How to Take Care of Your Climbing Rope

Although the climbing ropes of today are more resilient than ever, some containing protection against UV rays, chemical, and even misuse, taking care of your rope is still as important as ever. The climbing rope is one of the climber’s most valuable possessions and many times his life actually rests in its hands. Not only is it good sportsmanship to take good care of your climbing rope, it just might save your life.
One of the most important ways of taking good care of your climbing rope is to pay attention to how it is left when you are not using it. Your rope will have a lot more down time than use and, if not stored properly, its down time could be its downfall. Your climbing rope should always remain coiled when out of use, and make sure that coil is free of kinks, knots, and twists which can severely damage the integrity of a rope if left for too long. Buying a good quality bag to keep your rope in will help it to remain free of harmful dust and dirt particles and increase its overall lifespan. Special kinds of rope bags are available which can fold out into a large tarp where your rope can sit happily sheltered from the earth and then fold back in to a compact little carrying case with a shoulder or backpack strap.

Try not to leave your rope in harsh sunlight for too long. Even if it comes with UV protection, don’t underestimate the sun. Whether you throw your rope on the porch after a long day’s climb, toss it into the back of your car beside an open window, or even just leave it sitting in an exposed place at your climbing site for too long, these things can do serious damage to your rope as the sun eats away at its fibers. It’s better to be safe and keep your climbing rope in the shade.

Hiking on a Budget

If one is a wilderness lover, a person who enjoys being outdoors and experiencing all that goes along with it, hiking is the utterly perfect activity. The very nature of it is cheap, designed for a frugal person on a budget. There are all sorts of places to go and things to see without having to empty one’s wallet in order to get there. This gets a bit harder if one lives in the city, but it is surprising how many good hiking trails there are close to urban centers, where just a short drive can make one feel as if they are in the middle of the wilderness. Many hiking areas are also government protected, and thus government funded. There are a plethora of opportunities to get out and experience the world in all its natural beauty, something that is new for many and well-loved by many more.

For starters, it’s all about finding the right place to go. Michigan’s Upper Peninsular has miles and miles of open land that is owned by the government, and places such as Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks have hiking trails that one can take for free. These are quite a drive to get to, so gas has to be factored in, but the actual hike itself is free. There scenery there is beautiful and will leave the hiker very satisfied with what they saw and experienced. The nice thing about hiking is just that open land is always so perfect to those who love the out of doors, and so a fancy destination is not required.

Getting a Good First Aid Kit for Climbing

Climbing is one of the most breath-taking of all outdoor activities: being up higher in the air than one has ever been, clinging the rock wall with just hands and feet, and working along with one’s own strength and athleticism. It is exhilarating, and that is why so many people love it and flock to places like Colorado and Salt Lake City each and every year. However, it would not be wise to ignore the dangers of climbing. Even with the best safety gear and in the best conditions, minor injuries can occur. Since many climbing locations are so far outside of urban centers, even minor injuries need to be treated right away. To this end, it is very important to carry a first aid kit when climbing, and to have a complete kit that holds everything one needs for on-site assistance to those who have been injured.

The first things that need to be in a good climbing first aid kit are for cuts and abrasions in the skin. One will want to have antiseptic towels. These need not be large and take up a lot of room; there are many small antiseptic towels that can be purchased and carried around, and they are often sealed so that one does not need to replace them if they are not used. One will also want to have Neosporin or some other type of antiseptic fluid along, in case the towels are not enough. There could be dirt or rock in a cut, and with that all sorts of bacteria and disease, so one wants to make sure that the cut is cleaned out properly. Along with those two things, one will want to have rubber gloves. This is just in case the cut is quite bad, as someone treating it will not want to get any blood on their own hands. Rock climbing leads to abrasions and cuts on the hands that can be there even if they are not noticed or very bad. This means that blood could transfer from one person to the other, something that should certainly be avoided as much as possible as it is within any sport.

How To Rock Climb- Standard Gear And Equipment

What better way to become one with nature than to climb that majestic rock formation that you have admired for so long. Rock climbing is not only a sport but a way to achieve that inner goal of accomplishment and go somewhere that so few only dream of. Although it does take some practice, training, and the right equipment, but with those three items under your belt you will be rock climbing in no time.

Here is a list of items that are considered a must have when you embark on the adventures of rock climbing.

An Introduction to Rock Climbing

The sport of rock climbing is one niche that has seen a slow rise in popularity among many people in this country. It takes a fair amount of strength and stamina, so it is definitely not for everyone. But for the rugged practioners who do this activity a lot, they will aver that it is quite exhilarating when the top is reached, and it is time to rest for a bit. This sport has 4 distinctive types, and each has its very unique features that make it popular in its own right. These will be summarized briefly in order to get a glimpse into who can safely practice these methods.

More people seem to favor bouldering over the other 3 in terms of participation level. It essentially entails climbing over boulders, the type of activity that most adults liked to do when they were kids. The beauty of this type is that very little is needed in the way of equipment, and there is a crash pad at the bottom. This is used for protection in case of a fall. However the pad just doesn’t lie there dormant, since there is a spotter who is trained to watch the climbers and can move the pad very quickly if necessary. Because there is very little in the way of training, and a minimum of equipment has to be purchased, this form of rock climbing is favored by the majority of people interested in performing this kind of activity.