rock climbing lessons

[rendezvous 0]

Hi,
From some post in the past I seems like a lot of people out here do rock climbing. I actually want to get into it too. Want to know how to go about it and if you know any good classes that i can undertake. I live in the New York City area and so something local would be the most convenient. thanks.

[billvon 3,111]

I'd recommend starting at a climbing gym to learn the knots, ropework, harness usage, basic form (laybacks, smears etc) then find an experienced partner/guide/instructor and go out to the Gunks to do some "real" climbing (toproping, at first.) The Shawangunks have the big advantage that they're both great climbing and very near the Ranch in Gardiner, NY.

[MarkM 0]

Start looking here: http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/listState.php?CountryStateID=59

Get professional training if you can afford it. In any risk sport professional training is the number 1 way to avoid injury.

[Stacy 0]

I did some climbing @ Go Vertical in Philly. That gym has a sister location in stamford CT (exit 8 off of 95). great facility/staff, etc. they offer regular belaying classes, etc etc. Check out the web site @ http://www.govertical.com

[SniperCJ 0]

Ive been climbing for several years and I agree with the advice. Get the basics in the gym and then maybe hire a guide and go to the 'gunks. The gym will probably have flyers from some local area guide services. Most will have some sort of 2 day beginner's course that will teach you a lot. Be prepared tho, once you hit real rock, you may never go back to the climbing gym again. And another bad thing, jumping and climbing both require decent weather. Althought you can climb when its too cloudy to jump!
Also, if you really get into it, it can be pretty gear intensive. I would estimate I have $1000 minimum tied up (pun intended) in my climbing rack.

Have fun, its as big a rush as jumping!

JC

[coho21 0]

For a good (arguably the best) text on climbing that will give you a reasonable overview and lots of the basics, go to a bookstore and pickup the book "Freedom of the Hills". It's put out by the Seattle Mountaineers club. I would then go down to a rock gym and find out if there are any clubs in the area that have outings to your nearest rock plus spend a lot of time in the gym building up your skills. Once you start getting the hang of it get out on real rock. There really isn't IMHO a substitute for it and you will learn a bunch more from your mistakes there than you might in a gym.

Beware of those spewing mindless info because there are a lot of people that might not know as much as they like to think.

Good luck and have fun.

J
YSD#0009

[TomAiello 26]

I own "Freedom of the Hills", as well as several other rock climbing texts. If you're just planning on some basic rock climbing (i.e. Gunks trad), you might be better off with the cheaper "How to Rock Climb" by John Long. It's less comprehensive, so it's easier to get just the information you need out of it.

If you decide to take up other kinds of climbing later, "Freedom of the Hills" can be useful. But until then, it's annoying to sift through glacier travel and crevasse rescue when all you really want to know is how set up a top rope.

But whatever you do, please don't become a sport weenie. That'd be as bad as being a freeflyer.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[skycat 0]

I don't know if you have REIs out there, but our local one has intro classes once a month to get people exposed to the sport.

Fly it like you stole it!

[TomAiello 26]

No REI in the New York Area:

http://www.rei.com/MORE_STORE/STORE/storeloc.html?stat=header_stores

However, Campmor is a fairly good outdoors store fairly close by, which might be able to connect you with some leads for local instruction.

http://www.campmor.com/html/about.our.retail.store.shtml

Also, check this page:

http://www.climbing.com/Pages/rockgyms00.html

To locate local gyms.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[drenaline 0]

Quote

Also, if you really get into it, it can be pretty gear intensive. I would estimate I have $1000 minimum

Hey you forgot to include the cost of the BASE rig

HISPA 21
www.panamafreefall.com

[jtval 0]

united freeclimbers ass.
UFCA. I think lemme look it up Ill edit this in a second




OK I forget the abbrev. but there is an association of Free climbers out there. I thought it was UFCA but I couldnt find the link. Type mountain/free/rock climb in your serch engine you will find all kindza good stuff
( I know you were looking for a better clue then I have) I did some research into it while I was here(korea) but now I forgot the link.

My photos

My Videos

[FallRate 0]

Rock Climbing Lessons???

Hold tight...don't let go...lunchtime! There'ya have it.

FallRate

[weid14 0]

good replies already, as BillV said, there is a major climbing area near the ranch in NY (New Paltz area -- the Gunks). there are a few skydivers that also climb that may be able to help you out. Most notibly Jack Jefferies and his wife Orla - they're spending the summer up there, so you could look them up, too.

[rendezvous 0]

thanks for all the replies. Another question. So if I go ask for the classes at a Gym what should I be looking for in them i.e what all should they cover. thanks.

[billvon 3,111]

>So if I go ask for the classes at a Gym what should I be looking for
> in them i.e what all should they cover.

Basics would be:

Harness usage
Knots (there are 3-4 basic ones you have to know)
Carabiner usage (locking, dual non-locking, loading directions)
Rope usage (loading, static vs dynamic, friction against nylon/metal)
Belay device du jour usage (plate, figure-8, ATC, Grigri)
Basic moves (smears, laybacks, cracks, dynos)
Belay techniques (calls, theory, feeding rope, safety)

This amount of know-how allows you to begin toproping first at the gym and then on real rock. Then there's following, then leading, then (if you're especially nuts) solo climbing, which uses rope (as opposed to free soloing which doesn't.)