Fiesta on a Rock Climbing Wall

October 22nd, 2007 | Backpacks, Camping and Climbing Gear

As kids grow up, so too do their ideas of what makes a great birthday party. Skating parties, pool parties and treasure hunts can only be done so many years before there needs to be a change. Why not consider going to a place that has a rock climbing wall? They are very safe and can provide countless hours of fun for both the children and adults.

Many kids centers now feature a section of the floor space designated as a climbing wall. The area is covered by thick mats and the children’s area may have a variety of indoor rock climbing walls in varying heights. The hand and foot holds are designed so that the children do not have to reach very far and the grips are made well to suit a child’s hand. The place also has a variety of different electronic arcade games as well as a maze in which the other kids, those who are not interested in climbing, can enjoy hours of fun.

As the children get older, they are going to want a rock climbing wall that is more challenging than the one found in kid arenas. A great party idea is to take them to an indoor climbing gym where they can try out different grades of climbs. The establishment often offers parties and classes that focus on teaching the teens the necessary skills that can help them ascend in a safe manner. Do not worry, there are protective harnesses.

The idea behind these older versions of ‘kiddie climbs’ is to challenge the teens or young adults. Even older adults visit an indoor rock climbing gym to improve their skills or even to learn how to climb. The protective flooring is still in place, but instead of an eight foot wall, the wall may be over twenty-five feet and include overhangs. To up the ante on difficulty, many walls do away with the oversized hand holds and instead focus on making the wall more realistic. Cracks and slight ledges are built into the wall. Do not worry though, these gyms have safety equipment in place and the climbers are harnessed to prevent falls, as well as to help lower the climber down, should he or she hold back from trying a descent.

Studies have shown that families that exercise together are more likely to stay healthy. A rock climbing wall is a great party idea, but it can be an exciting activity for everyone in the family. After you learn the basics, you can begin going outdoors and venturing on vacations that center around rockclimbing. It can be a great bonding experience and give everyone something to look forward to.

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Rock Climbing Gyms

October 15th, 2007 | Backpacks, Camping and Climbing Gear

A very unique rock climbing gym in Tokyo, Japan.

Every rock climber has taken a good look at a rock climbing gym. After all, they were designed to help novices learn the important skills fundamental to sport climbing. Even for those individuals who are not interested in scaling a mountain cliff, the indoor wall provides countless hours of entertainment. For those looking to improve their skills, the artificial walls also available when the weather is not suitable for outdoor climbing.

If you are new to the sport, then an indoor rock climbing gym is a perfect place to begin. The different walls provide challenges that simulate an outdoor experience. The gym provides safety equipment in case of a fall, but also provides the climber with the thrill of a descent. The absolute bonus is having experienced instructors to teach you the skills you need.

An indoor gym is also a valuable source for the amateur to become acquainted with the necessary hardware that they will need to tackle rock climbing walls. Many gyms have a shop featuring some of the top lines in rock climbing equipment . If your gym does not, then it is always easy to ask around or do some research on the internet to find out what a beginner needs.

If there are no indoor rock climbing walls in your town, then there is a great website to help you find the closest one. Indoorclimbing.com is a great source of information for locations of indoor gyms, as well as various sections devoted to helping climbers be in better shape. It takes muscle to climb, as well as energy, so it is important to keep in shape. This is definitely not a sport that someone in poor health can easily perform.

Okay, so maybe you are an experienced climber. Do not think that a rock climbing gym would not be helpful to you. Many use indoor gyms as a way to improve their speed and skill for competitions. It is also air conditioned and heated so there is no worry of extreme temperatures to impede your climb. Think of it as a great workout that has the added bonus of a shower and/or a nice pool, in which to take a dip.

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Learning How To Rock Climb

October 8th, 2007 | Backpacks, Camping and Climbing Gear

Each year, millions of individuals are urged by their physician to get more exercise. Exercise has been shown to decrease depression as well as get the body in shape. Perhaps no sport works the body quite like rockclimbing does. The problem is that it is not a sport that can be immediately done. You must know how to rock climb before you can undertake an ascent that could prove to be life threatening.

Learning how to rock climb is not impossible, but it does require rock climbing instruction to show you how it is done. There are a few “musts” that all rock climbers have in common. They must be in good health because it takes physical strength to be able to pull yourself up the ascent. The second must is that they cannot be an acrophobic. Acrophobia is a fear of heights.

Once you have the doctor’s go ahead and a clean bill of health, it is then time to begin your training. The best advice you can get, if you do not have a friend that knows how to climb, is to go to the local indoor rock climbing gym and talk to an instructor. If you want to begin outdoors, then many National parks have classes and seminars that can teach you rockclimbing techniques. Some even have personal instructors that will give you one-on-one instruction and who will even go on climbs with you.

One of the best pieces of advice that you can receive when it comes to rock climbing is to start small. Do not attempt an ascent of anything over a grade of 5.5. You definitely do not want to get partially up the rock wall and find yourself in a precarious situation. The same thing applies to unknown climbing paths. If you have not been on the climb before or are still fairly new to the sport, then do not attempt the climb alone.

Rock climbing is a terrific way to stay in shape and to gain great skill. There are thousands of different climbs located throughout the world. Many climbers base their vacations solely around new peaks or cliffs, or alpine climbing. You may just be starting out, but eventually you will develop the needed skills to climb more difficult cliff faces, boulders or mountain peaks. Go ahead and learn how to rock climb, you will not be disappointed. Don’t forget your climbing shoes!

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