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beachrock
Jun 5, 2011, 4:34 AM
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I enjoy scrambling / boulder hopping but I'm not sure I currently have the athleticism necessary to climb a vertical wall. Do I need to be all cut in order to be able to do it or is it a matter of patience and enough practice?
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rnevius
Jun 5, 2011, 4:39 AM
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beachrock wrote: I enjoy scrambling / boulder hopping but I'm not sure I currently have the athleticism necessary to climb a vertical wall. Do I need to be all cut in order to be able to do it or is it a matter of patience and enough practice?
I think you just partially answered your own question. To climb a 5.4 route, you probably don't have to be "cut", but you do need to be able to balance and walk up a steep ramp using all fours. Then again, a lot of people wouldn't really consider a 5.4 "climbing".
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TarHeelEMT
Jun 5, 2011, 4:43 AM
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Are we talking overweight or obese?
Overweight, no problem. Although you'll be limited, you could definitely climb some harder moderates with practice.
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healyje
Jun 5, 2011, 8:32 AM
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beachrock wrote: I enjoy scrambling / boulder hopping but I'm not sure I currently have the athleticism necessary to climb a vertical wall. Do I need to be all cut in order to be able to do it or is it a matter of patience and enough practice?
Depending on how overweight you're talking then if you really want to climb you might consider walking which, oddly enough, is considered a class of climbing on the YDS scale. I say walking because it's a good way to start loosing weight. I get out of shape every winter and have to get back in shape every spring in order to climb again. I usually start walking, then walk / running, then add swimming. All the while logging it all daily until I'm back down to climbing weight. At that point I start climbing easy familiar things and slowly work my way back up - while still running and swimming.
My climbing partner from back in the '70s sat behind a desk for twenty+ some odd years and went from 155 lbs. to 270 lbs. and stayed at that weight for most of those years. He retired last October and is now down to 175 and trying to qualify for next year's Boston marathon. He said he started walking on a treadmill five minutes at a time.
It's all doable - how much do you want to climb?
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mikebee
Jun 5, 2011, 9:05 AM
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Head to a climbing gym and find out!
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sungam
Jun 5, 2011, 9:15 AM
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The WHALE says that you are good to go. Please ignore the fact that the WHALE fell at the first bolt.
10 points if you name the route...
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wrbill
Jun 5, 2011, 10:33 AM
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I had a climbing partner that was 280 lbs and could onsite 5.9s about 60% of the time and was able to make it up most 5.10b's. Sure weight does play a big part in holding you back, but will not stop you from climbing.
By the sound of it you are not way over weight or if you are you can get around very well. Like someone had said, go to a gym and try. Plus climbing will help you lose weight and if climbing outside the hike in to some areas will also help.
Good luck with your climbing and welcome to the sport.
Be safe and find someone to take you out, the gym can be a great place for that as well.
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sungam
Jun 5, 2011, 12:34 PM
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wrbill wrote: Plus climbing will help you lose weight and if climbing outside the hike in to some areas will also help.
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Kartessa
Jun 5, 2011, 1:07 PM
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sungam wrote: wrbill wrote: Plus climbing will help you lose weight and if climbing outside the hike in to some areas will also help. While climbing directly probably won't really help, the walk-ins etc. probably will. It my also give you the psyche to get in better shape and hit the broccoli.
No, the climbing will help ya. I'm 5'2" and when I got back into the game, 3 years ago I was over 210lbs. I didnt do an approach more than 15min long nor did I quit eating grotesque amounts of bacon and I went down 40lbs in the first year.
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wrbill
Jun 5, 2011, 1:20 PM
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I'm not saying that he will lose all the weight with climbing but it will help as will any active that gets you burning cals.
Sure the walk-ins will help more but it all helps, just getting out is a great way to help lose the weight even if he only gets to climb one or two routes.
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sungam
Jun 5, 2011, 1:35 PM
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Kartessa wrote: sungam wrote: wrbill wrote: Plus climbing will help you lose weight and if climbing outside the hike in to some areas will also help. While climbing directly probably won't really help, the walk-ins etc. probably will. It my also give you the psyche to get in better shape and hit the broccoli. No, the climbing will help ya. I'm 5'2" and when I got back into the game, 3 years ago I was over 210lbs. I didnt do an approach more than 15min long nor did I quit eating grotesque amounts of bacon and I went down 40lbs in the first year.
Edit to add, though: it's definitely better then nothing. getting active in any way is incredibly important.
(This post was edited by sungam on Jun 5, 2011, 1:37 PM)
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Kartessa
Jun 5, 2011, 1:59 PM
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sungam wrote: Kartessa wrote: sungam wrote: wrbill wrote: Plus climbing will help you lose weight and if climbing outside the hike in to some areas will also help. While climbing directly probably won't really help, the walk-ins etc. probably will. It my also give you the psyche to get in better shape and hit the broccoli. No, the climbing will help ya. I'm 5'2" and when I got back into the game, 3 years ago I was over 210lbs. I didnt do an approach more than 15min long nor did I quit eating grotesque amounts of bacon and I went down 40lbs in the first year. Well, I'm just rolling on the statistics (might find them in a minute) that gave some pretty pathetic numbers for the energy burnt doing a route. And from my experience of having training at a (very) close indoor wall as my on exercise for a summer (the summer before my USA trip). I got really strong, but chubby. Wasn't really eating that much, just wasn't burning much energy. Edit to add, though: it's definitely better then nothing. getting active in any way is incredibly important.
I'll let you have that then...
maybe more bacon is in order?
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sungam
Jun 5, 2011, 2:35 PM
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Hmmm, a bacon sammich for lunch? Hmmm, maybe...
But no, not today. Still on the sungam's "Want look likes Jacob for N/A" diet.
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robmcc
Jun 5, 2011, 4:30 PM
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rnevius wrote: Then again, a lot of people wouldn't really consider a 5.4 "climbing".
That's just elitism talking. 5.4s are certainly climbing, they're just easy, and if that's what someone likes to climb (I once climbed with a guy who was just happy to get outside on 3-5s) I don't see a problem with it.
Back on topic, I've been lots of climber shapes from ridiculously strong (compared to now) and lightly insulated to weak and flabby. Yes, you can be overweight and climb. It IS an impediment, not unlike wearing a weight vest, and of course you're not going to be as good as those ripped college kids, but even I with a 30+ BMI outclimb slim but inexperienced college kids.
Don't let people tell you that you can't do it. Go find out what you CAN do.
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sungam
Jun 5, 2011, 5:00 PM
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rnevius wrote: beachrock wrote: I enjoy scrambling / boulder hopping but I'm not sure I currently have the athleticism necessary to climb a vertical wall. Do I need to be all cut in order to be able to do it or is it a matter of patience and enough practice? I think you just partially answered your own question. To climb a 5.4 route, you probably don't have to be "cut", but you do need to be able to balance and walk up a steep ramp using all fours. Then again, a lot of people wouldn't really consider a 5.4 "climbing".
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rnevius
Jun 5, 2011, 5:34 PM
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I wasn't insinuating that I was one of these people...5.4 is climbing in its own right. Just because it's not hard for one person doesn't mean it's not climbing for someone else.
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jt512
Jun 5, 2011, 8:03 PM
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MTBZEN wrote: I'm very new to gym climbing and can attest to its calorie burning factor. My tracking device gives it 300 cals for 30 minutes of ascending. My body fat has plummeted since taking it up 4 weeks ago. Pretty freaking awesome-
Your 10 kcal/min of climbing is in close agreement with the minute amount of published scientific research on the subject (see my summary here). However, I'm not sure I would consider those numbers to be "awesome," since they're for time spent actually climbing. How many hours do you have to spend in the gym to accumulate 30 minutes of actual climbing?
May I ask what kind of tracking device you're using?
Jay
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cornstateclimber
Jun 5, 2011, 8:53 PM
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ive seen some really large people climbing, granted they were toproping, but hey, its still a form of climbing. I used to have a partner that put on over 50lbs during the winter, he still worked the same grades he did the summer before. just a bit more trouble, and a bit more effort. but he didnt let it stop him. go for it. with the effort you put into climbing, and additional exercise, you'lle drop those unwanted pounds
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MTBZEN
Jun 5, 2011, 9:45 PM
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jt512 wrote: MTBZEN wrote: I'm very new to gym climbing and can attest to its calorie burning factor. My tracking device gives it 300 cals for 30 minutes of ascending. My body fat has plummeted since taking it up 4 weeks ago. Pretty freaking awesome- Your 10 kcal/min of climbing is in close agreement with the minute amount of published scientific research on the subject (see my summary here). However, I'm not sure I would consider those numbers to be "awesome," since they're for time spent actually climbing. How many hours do you have to spend in the gym to accumulate 30 minutes of actual climbing? May I ask what kind of tracking device you're using? Jay
calorieking.com
If my partner and I are climbing for an hour, I'll log 20 minutes of wall time. I keep forgetting to time myself but the 50 ft walls are challenging and we usually get in 4-5 routes.
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okieterry
Jun 5, 2011, 9:47 PM
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beachrock wrote: I enjoy scrambling / boulder hopping but I'm not sure I currently have the athleticism necessary to climb a vertical wall. Do I need to be all cut in order to be able to do it or is it a matter of patience and enough practice?
(This post was edited by okieterry on Jun 5, 2011, 9:50 PM)
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julio412
Jun 5, 2011, 10:40 PM
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At 52, and a 185 lbs., with beat up shoulders; I'd say yes.
First; what kind of climbing are you talking about?
I do really well on ice and in the mountains, and some of the scariest climbing I've ever done was/ is unprotected, very exposed class 4.
I've also been to 18,200 just a month ago.
Aid is more a matter of nerves and organization.
Trad-wise I also think you'd do alright.
Sport is for sissies anyway.
M
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oldgunksguy
Jun 8, 2011, 6:56 PM
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rnevius wrote: but you do need to be able to balance and walk up a steep ramp using all fours. Then again, a lot of people wouldn't really consider a 5.4 "climbing".
It's been years...... but I recall Gelsa was a tad more involved than walking up a steep ramp on all fours.
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robbovius
Jun 9, 2011, 2:47 PM
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oldgunksguy wrote: rnevius wrote: but you do need to be able to balance and walk up a steep ramp using all fours. Then again, a lot of people wouldn't really consider a 5.4 "climbing". It's been years...... but I recall Gelsa was a tad more involved than walking up a steep ramp on all fours.
Sympatico. when I read his post, I saw his california locale, and thought "my, he's NEVER been to the gunks, has he?" ;-)
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