can I climb? Addressing common perceived Barriers to Rock Climbing
Sensationalized rock climbing movies, documentaries, magazines, and social media have given rock climbing a reputation for being outrageously harrowing and requiring extreme strength and fitness. Fortunately, that’s not really the case!
At Devil’s Lake and many other popular rock climbing areas around the world, normal, every-day people can enjoy rock climbing. As a friend used to say, “If you can walk, you can climb.”
Individual athletes in every sport push the envelope of possibilities, and rock climbing is no different. Folks like Lynn Hill, Alex Honnold, and Tommy Caldwell have accomplished amazing, mind-bending climbing achievements on the edge of the human imagination. However, these folks are the 1% of the climbing world. Most rock climbers are not elite athletes. Further, most climbers typically act within a very reasonable margin of risk and safety.
If you’re nervous or unsure about your first climbing outing, below are some questions you might ask yourself, as well as some further context around these commonly perceived “barriers.” Many new climbers find themselves surprisingly more qualified to climb than they expected.
Blocky terrain at the start leads to steeper terrain above, but it’s all interesting and fun!
Am I fit enough to rock climb?
People of all ages, sizes, and fitness levels try rock climbing for the first time at Devil’s Lake. Our team has worked with thousands of people from a wide range of shapes, sizes and ages. We are well-practiced at finding an ideal combination of fun and challenge for each person, and each group.
You don’t need to be Popeye
You don’t need to be able to do 20 pull ups - or even one, for that matter - to be successful on your first climbing trip. Whether you can run a marathon or not won’t make or break your day. Sure, athletic traits can help - strength, control, flexibility, and endurance all play a role in climbing - but you do not need to be an elite athlete, or even “athletic,” to attempt your first rock climbing route.
Cardiovascular Endurance
At Devil’s Lake, getting to the cliffs usually involves hiking up a steep incline over large rock steps; many consider this the most physically demanding part of the day. You will need some cardiovascular endurance to feel comfortable on the hike. If you can make it up the steep approach trails, you’re fit enough to try the steep, technical rock climbing at the top.
Attitude & Technique trump Strength any day
It may surprise you to hear that climbing well is more about attitude and strategy than strength. Whether you believe you can make it up a route is probably the single biggest factor in your success.
Technique is another major influence. Your guide will coach you on the most efficient and effective ways to move up a route.
Only Train if you want to
There’s no need to physically train for your first climbing day. However, if it would help you feel more prepared or confident on the rock, hitting the gym, the trail, or whatever makes you feel strong, will never hurt. In fact, it might help you develop some great habits! Just be sure to take a rest day (or two) before your trip.
Can I climb if I’m afraid of heights?
Many first-time climbers have some fear of heights. Most climbers, even experienced ones, deal with fear while climbing. This is a normal. After all, falling a long way is almost always bad for your health!
Acrophobia (Fear of Heights) vs Basiphobia (Fear of Falling)
We like to distinguish between acrophobia, a fear of heights, and basiphobia, a fear of falling.
Acrophobia is where a person is scared to be at height, even when they do not think they can fall. Picture a person inside a tall building, scared to look out the window. This is acrophobia; it is uncommon but difficult to overcome. A rock climbing day is usually not the best time and place to overcome acrophobia.
Basiphobia is where a person is only scared at height when they feel there is a chance of falling to the ground. They might feel they need protective equipment. If they have protective gear, they might fear it will fail.
Many of our rock climbing clients have basiphobia to one degree or another; we help them work through their fears by explaining and demonstrating how the protective equipment works.
A nervous climber makes her way up Fat Man’s Misery, a classic Devil’s Lake chimney route.
How We Deal with Fear of Heights
First and foremost, your instructor’s job is to support your interests and intentions. We will ask what you are interested in exploring, what you are curious about. Many people want to challenge their fear of heights, but they know their fears and their body may resist. It might seems strange to both want to climb and not want to climb, but it is very common!
Your guide will not make you climb higher than you feel comfortable or intentionally put you in positions where you feel trapped. Instead, we work to create an atmosphere where you feel empowered to explore at your own pace. We ask about how you are doing, remind you of your initial goals, and offer options. You are the director of your experience.
Although your climbing guide will set climbing routes ranging from 45-95 feet tall, you never need to reach the top. How high you climb is entirely up to you. Whether you climb ten feet or a hundred feet, simply getting off the ground can be something to be proud of. However, if the unknown aspects of what climbing might be like or how equipment works contribute to your fear, doing some voluntary pre-trip homework, like visiting a local climbing gym, might be helpful.
How to Manage Your Fear of Heights
Consider a visit to your local climbing gym prior to climbing outdoors, so you can learn what it feels like to be belayed and lowered in what might be a less intimidating setting. Climbing gyms typically have padded floors, and friendly supervising staff. Climbing routes are often brightly colored and easy to follow (visually, at least). The heights of indoor climbing walls vary by gym, but on average, they’re slightly shorter than routes we’ll climb outdoors (gym wall heights range from 25-60 feet). Having some experience with trusting climbing equipment and familiarity with being at height might help you feel more relaxed climbing outdoors.
How We Manage Falling
Some folks like understanding what happens if they let go of the rock while climbing. Here’s a brief overview:
The rope, harness, climbing anchor, and belayer work together to keep you safe. Your instructor will set up one or more climbing anchors, essentially a network of gear rigged to distribute and bear the load of a climber, at the top of the cliff. You will tie into one end of the rope, and your instructor ties into the other end. Between you and the instructor is the anchor, which bears the lion’s share of the weight if/when you fall.
As you climb up the rock, you will be belayed, which means someone will take in slack and keep the rope taut as you progress upward. Should you fall, the rope between you and your belayer will “catch” you, as your weight transfers from your feet onto the rope and climbing anchor. In practice, you’ll sink your weight onto the rope and likely end up a couple of feet below where you fell, because climbing ropes have elasticity. Stretchy ropes are a part of making rock climbing safer, as they absorb some of the impact of a fall for a more gentle catch.
This video shows what top-rope climbing falls look like and how to set yourself up for success.
What about being outside all day?
Climbing draws people from all different backgrounds; some are veteran outdoor adventurers, while others have limited experience in the outdoors. If you fall into the latter category, a few key tips will help you have a more enjoyable first climbing experience.
Brisk days call for more layers than usual!
Plan for season and weather
Plan ahead according to the season and weather. It might make sense to choose the season you’re most comfortable outdoors in for your first climbing trip. If you tend to feel overheated and uncomfortable in high temperatures, consider a spring or fall trip. Conversely, if you get cold easily, a summer trip may be the way to go.
Layers are Essential
Be prepared for possible weather conditions while you’re out with us. Wearing and bringing layers (t-shirt, long sleeved shirt, wind jacket, insulating layer) provides options for maximum comfort. Consider rain gear, a wind shell, a hat, gloves, UV protective clothing, hand warmers… whatever you have that will equip you for the realm of possible conditions. Check out our specific suggestions for what to wear and bring.
Expect critter company
Since we will be outside all day, we will be dealing with some unavoidable elements of nature. There are bugs, of course, including flies, silkworms, daddy longlegs, millipedes, and wasps (especially in early fall). If you have a wasp allergy or phobia, you may wish to book your trip earlier in the season. For other bugs, be prepared with bug spray, and try not to let these little creatures negatively impact your day. You might find you hardly notice them once you’re climbing.
Bathroom Stuff
We spend the entire day without access to a restroom; your best and only chance for a toilet is at the trailhead at the start and end of the day. Use restrooms before hitting the trail, and be prepared to take care of any mid-trip business outside. When we need to pee, we find a private spot off the trail. If you need to poop, we hike back to trailhead facilities or bring a wag bag (a kit for packing out your own waste) and pack our waste out with us (it’s not that bad, really!).
Being outdoors presents unfamiliar situations and even challenges, but natural spaces offer generous rewards. The fresh air and breathtaking scenery create their own sort of magic, and you just have to be there to experience it.
Closing
Many first time climbers worry about environmental factors or their own abilities prior to their trip, but pause before you let these concerns spoil your ambitions. Whatever it is that makes you feel like climbing isn’t possible for you, whether it’s age, fitness, fear, lack of experience, or something else, it might not be a disqualifying barrier. If you have specific concerns or might need special accommodations, don’t hesitate to ask us.
If you have other questions about what it’s like to go on a guided climbing trip, check out Guided Climbing: What to Expect or our Climbing Day FAQs.