Tuesday
Apr102007
Climbing the walls
Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 11:24PM
Of late I have found that I have been climbing the walls - and not due to boredom for a change - I am talking more literally.
Over the past month or so I Rob and I have started wall climbing at the Glasgow Climbing Centre. For christmas this year we had decided that we would look to pick an activity to learn - something that would get us out of the house, it had to be better than stuff we would not use. Last year we looked at falconry so for a change we decided to do a beginners climbing course.
The climbing centre offers just such a course over 2 afternoons/evenings where a max of 4 folks are taken through how to climb by an instructor. Now being a little bit funny about such things we had paid for a session at Braehead X-scape centre to see how we would find things and had purchased our own harnesses and shoes. You don't need to do this to climb as you can hire them but I always prefer my own gear.
Session 1
Session 1 started fairly simply - get changed and meet the instructor. You are taken through how to put on a harness and shoes (not as easy at it sounds - trust me). We were then had a wee shot at bouldering. Bouldering is almost the oposite to what you would think wall climbing is. The wall tends to be no higher than about 7ft tall - not too much of a challenge until you notice that some of the foot holds at the bottom are not wider than a small lip of 1/2 cm while others are more substantial. Still does not sound like too much of a challenge - well now you need to start to climb across the wall rather than up. Harder than it sounds trust me.
Anyhow following bouldering (and laughing at each other) comes the more complicated bit of learning how to tie a knot in a rope. Doesn't sound too bad but it takes more thought for those of us that are a bit dexterously challenged. It is one of those things that you just cannot afford to get wrong after all it is the one thing that will allow you to not die if you fall of the wall. Then it is the bit that we are all waiting for climbing.
Climbing is one of those things that you just think will be easy. I mean come on we all climbed stuff as kids - how hard can it be. I mean come on there are places to put your hands and feet. Turns out thats not the case you know. We started on a pretty hard wall ( a level 5) and tried to crawl our way up - harder than it looks but a good challenge.
You then have to look at belaying and making sure you can stop the climber from hitting the ground if they fall. This is where you get how serious it can be if you do not concentrate - but it is not too bad once you get the hand of it.
To finish off it is more bouldering - starting from the seated position before crawling home - tired, sore but pleased
Session 2
At this session they expect you to know what you are doing and it is all about showing that you can work safely. You get an instructor who you can advise from and get them to help you out but really the scope of the session is up to you. Again you get to boulder and wall climb and pick the walls you do. You also get to sign up and join the club and then you are done.
Anyhow if you want to learn about climbing and then climb in a safe environment then you should check these guys at the Glasgow Climbing Centre
Over the past month or so I Rob and I have started wall climbing at the Glasgow Climbing Centre. For christmas this year we had decided that we would look to pick an activity to learn - something that would get us out of the house, it had to be better than stuff we would not use. Last year we looked at falconry so for a change we decided to do a beginners climbing course.
The climbing centre offers just such a course over 2 afternoons/evenings where a max of 4 folks are taken through how to climb by an instructor. Now being a little bit funny about such things we had paid for a session at Braehead X-scape centre to see how we would find things and had purchased our own harnesses and shoes. You don't need to do this to climb as you can hire them but I always prefer my own gear.
Session 1
Session 1 started fairly simply - get changed and meet the instructor. You are taken through how to put on a harness and shoes (not as easy at it sounds - trust me). We were then had a wee shot at bouldering. Bouldering is almost the oposite to what you would think wall climbing is. The wall tends to be no higher than about 7ft tall - not too much of a challenge until you notice that some of the foot holds at the bottom are not wider than a small lip of 1/2 cm while others are more substantial. Still does not sound like too much of a challenge - well now you need to start to climb across the wall rather than up. Harder than it sounds trust me.
Anyhow following bouldering (and laughing at each other) comes the more complicated bit of learning how to tie a knot in a rope. Doesn't sound too bad but it takes more thought for those of us that are a bit dexterously challenged. It is one of those things that you just cannot afford to get wrong after all it is the one thing that will allow you to not die if you fall of the wall. Then it is the bit that we are all waiting for climbing.
Climbing is one of those things that you just think will be easy. I mean come on we all climbed stuff as kids - how hard can it be. I mean come on there are places to put your hands and feet. Turns out thats not the case you know. We started on a pretty hard wall ( a level 5) and tried to crawl our way up - harder than it looks but a good challenge.
You then have to look at belaying and making sure you can stop the climber from hitting the ground if they fall. This is where you get how serious it can be if you do not concentrate - but it is not too bad once you get the hand of it.
To finish off it is more bouldering - starting from the seated position before crawling home - tired, sore but pleased
Session 2
At this session they expect you to know what you are doing and it is all about showing that you can work safely. You get an instructor who you can advise from and get them to help you out but really the scope of the session is up to you. Again you get to boulder and wall climb and pick the walls you do. You also get to sign up and join the club and then you are done.
Anyhow if you want to learn about climbing and then climb in a safe environment then you should check these guys at the Glasgow Climbing Centre
Reader Comments