Indoor Rock Climbing

JeepThrills · 11-10-2012, 06:25 PM

I keep thinking I want to try indoor rock climbing, but I am wondering how much upper body strength you actually need to do the climbing. I use to have a lot of strength in my arms, but after I hurt my wrist it kind of went away.

Scotty · 11-10-2012, 07:59 PM

Quite a bit. You have to support your weight on your hands and your toes. Of course you can have the rigging to catch you if you want. They also have the mats down where I go just in case you fall off.

**CozInCowtown** · 11-10-2012, 08:13 PM

I tried it once several years ago.
I was so pleased with myself after several minutes I snailed almost to the top but then this kid, this boy about 10 years old, comes 4 wheeling up to me like a spider, turned 90 degrees and went sideways around me.
I just slowly went back down and left sad.
DC

Gondor · 11-11-2012, 06:23 AM

I understand that completely.

Years can do that to you or the lack of training. I never tried this indoors but I thought a few times of installing something like that in my house.

carmen · 11-11-2012, 05:49 PM

I saw a chair that is similar with the workout and strength needed for rock climbing. It was setup with a pulley system but you are sitting down in a saddle type chair the entire time. Not sure I could rock climb at my age, but this new device looked pretty cool.

Scotty · 11-11-2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CozInCowtown

I tried it once several years ago.
I was so pleased with myself after several minutes I snailed almost to the top but then this kid, this boy about 10 years old, comes 4 wheeling up to me like a spider, turned 90 degrees and went sideways around me.
I just slowly went back down and left sad.
DC

LOL! That sounds like me Coz. I mean the snailing not the spidering. It can be frustrating to see someone doing something very easily while it takes you quite a bit of effort to do. I have finally started taking trails easy instead of running down them like I used to. It is frustrating to watch but it happens. Time has an unfortunate way of making us all into little old men like Artie Johnson on "Laugh In". Remember that one?

TroyS · 12-10-2012, 09:52 PM

You'll need quite a bit of arm and wrist power. That's what you'll need to push yourself up. I usually were a wrist band when I do that to give it some support since my wrist got weaker over time. Best to first check with your doctor about your wrist before you try.

hummingbird · 12-10-2012, 10:23 PM

I don't think I would like it. I've watched people do it and I understand it's a good exercise but it's just not for me. I like to feel ground under my feet when at all possible.

Marshmallow · 01-04-2013, 11:33 PM

I was watching some of the younger people scaling the rock-climbing wall at our local YMCA over the holidays. I was amazed at how they can climb that thing so fast. I would never be able to get to the top of it, even in my younger days.

BGreen · 01-13-2013, 02:36 PM

I've always wished I had started working on my upper body strength when I was young. I've learned the importance of it now that I am older. I am going to take my grandchildren indoor rock climbing whenever they get a place near me.