Getting started climbing—for fat people.

[0jack]

I'm a fat girl who loves the idea of climbing, and I don't mind that my weight will make it hard for me to do anything fancy.  I'm happy with just using my body in a new way. The likelihood that I will ever not be fat again is minimal so I'm not going to wait to do something cool.

Fat people are often quite strong, especially those who do keep fit in conventional ways. We can handle our own body weight and set our own limits just fine, but there may be equipment considerations I don't know about because this is new to me.  Bouldering, anything low-level, would be great for me, though I'm sure others would like to go up-up-up. I'm looking for advice on getting started (anecdotes, links, books, how to approach a gym, whatever) for people in my situation. 

Comments

[wpadmirer]

I started climbing at the age 40 55 and I was 40 lbs overweight. I top rope. I think it's actually better when you're heavier - and this is why - bouldering is hard on your shoulders and hands. It requires a lot more upper body strength than top roping does.

Yes, going "up" is hard, but you have the support of the rope and harness to prevent injury, AND it's all about the legs and foot placement. Much easier on someone who is both learning and heavy.

Most gyms which offer top roping have beginner routes and many have "slab" walls, which are pitched about 15 degrees away from the climber. This is great, because you are not trying to move straight up, but have the pitch of the wall to work with you.

To try this out you can rent equipment at the gym (you'll see shoes and a harness), and take a lesson. Don't worry about being heavier than your belay partner, because top roping allows you to belay someone about twice your weight. I'm heavier than all my partners, and yet none of them have trouble with it.

Many gyms have sign up sheets of people looking for partners. I put an ad on Craig's List and found some partners and a group that climbs regularly that I could join.

Enjoy it!

[wpadmirer]

Huh, I screwed up in that first sentence - I began at 55, 40 lbs overweight. Don't know how I managed to get that extra 40 in there.

[rydra_wong]

because top roping allows you to belay someone about twice your weight.

And I believe (speaking as a boulderer who views all this from a safe distance) that you can anchor the belayer if the weight difference goes past that, so that (for example) a small child can belay an adult.

[wpadmirer]

If you're anchored, yes, I think you can do more. It all depends on the circumstances. I once had to anchor to a tree to belay a guy on an outdoor climb, but he was substantially heavier than me.

[emperor]

Yeah, I ground-anchor one of my regular partners as she's pretty slight, and I'm ... not.

[rydra_wong]

bouldering is hard on your shoulders and hands. It requires a lot more upper body strength than top roping does.

FWIW, I started out bouldering skinny but incredibly weak. Having a crappy strength-to-weight ratio to start with (for whatever reason) can be frustrating, but it also forces you to learn technique really early on, which can make you terrifyingly effective.

Unrelated to weight: mac, you mentioned chronic pain. I don't know if it's anything that affects your joints, but if it is, you may need to watch out for your knees and ankles; bouldering does put some impact on them when you fall or jump. If that's a problem, then top-roping is much lower-impact.

[0jack]

Thanks for the warning, but I don't think it should be a problem. My pain isn't degenerative, it's nerve/brain error. :(

[rydra_wong]

In that case, no worries.

(BRAINS. WHY SO FAIL.)

[0jack]

I know. I AM DISAPPOINT IN U SON. :(

[wpadmirer]

Yeah, I agree. If you've got knee or ankle problems, top roping is definitely better.

[rydra_wong]

Was just about to ETA to my comment -- cryptolect posted about their experiences climbing for the first time as someone who identifies as "pretty heavy".

Basically, there are no equipment considerations that I'm aware of; harnesses and ropes are designed to take waaaay more weight than they ever have to. Harnesses are adjustable and made in a wide range of sizes.

With bouldering, there are no equipment considerations because there's no equipment. *g*

[0jack]

Thanks for the info. :)

Also

[rydra_wong]

As a British climber I am obliged to post this in any online thread of this kind (it's a rule):

JOHN DUNNE JOHN DUNNE JOHN DUNNE.

(Top British trad climber, put up routes that are still some of the hardest in the UK, badass, comfortably around 200lb.)

[kelachrome]

Um, this. I've actually been climbing this year - at an unnamed spot on the Appalachian Trail (best day ever!), and the professor I went with has also turned their garage into a bouldering gym (I, ah, admittedly spent most of my time that day jumping on the double layer of mattresses. Whee!)
There's a climbing gym nearby, and I've spent a ridiculous amount of time on their website, but I'm too nervous to actually call or go in because oh no strangers! and what if everyone looks at me funny?
So. Um.

[rydra_wong]

FWIW, I had to get a friend to come with me to have a look through the door of a bouldering wall the first time, just for the moral support.

(And then they were sweethearts and told me I could look round as much as I wanted, and then a few days later I phoned them with my heart in my mouth and booked myself onto the next induction course.)

That's a lovely photo of you climbing the things!

ETA: It might help to find out when off-peak times at the climbing gym are. With crafty timing, you may be able to go when there are minimal other people there and no-one even in your vicinity, let alone looking at you. This can be quite comforting.

[emperor]

Saturday afternoon/evening seems quiet at my local (which always surprises me).

[rydra_wong]

Huh. Yeah, that's the opposite of my local. But generally, if you phone a wall, they'll be able to tell you when their quiet times are.

[ursula]

I was lucky when I wanted to start climbing, because I had an old friend who was already into climbing and can talk ANYONE into ANYTHING. So I asked her to take me really nervously, and then I wasn't allowed to back out.

[jumpuphigh]

There shouldn't be any problems with equipment. Finding a harness shouldn't be too much of a challenge. If you were local, I'd offer you mine now that it is way too big to protect me.

I never had problems with other climbers. (I was about 250lbs. back when I started climbing.) Size is just one of things that is unique to you. Climbing is all about learning how to work with your body.

In case it's an issue

[rydra_wong]

There's a thread here (warning for discussion of weight loss) discussing brands of harness that run extra-large.