WHY TRY ROCK CLIMBING?
by John Grimes

These days, the popularity of many extreme sports has actually resulted in them not being so extreme. This is definitely not the case when it comes to rock climbing.

Life is a beautiful thing. If you want to get out into the great outdoors, there are so many options available, it isn’t even funny. You can go hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking and so on. Given all these options, why try rock climbing. There are more than a few good reasons.

Getting in Shape – One of the reasons many people starting getting into the great outdoors is to get some physical activity. If this is your goal, rock climbing is a perfect choice. Climbing works the arms, shoulders, trunk and legs of the body. Oh, man does it work them. No matter what style of climbing you try, you are looking at a high calorie workout. The first couple times, your arms and legs will be noodle city afterwards. As you get used to it, you will quickly find you are losing weight and gaining a lot of definition in your body.

Trying Something Unique – There are a lot of rock climbers around, but not so many that you bump into them much unless you are actually climbing. This makes the sport a bit of an inclusive one. When you do meet other climbers, it is like being in a social club – one that non-climbers can’t begin to understand. There is an entire underground for climbers and it is a great way to meet new friends with similar insane interests.

Views – It may sound stupid to say, but getting great views is an inherent side of rock climbing. You might be thinking, “So what?” Well, these aren’t just any views. You have to experience them to understand, but it will give you an entirely new view of the world, Mother Nature and your life. To say they are jaw dropping is a mild understatement.

Inexpensive – Finally, rock climbing is a fairly inexpensive sport. Yes, the gear can run you some bucks, but the cost is nominal compared to most other sports. Once you have your basic gear, it lasts for a good bit of time. You will need to replace shoes every so often, but it is really a minor expense compared to other sports. That being said, the sport can get expensive when you start thinking about flying off to exotic locations to climb some beast of a cliff!

Why try rock climbing? It is difficult to put into words. When you complete your first climb, you will know why. Get out there and try it!

John Grimes is with All Terrain - makers of natural products for the outdoors.