Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Climbing, But Were Afraid To Ask

[rydra_wong]

This is a post where you can ask all the questions you're always wanted to ask about climbing, whether you've already started or are just beginning to think about maybe possibly kind of giving this a try.

Or maybe you've been climbing for decades, and have always wondered about that one thing, and by now it would be OMG TOO EMBARASSING to admit you don't know.

No topics are off-limit, no questions too clueless, so let rip and get answers from demi-n00bs experienced climbers.

Comments

[ilanarama]

Trad outdoor climbing actually depends a lot less on finger strength than on body positioning and balance. Indoor climbing tends to be face climbing, in which hand/finger strength is important, although the better you get the LESS you actually use your arms, as you learn how to use your whole body (for example, flagging a foot to one side to counterbalance your arm on the other makes it easier to hold on without hand/arm strength).

On the other hand, technique-y climbing does depend a lot on your knees, as you need to be able to (for example) place a foot high and then shift your weight over it and straighten your leg to stand.

Being fat will make climbing more work for you. I have climbing friends who are not sylph-thin, though, who are plenty decent climbers.

[hivesofactivity]

Thank you - I kind of was expecting to be totally put off by this whole thread, but it hasn't worked out like that, and I'm really grateful!