“By facing a challenge on the wall and accomplishing the routes that I had been working on that day, I feel ready to conquer any problem facing me,” says Santa Barbara rock climber Shannon Morrison.

In recent years, rock climbing has become an increasingly popular activity. People of various ages and backgrounds have discovered the many merits of climbing, whether indoors or outdoors. It can serve as a weekend hobby, a powerful workout and an uplifting experience. Rock climbing tones the body and focuses the mind – where can I go next with my hands and feet?

Those looking into rock climbing should begin indoors. Many gyms have walls and are willing to rent equipment, and climbing centers offer classes. Beginning inside allows rookie rock climbers to get comfortable enough with their harness to have trust in it when it comes to their safety. Building key rock climbing muscles before heading outdoors is essential and possible to achieve at indoor venues. Think of it as training – for both your mind and your muscles.

“Rock climbing is great exercise as both a mental game and physical game. It’s an individual competition with myself to keep accomplishing higher and harder goals!”

There are a number of different types of rock climbing. In standard rock climbing, also knowing as top-roping, there is a climber and a belayer. The belayer acts as an anchor on the ground and holds the rope for the climber, who scales a wall face. The belayer is a safety net and helps to keep the climber from falling.

Another branch of rock climbing is bouldering. Bouldering uses no ropes, but generally does not go higher than 10 to 12 feet – a level from which it is still safe to fall. Bouldering is more about traversing the rock face than scaling it and uses crash pads to catch anyone who tumbles.

A third variety is free climbing. Free climbing does not use ropes. It is the most dangerous form of rock climbing, involving vertical heights that are not a safe distance to climb to without ropes, and those who practice it are in it for the adrenaline rush. Although very hazardous, free climbing is often done over water to lessen injury in case of a fall.

As for fitness, rock climbing works the body hard. It requires you to grasp with your fingers and toes, balance with your core and move your body in difficult and innovative ways, forcing you to make use of both your arms and your legs.

“Rock climbing uses every muscle, from fingers to toes (literally)! Every time you climb you exercise a different variety of muscles sets. It’s the best workout because you work on muscle strengthening, cardio, flexibility and balance!” says Morrison.

Similar to other sports, rock climbing can prove addicting and exhilarating. Get outside and scale a cliff! Just be sure to bring a buddy to hold the rope, and to prepare your mind and body for the experience at a local gym or rock wall.

Tools of the Trade: Essentials

Shoes: Special rock climbing shoes that mold to your feet. The rubber on the bottom gives you extra traction to prevent slipping – a Spiderman-like effect.
 
 
 
 
 

Chalk: White powder often put into a nylon-sock-like ball. Its purpose is to dry the moisture from sweaty hands and ensure you with the most stick against the wall.
 
 
 
 
 

Harness: The harness has one thick band going around your waist and two around your upper thighs. All harnesses have at least one loop in the front for you to tie into as either a climber or belayer.
 
 
 
 
 

Karabiner (left): Metal rings with spring-loaded gates, used to connect gear, including the belay device and chalk bag, to a harness.

Belay Device (right): A mechanism the belayer uses to control the rope as their buddy climbs.