One of the most important parts of lead climbing is clipping the rope correctly. While this seems simple and straight forward, it is easy to back clip, z-clip, and make mistakes that could jeopardize the climbers safety. In this video, Chris Linder shows the proper way to clip a rope. While Linder's video shows the details in a sport climbing aspect, the same rules apply when traditional climbing.
The Touchstone gyms have a lot of pysched members, climbers who climb non-stop. Christina Freschl, a 29 year old Berkeley resident, climbs non-stop. Freschl teaches at Hillcrest, an Oakland public school. "This year I have 21 3rd graders who are excited to read stories and learn about thousands of places." Between her work weeks and after classes Freschl climbs often. Actually, Freschl doesn't climb often, she climbs a lot. Just a week after placing second in the Touchstone Rope Series, Freschl started heading up the Nose of El Capitan. Freschl crushes in the gym and in all aspects of climbing outside.
The California Bay Area has an immense amount of amazing climbing. Finding all of it can prove difficult as the climbing, though great, is fairly spread out. Thankfully there's a new guide to help with that.
Local climber, photographer, and guidebook author Jim Thornburg just released the 7th edition of Bay Area Rock. The 328 page guide book features amazing photographs of the climbing from Mickey's Beach, Castle Rock, and Mount Diablo.
Beside having excellent pictures that make the crags look irresistible, Thornburg included a number of new areas including Kimball Canyon, Table Rock (St helena) Black Sand Beach, Columbia Boulders, Jailhouse, Mt Tam Boulders, Cliff House Boulders, Aquarian Valley and The Rocklin Quarry Boulders.
The guide offers great directions in a user friendly format. Thornburg included solid information about all the types of climbing in the bay, the bouldering areas, trad zones, and sport routes. The directions make it simple to find any of the routes.
Thornburg began climbing in the bay area in 1980 and has established first ascents at Mickey's Beach, Mount Diablo, Dry Creek, and the Nut Tree Boulders. Beyond his significant route development, Thornburg also makes significant contributions to rebolting climbing areas. This year he replaced many of the sea worn bolts at the coastal climbing areas with SS glue ins.
Stop by your local Touchstone gym and grab a copy of the new Bay Area Rock from Potlicker Press.
Climbing. Climbing. Climbing. One of the best things about rock climbing is to climb more. Unfortunately, climbing too much can also make you tired and decrease your performance. Taking rest days is vital to improving. Allowing your body to recover from the abuse you place on it will make your performance stronger. In this video, pro-climber Chris Sharma talks a bit about rest days.
The Touchstone gyms are always looking to make improvements on their facilities. As part of the company's dedication to making a better climbing environment, the walls over at Great Western Power Company are a new shade. The formerly orange walls are now white.
It's that time of year again. Time to clean up one of the world's greatest national parks. Yosemite Valley sees significant impact through the year from visitors and park users. For the past nine years, Ken Yaeger and the Yosemite Climbing Assosciation have organized the Yosemite Facelift, a great opportunity for climbers to come and be stewards of the crags.
Alison Ousis reported at Rock and Ice.Com, "Last year’s 8th Annual Yosemite Facelift only netted 4,000 pounds of “small trash,” as opposed to the typical 30,000 in the event’s early years. Meanwhile, the Facelift is only growing.
Ken Yager, event founder, reported 1,345 volunteers last year, logging nearly 9,000 hours.
