getting back into it: two questions

[sixbeforelunch]

Hey all! So, I've been really wanting to get back into climbing lately. (I even bought a climbing magazine today for inspiration. Cute dude who rang me out at Barnes & Nobel was totally into it and wanted to chat climbing, but alas I was late getting back from my lunch break already, and there was a long line behind me that probably wouldn't have been into our climbing chat.) Two quick questions/pleas for advice.

1) So, I own climbing shoes, chalk, and tape, but they've been stored in a nylon bag without seeing the outside world for...over a year or more, I'd guess. I don't know that the bag breathes very well. I'm almost afraid to open the bag and peek at them. Any tips on sanitizing/deodorizing a pair of climbing shoes? And, if the chalk seems okay, do you think it'll be okay to use? I'm just wondering if it can go bad. (I don't see how, but my anxiety disorder likes to find the worst case scenario in everything.)

2) One of the biggest barriers to my getting back into climbing has been fear of not being able to go often enough to make noticeable progress. Opinions on the fewest number of times per week/month that you can go and still make some sort of progress?

Comments

[wpadmirer]

I have two small cloth bags that contain a cedar and sage mix. I put one in each shoe after I climb. My shoes consistently smell like sage! YAY! So I think that the cedar and sage mix is perfect. My climbing partner made her own bags out of pieces of panty hose and it worked just as well.

I think climbing progress is made simply by being in the gym when you can. It's less about how much you climb and more about how much you enjoy it. So climb on!

[rydra_wong]

My climbing partner made her own bags out of pieces of panty hose and it worked just as well.

Oooh. I hadn't thought of making my own, and I sew a lot. Now I'm wondering about other aromatic mixes that might work -- cedar and lavender, maybe?

[astridv]

I tried lavender before cedar and that didn't have any effect. A mix of both might, though. I would love to add sage to the cedar now that I read about it, but I don't think we have that here.

[wpadmirer]

Cedar and lavender is what my climbing partner uses. I love sage, so that's what I used.