March 22, 2007

Journaling - Recording Your Rock Climbing Trips

Tip! Using the right kind of gear not only makes rock climbing easier, but also safe. Some basic rock climbing equipment includes: ropes, cords, webbing, carabiners, harnesses, belay devices (sticht plate, ATC, Gri-Gri, Figure Eight), Descenders (figure eight, rescue eight, ATC), Ascenders, protection devices (nuts, hexcenters, spring loaded camming devices), sewn runners, helmets, climbing harnesses (fully adjustable or partly adjustable), climbing screws, pulleys, trekking pole, pitons, haul bag, bouldering mat, and holds.

Rock climbing is a great way to challenge yourself and get a heck of a view. Alas, your experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a journal for rock climbs.

Journal - Rock Climbs

Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent rock climbing experience. What sticks out in your mind? Did you go bouldering at Joshua Tree for the weekend? Hit Red River Gorge in Kentucky? Now think about the first time you ever went rock climbing. Undoubtedly, you remember few things about the geography, people you went with and the particular rock climbing routes. The experiences you’ve forgotten are lost to time. If you keep a rock climbing journal, this won’t be the case.

A good rock climbing journal combines a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact so you don’t have to take up unnecessary space for other things. Second, it should have a case to protect it from the elements and so on. Third, the journal should contain blank areas to write your notes. Fourth, the journal should contain cue spaces to remind you to keep notes about specific things on your rock climbs. Cues should include:

Tip! The prices of rock climbing gear range from $30 and can go as high as $1200 dollars. There are wholesale and discount stores that offer huge discounts in order to retain your business.

1. Who you went rock climbing with,

2. The nature and quality of the rock climbs,

3. Who you met and contact information for them,

4. The geographic and weather conditions,

5. Any unique things that occurred while rock climbing,

6. The routes you took and alternatives.

7. The equipment you needed to make the rock climbs, and

8. Any inside information provided by locals or other climbers you met.

At the end of a weekend of rock climbs, you should be able to get the following from your journal:

1. Contact information for other climbers you met,

2. Enough detail to provide you or a friend with a route guide if you climb the location a second time.

3. Memories to reflect upon years later, and

4. Something to pass on to your friends, children and grandchildren.

To get the most out of your journal of rock climbs, you should write in it just before you climb and when you return. It is always interesting to see the different impressions you have before and after a climb. Was it harder than you thought or easier?

Rock climbing is a great way to commune with nature and spend a weekend. Make sure to preserve the experience with your journal of rock climbs.

Tip! Some of the most popular rock climbing gear brands are: Black Diamond, Volcom, Nixon, Oakley, Smith, Spy, The North Face, Nikita, Eagle Creek, Dakine, Mountain Hardwear and others. Climbing equipment has to be certified by the International Federation of Mountaineering Associations (UIAA) and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).

Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com/climbing.cfm - makers of rock climbing journals. Personal climbing journals make great Christmas gifts for rock climbing, mountain climbing and ice climbing. To read climbing articles and stories, visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com/mountain_rock_ice

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