when route-finding on a scramble, several factors come into play. The goal is to find a route with minimal loose rock terrain that is comfortable and manageable to traverse. How do you become skilled at finding such routes? The answer lies in experience gained through traverses, scrambles, and off-route travel. Over time, your instincts develop, allowing you to make informed decisions about the best route to take. Through trial and error, you learn what works and what doesn't. You accumulate this knowledge in your mind, which helps you process information and make better choices while out in the field. It's important to recognize that some days will be successful while others may not go as planned. Nonetheless, practice and commitment are key factors that enable you to navigate efficiently and confidently on scrambles.

Rob Pizem answers your Climbing questions. See all the advice Rob Pizem has and get answers to your own Climbing questions.

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Rob was born in Ohio and didn't even learn about rock climbing until after graduating high school. Having his first climbing experiences at the New River Gorge, West Virginia gave him the climbing bug and he has been at for over 30 years. He continues to travel the world for climbing and adventuring, always seeking the ever elusive perfect route. His passion is establishing new climbs big and small. His favorite places to climb are in the Italian Dolomites and in Zion National Park. He has been teaching high school science and engineering for over 20 years. Rob now resides in Grand Junction, Colorado where he is a proud husband and a father of two boys.