Outdoor climbing is a thrilling and difficult pastime that is suitable for all ages and skill levels. Anyone can begin outdoor climbing with the proper skills, gear, and safety procedures. You may not be able to see all the bolts, much less the anch...
Outdoor climbing is a thrilling and difficult pastime that is suitable for all ages and skill levels. Anyone can begin outdoor climbing with the proper skills, gear, and safety procedures.
You may not be able to see all the bolts, much less the anchors, from the ground when working outdoors because there are no color-coded grips to guide you. Fortunately, there are several strategies to overcome the changeover. Experienced climber Hong Chong Yi has years of experience in the field, and here's his views on outdoor climbing:
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Be watchful
Be cautious of surrounding hazards such as falling rocks, uneven areas for you to belay from, damp grips, slick mud, people and wildlife that could divert your attention, and much more. It becomes more important to discuss these aspects with your partner.
Both, inexperienced and experienced climbers often make the error of not double-checking their system. It includes making sure that the anchors are double-checked, the belay devices are set up correctly, the harnesses and gear are on, and more.
In Hong Chong Yi: Thriving Amidst the Beauty and Exposure of Outdoor Climbs, he emphasizes that to explore the beauty of outdoor climbing, it is important to be safe.
Use a rope tarp.
You might be used to simply flaking your rope out on the cushioned gym floor if you have been climbing indoors for some time. On the outside, this is a big no, and your rope has to be maintained well.
The protection of your rope from crag grit and debris, which can wear down the rope's strength over time, is greatly improved with a rope bag and tarp. In general, it is essential that your rope is not laid directly on the ground, but you can get away with flaking the rope onto a large, flat rock at the base of your route.
Understand how to change over.
Changing over involves switching off the belay after locking oneself into the anchors, likely using a few extra draws. Using a clove hitch or another similar technique, you will now connect the rope to your harness by pulling some slack.
Next, you will untie the rope and pass it through the anchor before tying it back in, undoing your clove knot, and calling your belayer to place you back on belay. You may unclip from the anchor and descend after they verify that you are once again on belay.
Endurance
A key difference is the need for both mental and physical endurance. It is not unusual for outdoor routes to take up to 15 minutes to complete (expert climbers can complete routes that are huge so they take days) due to the time it takes to figure out the best body alignment and route finding.
Your hands and feet have a lot of little muscles that can become tired more quickly than they would indoors, where they are not regularly used. As compared to the indoor route setting, you will find yourself in more different positions, so be prepared to work your core.
Final thoughts
The first responsibility for any group or duo going out is making sure you are climbing safely. Hong Chong Yi emphasized that practices for safety include wearing a helmet, understanding basic first aid, and checking equipment for wear and damage is important. If you are interested in skydiving apart from climbing, read Hong Chong Yi - 5 Types of Skydiving.
