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climbingnoise
Jan 14, 2010, 5:58 PM
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I noticed that conditions that get a lot of people psyched are wayyyy below what my fingers can handle. climbing when its somewhere in the 50s often results in quick numbness followed by agonizing pain. climbing in the snow is unimaginable.
So what are your ideal temps?
and whats the lowest temperature you've been able to climb at without the pain or numbness ending your session?
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dynosore
Jan 14, 2010, 6:41 PM
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climbingnoise wrote: I noticed that conditions that get a lot of people psyched are wayyyy below what my fingers can handle. climbing when its somewhere in the 50s often results in quick numbness followed by agonizing pain. climbing in the snow is unimaginable. So what are your ideal temps? and whats the lowest temperature you've been able to climb at without the pain or numbness ending your session?
Californians 
I've climbed at below freezing, hands don't hurt until they warm up later. You can crimp like a fiend when your tips are numb.
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lena_chita
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Jan 14, 2010, 6:54 PM
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The lowest temp I ever climbed in was 23F (bouldering). Too cold-- but it was really not as bad as you think it would be!
My fingers get somewhat numb when the temps are in the 40s, but how much that affects my climbing would depend on situation (sunny/windy, etc.), and how warmed up I feel.
I feel quite comfortable in mid-40s and sunny.
The best sending temp is ~50+sunny and up to 65 and cloudy for me.
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hafilax
Jan 14, 2010, 6:57 PM
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Whatever the temperature isn't currently. 
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johnwesely
Jan 14, 2010, 6:57 PM
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Your fingers got numb in the 50s. That is real sad.
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BalognaHero
Jan 14, 2010, 7:51 PM
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50's is perfect for me. I try to avoid anything below 20's, feels more like work at that point. Its easy for me to get away to warmer temps so why suffer.
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sspssp
Jan 14, 2010, 7:56 PM
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dynosore wrote: climbingnoise wrote: I noticed that conditions that get a lot of people psyched are wayyyy below what my fingers can handle. climbing when its somewhere in the 50s often results in quick numbness followed by agonizing pain. climbing in the snow is unimaginable. So what are your ideal temps? and whats the lowest temperature you've been able to climb at without the pain or numbness ending your session? Californians I've climbed at below freezing, hands don't hurt until they warm up later. You can crimp like a fiend when your tips are numb.
I might be able to crimp like a fiend, but then I would have to take 6 months off to wait for a pulled finger to heal.
Because of finger injuries, I won't attempt crimping climbs when it is less than 50 or so. Now alpine starts are a different matter (but I don't get finger injuries from that...).
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shimanilami
Jan 14, 2010, 8:38 PM
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"Ideal" for me is 60F, give or take depending on the sun and wind exposure.
But I've climbed into the 20's and had fun. I may spend most of my time stomping around in my insulated boots and belay parka, but I'd still prefer it to sitting indoors doing a jigsaw puzzle or something.
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rangerrob
Jan 14, 2010, 8:45 PM
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Somewhere between 15 and 20 degrees. Although, I have tools in my hands then. On rock anything above 50 sucks ass
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seatbeltpants
Jan 14, 2010, 8:48 PM
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climbingnoise wrote: I noticed that conditions that get a lot of people psyched are wayyyy below what my fingers can handle. climbing when its somewhere in the 50s often results in quick numbness followed by agonizing pain. climbing in the snow is unimaginable. So what are your ideal temps? and whats the lowest temperature you've been able to climb at without the pain or numbness ending your session?
yeah, i'm with you. i've tried climbing on frosty mornings and it just sucks - numb fingers within a few minutes and then it's nothing doin' until i thaw out. good friction maybe, but if i can't feel anything that doesn't help.
15C / 60F works best for me. a little warmer can be nice, and i'm comfortable a bit cooler. essentially i am soft.
steve
steve
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j_ung
Jan 14, 2010, 8:53 PM
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climbingnoise wrote: I noticed that conditions that get a lot of people psyched are wayyyy below what my fingers can handle. climbing when its somewhere in the 50s often results in quick numbness followed by agonizing pain. climbing in the snow is unimaginable. So what are your ideal temps? and whats the lowest temperature you've been able to climb at without the pain or numbness ending your session?
I think of myself as a fair-weather climber, and I love temps in the 50s. Not cold enough to be uncomfortable. Brisk enough to make for sticky rock.
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cracklover
Jan 14, 2010, 9:34 PM
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It depends (TM)
Multi-pitch trad climbing in the shade? 50 could be miserable.
Bouldering? 30 in full sun could be lovely!
There is no single answer.
GO
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mr.tastycakes
Jan 14, 2010, 9:43 PM
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cracklover wrote: It depends (TM) Multi-pitch trad climbing in the shade? 50 could be miserable. Bouldering? 30 in full sun could be lovely! There is no single answer. GO
^^^This.
When the temperature drops below 40, or rises above 80, i very much prefer bouldering over route climbing. Last summer I made the mistake of doing a 3 pitch climb in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity....never again!
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jeepnphreak
Jan 14, 2010, 11:39 PM
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climbingnoise wrote: I noticed that conditions that get a lot of people psyched are wayyyy below what my fingers can handle. climbing when its somewhere in the 50s often results in quick numbness followed by agonizing pain. climbing in the snow is unimaginable. So what are your ideal temps? and whats the lowest temperature you've been able to climb at without the pain or numbness ending your session?
Are you serious? what is this trend of there uber woosey people comming out of CA.
Climbing temps I perfer 50-60*F
I can and will climb out side down to 20*F
But I have been see out at temps as low as 10*F but my fingers start getting a bit stiff and any thing much over a 5.9 get tough.
Ice climbing in just about any temp below 30*F is great.
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fxgranite
Jan 15, 2010, 12:10 AM
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About 70-75.
Wut? 
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sspssp
Jan 15, 2010, 12:31 AM
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jeepnphreak wrote: climbingnoise wrote: I noticed that conditions that get a lot of people psyched are wayyyy below what my fingers can handle. climbing when its somewhere in the 50s often results in quick numbness followed by agonizing pain. climbing in the snow is unimaginable. So what are your ideal temps? and whats the lowest temperature you've been able to climb at without the pain or numbness ending your session? Are you serious? what is this trend of there uber woosey people comming out of CA. Climbing temps I perfer 50-60*F I can and will climb out side down to 20*F But I have been see out at temps as low as 10*F but my fingers start getting a bit stiff and any thing much over a 5.9 get tough. Ice climbing in just about any temp below 30*F is great.
Well I'm a cali climber, but what is this about being uber woosey? I've done plenty of sends with temps up to the low 90's and plenty of Yosemite multi-pitch in the high 90's.
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ghaywood
Jan 15, 2010, 8:52 AM
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I have sent in temps in the 20s to the high 90s if not triple digits (those sends were over water though), but mid forties are perfecto.
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pseudolith
Jan 15, 2010, 1:24 PM
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For me, temps in the 40's are optimal for bouldering, which is all I've managed to do outdoors for the last 6 or 7 years. I've climbed some in the upper 20's, but it makes my fingers ache like crazy after a climb. There was one instance where the last move to the lip of a problem was a bump from a crimp, and my hand was so cold that the nerve impluses were slowed down enough that I couldn't get my fingers opened in time to grab the lip. To me, that's when it's too cold to send.
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swoopee
Jan 15, 2010, 5:25 PM
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climbingnoise wrote: I noticed that conditions that get a lot of people psyched are wayyyy below what my fingers can handle. climbing when its somewhere in the 50s often results in quick numbness followed by agonizing pain. climbing in the snow is unimaginable. So what are your ideal temps? and whats the lowest temperature you've been able to climb at without the pain or numbness ending your session?
>20 degrees f and <120 degrees f
I have climbed with temp down in the low teens but that was nuts.
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climbingnoise
Jan 15, 2010, 6:09 PM
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pain is not something you can control. To a certain point you can ignore it but what I'm talking about is not something that other people are just dealing with, its like you have it or you don't.
Its not a matter of being cold its similar to if you had been outside throwing snowballs with your bare hands and then come back and put your fingers under hot water.
I have climbed in the 50s on a windy day when all the blood rushed out of my fingers and I felt ultimate friction I had never before experienced, and though I couldnt feel the tips of my fingers it was a sort of functional numbness, but I've also had numbness that prevented crimping on days when it wasnt really very cold. a lot of times there will just be a stinging pain and no one else is having any at all.
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