You might have seen the National Geographic video of Alex Honnold recently. It’s tummy flipping and inspirting all in one.
“Alex Honnold makes the first free solos of the largest walls in North America. He scales 2,000 feet with only shoes and chalk bag—no rope, no safety, and no room for error. Though he's a superhero on the walls, off the rock Alex is a shy, self-effacing young guy living in his van. He's sort of a Clark Kent-Superman character.” – National Geographic
They say that Alex Honnold isn’t fearless, he just accepts death. “I have the same hope of survival as everybody else. I just have more of an acceptance that I will die at some point.”
We’re not suggesting that you start with the kind of climbing this guy does, but climbing is a great way to mix up your mountain experience and build both strength and agility. If you’re staring at the nearest rock face, or watching the video of Alex Honnold on repeat, but unsure of where to begin, here are some beginner ideas worth considering.
1.Local Climbing Gym
Spend some time in your local climbing gym to learn the basics from more experienced climbers. Try City ROCK in Cape Town or Johannesburg.
2.Which one?
There are many types of climbing, and you’ll probably want to start with the one best suited to your level of experience and / or fears. Bouldering and scrambling are suited to beginners, with basic rope work for scrambling or rope-free shorter climbs for boundering. Top-roping allows a beginner to cover quite a distance on the wall, and trad (traditional) climbing or sport climbing take you to the next level. Free soloing—the type of rock climbing that’s recently become publicly visible because of Alex Honnold—is when the climber performs alone without using any ropes, a harness, or other protective equipment. This takes proper skill and experience.
3.Gear Up
Before you invest, rent equipment from your local climbing gym. A harness, a helmet, one or two locking carabiners, and a belay rappel device will get you started. You’ll need a decent pair of climbing shoes, too.
4.Learn the Ropes
No amount of reading or YouTube tutorials will teach you to properly belay. You should become so adept with ropes that you could do it without thinking. Take a class and practise on repeat until you are tying figure 8’s in your sleep.
5.Climb with Company
For your first few outdoor experiences, tag along with climbers that are experienced and spend most of these excursions watching, learning, and asking questions. You’ll pick up the lingo necessary for communication with your climbing parter. Recognise that climbing is, but its very nature, a dangerous sport.
Link to article and video http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/ng-adventure/adv-beyond-the-edge-honnold