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When I do my first climb..

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Hearzy

Jan 24, 2009, 3:59 AM
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Registered: Jan 18, 2009
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When I do my first climb.. Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Tried to research this through the thread.. But I could only find one where a bunch of people were flaming him for going climbing w/o the proper training... lol.

Anyways... I am not in the same boat.

Come summertime, I am going to want to go climbing outdoors. I will be doing sport?(i believe it's called).. With the anchors already in the rock?

Anyways... If I do want to do that, what will I need. The reason I am asking is because I am on a limited budget weekly, so I want to start purchasing things now so I am ready.

Currently I have:

Shoes
Harness
Chalk bag (w/ chalk :-P)
Carabiner (locking clamp)
Belay&Rappel device (ATC Guide)

I know I will need rope

What else will I need to persue my goal of some good climbs come summer!

Thanks for the help guys.

I live in Ontario (Ottawa) I dont know what type of rock if that matters.

Just some basics would be good!

Thanks

Jeff

Hennessey

Jan 24, 2009, 4:04 AM
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Registered: Dec 3, 2007
Posts: 595

Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Some quickdraws
extra biners
daisy chain, P.A.S., or a couple slings
Knowledge/Experience on how to lead and clean a route

Hearzy

Jan 24, 2009, 4:08 AM
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Registered: Jan 18, 2009
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Re: [Hennessey] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

If you can give me some figures instead of 'some'

I know that could be a few figures but ... just a rough estimate?

I am going to be taking lessons at some point.
I figure I will continue to learn on my own and figure some things out by other people watching me and giving advice before paying for it. That way I am not wasting money on the basics

andrewG

Jan 24, 2009, 4:42 AM
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Registered: Aug 5, 2008
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

When I'm sport climbing I usually bring 12-14 draws. 6 with short dog bones, 6 with long dog bones, and 2 tripled slings. 10-12 should be sufficient for most routes.

My gear checklist for sport: harness, shoes, chalk bag, draws, rope, belay device. I personally don't bring anything to build anchors with other than draws. Seems too time consuming and unnecessary. 2 draws with biners opposite and opposed is all you need.

I_do

Jan 24, 2009, 9:44 AM
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Registered: Mar 2, 2008
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Hearzy wrote:

OK I'll make this real easy on you and give you all possible responses you could get to this thread and you won't have to wait for any of them, and nobody else has to respond, here are in random order the three possible responses.

1: Get someone who knows what he's doing to help you get started, can be paid are ask around in a/your climbing gym

2:SHUTZ THE F***CKZ UPXZZ!!! NOOBTARD!!!!

3:

N_Oo_B

Jan 24, 2009, 2:51 PM
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Registered: May 21, 2007
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Re: [I_do] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

^lol

in the event of a non-troll Ill lay some rough figures out

quick draw 10-15X ... at 15$ each apx (or more)

Rope 100-250$

Knoledge - priceless, you will die w/o.

johnwesely

Jan 24, 2009, 3:14 PM
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Registered: Jun 13, 2006
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Depending on the height of the route you could need anywhere from six to fourteen draws to complete a climb. If you could be more specific about the area you are going to climb at it would help a lot.

Hearzy

Jan 24, 2009, 3:31 PM
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Registered: Jan 18, 2009
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Re: [johnwesely] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Well... Like I said... I dont really know other than up in Ottawa area. I think I may go to Bon Echo once... Calabogie a few times... And just a few others in the area.

I doubt I will be travelling too far for my first year.

clc

Jan 24, 2009, 4:04 PM
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Registered: Feb 12, 2005
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Take a cousre or atleast get somebody to show you how to climb.
I went to some climbing area about 1 hour north of Ottawa not sure of the rock type but it was really nice/solid. get about 12 quickdraws and 4 more lockers, cordellete (5m of 8mm cord, tied with doublefisherman)

Gravitron5000

Jan 24, 2009, 4:07 PM
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Registered: May 16, 2007
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Bon Echo is pretty much all trad. Calabogie I've not been to other than for Ice. I didn't notice any bolts (but the ice was thick). You'd be better off going into the Gatineaus. For the sport routes, you are rarely looking at more than 10 or 11 bolts, usually fewer. There is plenty there to keep you occupied for your first year. I agree that experience is the first thing you should be looking for. I don't want to be among the people scraping you off the ground. The Alpine Club of Canada is generally a good place to look for courses, and they've got a chapter on Ottawa. Your best bet is to go to one of the gyms, and find a mentor.

xtrmecat

Jan 24, 2009, 5:45 PM
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Registered: Apr 1, 2004
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Re: [Hennessey] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Attention: Hennesy- Never use a daisy except for what it was intended, or even suggest that a newby use one. Just stupid, they are never an anchor, and not used properly can lead to death really easy. Jeees.
Bob

Hearzy

Jan 24, 2009, 8:27 PM
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Registered: Jan 18, 2009
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Re: [Gravitron5000] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Gravitron5000 wrote:

Ofcourse I am going to take a course... I am not risking my life. I enjoy the sport.. yeah.. haha.. not enough to risk my life w/ it when I have gone climbing 5 times.

Was going to look into a course after I get passed the basics.
But thanks for the tips.
As for where I am wanting to go.. I have no idea.. I was just trying to give the general area on where I am close too. Dont know what is trad and what not.
Will look into that once the snow is gone :-)

Appreciate the info once again!

ladyscarlett

Jan 24, 2009, 9:24 PM
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Registered: Dec 17, 2008
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

I'm somewhat new to this myself, so I'm answering from a slightly different perspective.

climbing buddy(s) - good times and good company, nothing really like it. And it helps with that whole safety thing...

Beverage of choice - for the top!

camera - documentation and shenanigans. Years from now, there's nothing like looking at pics of "my first outdoor trip"- and you never know when you might see something cool from the top

This of course doesn't replace all the other suggestions, just a different perspective!

have fun out there!!

ls

N_Oo_B

Jan 25, 2009, 4:57 AM
Post #14 of 27 (4658 views)
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Registered: May 21, 2007
Posts: 463

Re: [ladyscarlett] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

doh! forgot the camera in my list...

personally i use a cheap P/S camera that's under 200$.... free hand it regularly with the idea that in the unlikely case i drop it... it's only 200bucks..

Edit :If that's too much risk, get a desposable or find a good way to cord your camera to yourself ;)

(This post was edited by N_Oo_B on Jan 25, 2009, 4:58 AM)

shockabuku

Jan 25, 2009, 6:36 AM
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Registered: May 20, 2006
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Hearzy wrote:

A partner.

tradrenn

Jan 25, 2009, 7:18 AM
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Registered: Jan 16, 2005
Posts: 2990

Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Hi

Welcome to climbing and RC.com.

Your job for now is:

#1 Get a thick skin and simply just ignore all the assholes.
#2 Go to MEC in Ottawa and buy some books:
a. Sport Climbing
b. How to Rock Climb
c. Advanced Rock Climbing

#3. Once the snow melts away go to Mt D'Argent, it is basically an outdoor gym with lots of bolt protected routes (aka Sport Climbing ) that start at 5.4 and just go up from there. Below is a link to the area.

http://www.rockclimbing.com/...s/Montagne_D_Argent/

Enjoy
V.

I_do

Jan 25, 2009, 10:54 AM
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Registered: Mar 2, 2008
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Re: [tradrenn] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

tradrenn wrote:

You didn't just actually tell him something useful did you? Did you? Please say no?

Hearzy

Jan 25, 2009, 3:31 PM
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Registered: Jan 18, 2009
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Re: [tradrenn] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

tradrenn wrote:

Sweet! didn't realize that this place existed around here.
Is there any more like this in the area?
Other easy places to do sport climbing in Ottawa area.

ShibbyShane

Jan 25, 2009, 7:33 PM
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Registered: Dec 16, 2008
Posts: 166

Re: [tradrenn] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

tradrenn wrote:

Here's some links for the books he mentioned:
Sport Climbing
How to Rock Climb
Advanced Rock Climbing

Also, don't know if you're interested in mountaineering or not but Freedom of the Hills has a lot of good outdoors information in it regardless:
Freedom of the Hills

Of course you needn't buy the books from amazon, just giving examples.

tradrenn

Jan 25, 2009, 9:04 PM
Post #20 of 27 (4470 views)
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Registered: Jan 16, 2005
Posts: 2990

Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Hearzy wrote:

Sweet! didn't realize that this place existed around here.
Is there any more like this in the area?
Other easy places to do sport climbing in Ottawa area.

That is the only place of this kind that I know of, there are many other places to climb around Ottawa but I mostly did trad so I don't know much about sport climbing around them. Mt D'Argent is a fun little place to learn Sport and Trad, I might be mistaken but I think you can even take a course there.

I think you should also get one more book:

Knots for climbers, should be at MEC also, it's more of a little brochure that goes for $6.

tradrenn

Jan 25, 2009, 9:06 PM
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Registered: Jan 16, 2005
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Re: [I_do] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

I_do wrote:

You didn't just actually tell him something useful did you? Did you? Please say no?

STFU n00b.

It's all I got for you.

jeepnphreak

Jan 26, 2009, 5:06 PM
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Registered: Jul 29, 2008
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Well on top of all that advice,
find a local climbing shop and ask around.
I do not know what is involved in your area, find some one that knows and can suggest routs and the gear required to cimb them.

FOR example, there a few routs in my home area that a 50m rope will cover a few climbs most a 60M will do 80%, but more and more routs are being bolted only a 70 M rope will do.
thats a climb of over 100' so useally 15 quick draws are needed and than extra gear for top anchors.

I have been up a climb that required a 70M with a 50M roped and 14 draws. That sucks having to down climb/lower and retrive gear and then climb back up to top out. I was lucky that there was a back walk off, because ther was not rappleing off it.

tradrenn

Feb 1, 2009, 11:48 PM
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Registered: Jan 16, 2005
Posts: 2990

Re: [jeepnphreak] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

Perhaps it is time for you to either get a 70m. rope, (which are so sweet, IMHO) and/or learn TRT.

Johnny_Fang

Feb 2, 2009, 12:18 AM
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Registered: Nov 19, 2006
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Re: [ShibbyShane] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

ShibbyShane wrote:

tradrenn wrote:

Since you have a couple of months until you climb, I've got some advice to save you money:

Try the library, it's free, and at least the library here in vancouver has tons of books on climbing.

Do a search on craigslist for "climbing" and then save that as a link for yourself. Lots of people will advise against buying used gear but you can visually inspect most all hardware. You could get some really cheap draws this way (if you keep your ear to the ground), and if the dogbones seem suspect just buy new bones. It's especially good for locking biners, belay devices, and chalk bags as tons of n00bs quit climbing after trying the gym a few times. It is nice to have a few lockers on hand for anchors.

cheers,

m.

jamincan

Feb 2, 2009, 4:21 PM
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Registered: Nov 1, 2007
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Re: [Hearzy] When I do my first climb.. [In reply to] Report this Post Average: (0 ratings)	Can't Post

I haven't done any actual climbing in Ottawa other than one time in highschool when my phys ed class went to the Coyote Rock Gym, but you can check out some topos of local crags here: http://www.drtopo.com/guidebooks/canada/Quebec

My best advice is to find a climbing buddy who is more experienced than you, already has the gear, and is familiar with the area. You'll learn a lot from them and you can use his or her gear until you accumulate enough of your own, spreading out the shock of purchasing all the gear at once.

For sport climbing, I think the following would be a good start and adequate for most routes. Some place might have certain challenges that require additional gear (Lion's Head, for example):

60m rope
12 quickdraws
belay device and locking biner
2 double slings and 2 locking biners for the anchor
helmet

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