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gamera009 posted:Gym grades mean nothing. Go outside! It's on the to-do list. Some friends invited me to the Red earlier this year but I couldn't go. My gym is running a two-day trip to Coopers Rock later this year and I intend to go on it. In the meantime, flawed though they are, gym grades are the best benchmark available to me for my performance.
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Jul 9, 2014 02:23
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guppy posted:It's on the to-do list. Some friends invited me to the Red earlier this year but I couldn't go. Not a good decision. The red is so cool.
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Jul 9, 2014 06:28
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guppy posted:It's on the to-do list. Some friends invited me to the Red earlier this year but I couldn't go. My gym is running a two-day trip to Coopers Rock later this year and I intend to go on it. In the meantime, flawed though they are, gym grades are the best benchmark available to me for my performance. Gym grades are a great benchmark of your personal improvement! I only climbed inside for the first year or so and got way better. All people mean is that the grade you climb indoors won't translate exactly to your outdoor grade, like I can climb 6c uk indoor but struggle with 5c's outdoor. But the more you climb anywhere the better you'll become! Outdoors is much more fun though, and I'm improving much more now I'm taking the extra time to climb outdoors.
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Jul 9, 2014 07:39
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While we're on the subject of outdoors, I've got some noob questions. I've been climbing for about 6 months now, top rope only. In a couple weeks, I'm taking a lead class at my gym (loving finally got around to it, lead climbing looks so badass). Anyway, once I feel confident leading, is there anything else I need to know before going outside to a real rock? I was hoping that learning to lead and getting good at that would at least let me do some of the easier single-pitch sport routes, but I'm not 100% sure if that's all I need (I'm guessing there's more to it than 'whelp you're outside now'). I can confidently climb 5.10- routes and do 5.10/5.10+ routes on a good day (and yes, I realize the past few posts were about how gym grades don't matter  and yes my gym does 5.10-/5.10/5.10+ instead of a/b/c/d). The closest place to me that has some easy routes is Exit 38 (Washington State folks probably know it well). Any tips or words of wisdom on that?
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Jul 9, 2014 07:46
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CoasterMaster posted:Anyway, once I feel confident leading, is there anything else I need to know before going outside to a real rock?
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Jul 9, 2014 13:05
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burns_2k posted:The only other thing that springs to mind is you need to learn how to lower off. Usually in a gym you will climb to a pain of screw gates you clip before lowering off. Out doors you will usually need to clip into a pair of bolts with a sling. You then thread the bolts before lowering off. Its worth watching a video or two so you know what to do before you get there! Take some falls on lead. Just climb up to the third or fourth and jump off. Have your belayer give a soft catch. Repeat until it feels normal.
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Jul 9, 2014 13:50
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guppy posted:It's on the to-do list. Some friends invited me to the Red earlier this year but I couldn't go. My gym is running a two-day trip to Coopers Rock later this year and I intend to go on it. In the meantime, flawed though they are, gym grades are the best benchmark available to me for my performance. Wait Cooper's Rock like in WV? I didn't know I shared a state with another climbing goon! Any chance you can fit one more 'never climbed outdoors but 5.10b indoors' in the mix?
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Jul 9, 2014 13:52
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CoasterMaster posted:While we're on the subject of outdoors, I've got some noob questions. I've been climbing for about 6 months now, top rope only. In a couple weeks, I'm taking a lead class at my gym (loving finally got around to it, lead climbing looks so badass). Anyway, once I feel confident leading, is there anything else I need to know before going outside to a real rock? I was hoping that learning to lead and getting good at that would at least let me do some of the easier single-pitch sport routes, but I'm not 100% sure if that's all I need (I'm guessing there's more to it than 'whelp you're outside now'). I can confidently climb 5.10- routes and do 5.10/5.10+ routes on a good day (and yes, I realize the past few posts were about how gym grades don't matter I just did a lead course outside and am pretty solid top roping 10's in the gym. I was struggling with leading 7's outside. It's a hell of a lot harder to even realize what can be used as a hold and I haven't figured out how to transfer the skills I've learned in the gym to slab climbing.
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Jul 9, 2014 16:25
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FiestaDePantalones posted:Wait Cooper's Rock like in WV? I didn't know I shared a state with another climbing goon! Any chance you can fit one more 'never climbed outdoors but 5.10b indoors' in the mix? Right site, but we'll be coming from out of state -- we're out of the Baltimore area, and I believe this is being organized for members of the gym only. If you'e in WV it obviously makes no sense for you to join my gym. Adding more people isn't my call to make as I don't work there. Sorry 
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Jul 9, 2014 17:14
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CoasterMaster posted:
Easy Street has an easy grade and easy routes, plus it's overbolted so you can get a lot of clipping practice in on the way up. Endless Bliss is nearby, it's a great longer route in that area and you're never left wanting for bolts the whole way up, probably the best route in the whole area.
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Jul 9, 2014 17:22
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CoasterMaster posted:Anyway, once I feel confident leading, is there anything else I need to know before going outside to a real rock? You should probably take a course or go with people who really know what they're doing. Or you could just watch a video or two, but I sure as hell wouldn't risk it.
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Jul 9, 2014 18:53
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guppy posted:Right site, but we'll be coming from out of state -- we're out of the Baltimore area, and I believe this is being organized for members of the gym only. If you'e in WV it obviously makes no sense for you to join my gym. Adding more people isn't my call to make as I don't work there. Sorry Awwww all right then. You've got me itching to go there, at least. It's only 40 minutes away from me so I may just hop on the bike and make a trip there to see what's up.
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Jul 10, 2014 04:20
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I'm going rock climbing today!!!!! I can do the 5.6 walls and V0's. 
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Jul 10, 2014 15:37
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This month's Rock and Ice had the funniest climbing ad I've seen in a long time: In other news, I got to top rope and boulder a bit in Donner Pass. So much loving fun, and only the second time I've been able to climb on real rock.  E: view from the top of the pass 
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Jul 11, 2014 16:59
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I'll be in Denver this weekend, any suggestions for bouldering gyms?
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Jul 14, 2014 20:41
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Dutymode posted:I'll be in Denver this weekend, any suggestions for bouldering gyms? Denver proper? Or can you get to Boulder? I'm a fan of The Spot. It's a pure bouldering gym, with a fairly large amount of space. If they're too far, Rock'n'Jammin is also really good. Or you can take a $4/45min light rail trip up to Earth Treks in Golden.
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Jul 14, 2014 21:42
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Denver Bouldering Club. Or rent/borrow a car; there's excellent bouldering in Morrison, Evergreen, and Boulder.
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Jul 14, 2014 23:17
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Dutymode posted:I'll be in Denver this weekend, any suggestions for bouldering gyms? Outside perhaps? If it has to be a gym then go to the Spot in Boulder.
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Jul 15, 2014 03:57
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Dutymode posted:I'll be in Denver this weekend, any suggestions for bouldering gyms? I am sure there are several denver/boulder goons willing to meet up to climb. Just let people know. 
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Jul 16, 2014 14:55
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Got to the top of my first 11a's yesterday (at my gym in Sunnyvale). Next time I should be able to do them clean. Still can't do the V3's on the bouldering wall.
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Jul 16, 2014 15:30
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gamera009 posted:I am sure there are several denver/boulder goons willing to meet up to climb. Just let people know. I should be out somewhere this weekend one or both days.
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Jul 16, 2014 23:22
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spwrozek posted:I should be out somewhere this weekend one or both days. I might have Sunday until 1pm free. Morning bouldering is good bouldering.
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Jul 16, 2014 23:35
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I'm thinking I'll try the Denver Bouldering Club on Saturday if my back is feeling better.
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Jul 16, 2014 23:53
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gamera009 posted:I might have Sunday until 1pm free. Morning bouldering is good bouldering. Morning outside is outside without rain and lightning, usually.
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Jul 17, 2014 00:16
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Silly question - how do you keep your shoes from reeking? I climb at the gym almost every day and spray them with whatever the gym uses for rentals, but it's not helping much. Also, I am going to climb outdoors for the first time this weekend at Castle Rock. So excited! Meatbag Esq. posted:Got to the top of my first 11a's yesterday (at my gym in Sunnyvale). Next time I should be able to do them clean. Still can't do the V3's on the bouldering wall. Congrats! Oh hey, I go there virtually every day. I did my first v3 like a month ago  . Have you tried their balance and technique bouldering class? That really got me to commit to improving my technique.
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Jul 17, 2014 07:40
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pokie posted:Silly question - how do you keep your shoes from reeking? I climb at the gym almost every day and spray them with whatever the gym uses for rentals, but it's not helping much. Recommendation from this very thread: http://www.bootbananas.com/ . Tested and very happy about them.
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Jul 17, 2014 14:24
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pokie posted:Congrats! Oh hey, I go there virtually every day. I did my first v3 like a month ago I'm also there rather regularly but haven't taken good advantage of the classes. If you want to meet up my gmail account is REDACTED!. Meatbag Esq. fucked around with this message at 07:05 on Jul 18, 2014 |
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Jul 17, 2014 21:14
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Do we have a slackline thread around here anywhere?
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Jul 17, 2014 21:27
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BlackMK4 posted:Do we have a slackline thread around here anywhere? I doubt we have a dedicated thread. I've got a rarely used slackline disassembled in my garage from before the 2inch wide ones with winches were widely available. Never got far beyond just being able to walk back and forth, though I'd love to do a highline (with protection!) someday.
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Jul 18, 2014 01:11
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Boston crew, BKBS is hosting a bouldering comp for their first anniversary on August 1st. I just registered for the intermediate division so come climb with me!
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Jul 18, 2014 02:31
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eithedog posted:Recommendation from this very thread: http://www.bootbananas.com/ . Tested and very happy about them. pokie fucked around with this message at 19:57 on Jul 18, 2014 |
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Jul 18, 2014 19:55
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I also have smelly climbing shoes unfortunately. I was lazy for the first ~6 months with them, and didn't do anything to stop them smelling - basically left them inside a bag between climbing sessions, never aired them. They started smelling really bad, I bought boot-bananas and have used them for probably about a year, but they never made much difference. I now have them airing between climbs, and I spray them with anti-bacterial spray etc, but honestly they loving reek still. I don't have smelly feet generally, and I'm not an especially sweaty person
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Jul 18, 2014 20:42
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A La Sportiva rep told me once that you can just straight up wash them out with water without hurting them. Synthetic or leather.
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Jul 18, 2014 22:15
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I heard the save thing from the evolv rep; just throw them in a wash cycle.
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Jul 19, 2014 01:07
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Will be climbing at little Eiger in the morning if anyone wants to join us from the Denver area.
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Jul 19, 2014 05:13
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Two week bouldering holiday in Finland. With a shirt on.  Without.  Succesful hammock installation.  Beaches.  So much fun. Finding new places to climb with a good crew is the poo poo. The truth is out there. Bonus dragonfly. 
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Jul 19, 2014 14:26
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brakeless posted:Two week bouldering holiday in Finland. Looks like you had a great time! I'm going to Vietnam for 3.5 weeks from this Thursday, and want to climb while I'm out there. It's not a climbing holiday, so I won't be bringing gear with me and will only get a chance for 2-3 days climbing. Anyone know any good climbing spots in North Vietnam (or elsewhere in the country)? Will be checking out ha long bay and cat ba island for climbing for sure.
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Jul 19, 2014 16:34
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Chris! posted:Looks like you had a great time! Take pics, please?  I've got the travel bug something fierce now but my next 10 months are going to be filled to the brim with studying so I'm going to have to live vicariously through others.
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Jul 19, 2014 16:45
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brakeless posted:Take pics, please? I'll try! Thailand is apparently far better for climbing, but I'm not going to get a chance to go there on this trip. I've heard mixed reports about the climbing in Vietnam, but hopefully I'll find something fun for a day or 2! I spent months backpacking around Morocco a few years ago, but wasn't into climbing at that point. Turns out I visited some amazing climbing locations without knowing it, if only I had started this hobby a bit earlier.
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Jul 19, 2014 17:39
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Chris! posted:Looks like you had a great time! I spent a month in Vietnam. Very large country, pick and choose your spots. Spend more time in less places to really discover the hidden gems, because there's a lot of them. Looks like there's an Asia Outdoors office on Cat Ba island. If you're in Hanoi also swing by the Hanoi Backpacker Hostel, they have fingers in a lot of pies and could probably point you in the right direction for where to go for rock climbing, or maybe just set you up with a group. http://www.asiaoutdoors.com.vn/News/Climbing-Beta/Rock-Climbing-areas.html
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Jul 19, 2014 20:15
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