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Ok, I'll be the first.. Obviously you need to devote a large amount of your training to learning skill and technique. The new-ish John Kettle book is mentioned regularly on this sub and I can vouch for it—it's a no-nonsense list of highly effective technique drills and accompanying videos. Kris Hampton of the Power Company climbing has a series of movement skill youtube videos. Practice practice practice. Try and find someone with better skills that you can climb with and learn from. You have a head start with your strength, now you've gotta relax that grip and learn how to use your feet and hips and engage body tension.
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As far as synovitis goes, that sucks. There's advice on this sub which you can search for. Crimp avoidance is almost mandatory, taping can help, as can finger curls for some ppl. Progressive loading on the hangboard is a good idea.
You need a load bearing hipbelt, you really should have a dedicated avalanche tools pocket, and no, 32L is not big enough for overnight even during the summer let alone during the winter with avalanche gear. Don't try cut corners with winter backcountry gear.
Pick up a copy of Freedom of the Hills and read it if you are serious about this kind of thing. You really shouldn't be doing a winter overnight in the backcountry if you have to ask this kind of stuff. I mean that with safety in mind, not to be a jerk.
Strength training and running keep me busy while I'm working now.
Read Freedom of the Hills, it'll likely take a year.
1.5 years is a really long time though. If you prioritize it, getting on trail is totally doable in that time frame. Being a weekend warrior is definitely a skill that takes time to learn and perfect.
Hi. I highly recommend you to check out "Rook Climbing Technique". It covers skill exercises to do during your warm up (or throughout your session) to develop precisely what you're asking. The book comes with a YouTube channel with examples on how to correctly do each exercise.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Climbers-Make-Same-Mistakes/dp/095642810X Dave Macleods book is pretty solid and best read before you make the mistakes he talks about :D
Alos run, not marathons (unless you want to) but cardio helps build the stamina for long routes no one tells you you really will like having. Side affect is it builds all your leg muscles too in a supportive core affirming way.
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. I do have a high degree of trust in the book as it is often refereed to as the bible of Mountaineering; however, as you pointed out testing it would yield better insights/improvements. Here is a link to the book on amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594851387
Udo Neumann and Dale Goddard cover this in Performance Rock Climbing (chapters Flexibility and Flexibility Training).
The chapters are included in the Amazon preview here: https://www.amazon.com/Performance-Rock-Climbing-Dale-Goddard/dp/0811722198/
(It's quite an old book, so I'm not sure if there are new insights already)
It's great you are approaching the skill of anchor building with caution, but I wouldn't put too much weight into what any stranger on the internet (myself included) says. You could learn a lot more by reading a book, taking a class, or hiring a guide. A lot of people put a lot of weight into finding a mentor, but you also have to be cautious to not blindly trust that they know what they're doing - I've met people who have climbed trad for a while but with terrible gear knowledge who just don't fall often enough to know that their gear is shit.
Still highly recommend acquiring "Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills". Read the parts that interest you first, and then eventually, read the whole thing. The book is 600 pages long and will teach you safety and skills. https://smile.amazon.com/Mountaineering-Freedom-Hills-Mountaineers/dp/1680510045/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N2B4Y2MS4FF0&keywords=mountaineering+freedom+of+the+hills&qid=1664170043&sprefix=mountaineering%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1
lol these comments are so salty.
Go pick up Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. This book is going to give you a LOT of detail on gear and how to use it, but it's only theoretical. You need to find someone with more experience than you, be it a formal teacher, or a guided climb, or someone from a local climbing group to show you how to do everything in practice.
From the Amazon preview, that book seems to be a bit lacking in content, less than 200 pages and mostly just photos - sounds like the kind of thing you would read over once and never pick it up again.
Consider the library as a resource, you may be able to find instructional books for free (maybe including the one you listed). I read John Long's Climbing Anchors from the library just to say that I've read it (I already know how to build anchors, was looking to supplement my knowledge). Okay book, but over-reliant on SERENE anchors which is not necessarily important.
As an alternative to the book you listed, consider instead Rock Climbing: The AMGA Single Pitch Manual, it's probably a bit more detailed, covers similar content, and is well regarded as a beginner's handbook.
People mention Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, but it's pretty broad on all mountaineering, not specific to rock climbing. Good resource to thumb through, but not something to read as a book.
Indoor gyms have metal frames with wood panels and then textured. Most home walls are just wood framing and hardwood. We have one in our garage.
The only thing I can think of that might suit your needs would be, decided what type of board you want, look for plans online or get a book building home walls (there’s one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Your-Own-Climbing-Wall/dp/0762780231), then just hire a carpenter. It’s really not that hard to build a well built one, you don’t need a fancy company, just someone competent. Who will build it and get you the materials.
You could also Ask r/climbing if they know anyone locally.
Start learning technique and try harder problems, try them even if you’re failing.
But if you’re missing key technique, than it’s better to start with fundamentals. A good place to start is Niel Greshams master class. It’s older and has cheesy graphics but it works. It will fill in a lot gaps in learning.
Another easy one to follow is https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Climbing-Technique-Practical-Movement/dp/1999654404
If you’re lacking basic strength start working on body weight exercises but be careful about over doing it, it’s a balance especially when new climbing, if you over train, you lose gains too.
So if you’re already going 3 times a week that’s enough, but you can add one day of strength training in if you feel you need too, as long as your are having adequate rest between sessions. And don’t climb back to back.
Every other day is better for strength gains and injury prevention.
Also, climb with intention. If you think you were sloppy, do the climb again but make it cleaner. It’s called “perfect repeats.”
Taking a class is also helpful, if it’s a technique class.
Send addition is pretty decent channel for relatable and easy to understand technique and skills advice. https://youtube.com/c/SendEdition
Its not a toxic community. Its not because he's a beginner. Its the attitude of not taking responsibility and than basically bragging about it and not caring that those decisions he made put other peoples lives at risk needlessly. There's nothing to be encouraged about that. This is what you shouldn't do.
If you want to learn about mountaineering and you cant find a group like mountaineers (seattle based) or a group that in your area or even if you can I'd get this book. Its basically the bible for mountaineering.
https://www.amazon.com/Mountaineering-Freedom-Hills-8th-Mountaineers/dp/1594851387
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1999654404/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_5S2ABH8EFEZNBPGN8770
Rock Climbing Technique: The Practical Guide to Movement Mastery
This is a fun book. It has some great exercises you can work into your sessions. For example, hand and hip is one where you can only move your hand if the corresponding hip is against the wall. This forces you to focus on body position and learn that you get better reach with your hip against the wall. It also forces you to rotate with each move, so you get out of the front-on habit that all beginners have. This one exercise, once mastered, can give you the "flow" that you see from more experienced climbers. I got it a few years ago and still do some of the exercises just to make easy routes more interesting.
The skills you need to acquire (imo) are largely dependent on the mountains you want to hike.
If you have hiking and backpacking experience, then you're already way ahead of many beginners, since many non-technical mountains (that can be completed in a day hike) mostly require you to have good conditioning and some basic skills in wilderness survival, and in being prepared with regards to gear.
2 Books I'd recommend for beginner mountaineers is:
Mountaineering, Freedom of the Hills - The Bible for all aspiring mountaineers. If it doesn't have the answer for any question you have, it'll point you in the right direction for where to look.
Training for the New Alpinism - The equivalent Bible, but for strength and conditioning training for all mountaineers, also talks about prepping for high altitude and what not.
Check out mountaineering layering systems. There's great equipment that can keep you comfortable in conditions like that.
https://www.amazon.com/Mountaineering-Freedom-Hills-Mountaineers/dp/1680510045
Don't expect linear progression. Go slowly. Climbing is going to give you the best bang for your buck. The other exercises aren't compulsory, but becoming a stronger athlete will overall help you. However, you have to understand the overall stress you're putting on your system, even if it is "antagonist" muscle groups. It stresses the whole body, requires more rest, tires you out, and prevents adaption after recovery.
I've heard deadlift is a good one to weave into climbing training.
As a new weak boulder, I wouldn't recommend weighted dead hanging. You're going to get very strong forearm muscles without given the tendons time acclimate to the new forces put on them. I would recommend John Kettle's book to you. Technique will help you more than strength here.
>My focus is mainly on injury prevention
The more tired you are, the more likely you are to get hurt. Keep progressing slowly. Read some books, as climbing is a relatively new sport and we barely have data to back up claims.
6 weeks is not enough time to need to start training. Just climb a lot and read books like Rock Climbing Technique
Pick up a copy of Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills. Some of the chapters you can skip, but if you want to go into the mountains in the winter, this book is indispensable. It will answer every question you have in addition to the ones you don't even know to ask, but really should be asking (I can think of several already). It really is a phenomenal resource, and in winter conditions in the mountains, you should not be relying on what people online are telling you to bring. That's how people die out there.
Also, you should take an avalanche safety course if you plan on going anywhere that has a snow pack, or at least read Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. It doesn't need to be deep snow to be dangerous--a thin snow pack is actually the most dangerous and most likely to avalanche, and crazy steep slopes are NOT the most dangerous. It's the mild 30-40 degree slopes that are most likely to kill you, even if you are 100 yards away from them on flat ground. One thing you start noticing when you go out in the winter in the same places you went in the summer is that the winter routes are NOT in the same place as the summer trails, mostly because summer trails are in avalanche danger zones. You NEED to know how to read the terrain in a very different way than you would in the summer.
I echo the trekking poles suggestion (they're a lifesaver for me), and I'd say that practice will help you build confidence. I'm not sure where you are, but if scrambling is what you're interested, there might be courses that give you instruction and techniques to better move over rock and snow. I took my alpine scrambling course through the Mountaineers in Washington state, and it did wonders for my confidence on snow (I already felt pretty good on rock). A lot of the material covered is in the Freedom of the Hills book, which might be an interesting read, though it goes into alpine climbing and more advanced subjects as well.
Hmm, not sure how to describe all the techniques that you could be using, I would actually recommend reading a book or watching some videos on climbing techniques. Going from V0 to V1 is where things like turning your hips in and engaging your core really start mattering. It's actually harder to learn proper technique on V0 because a lot of the times you can get through them without proper technique. Try to work harder problems with someone who has good form, and try to get at least 2 or 3 moves at a time. If you can't do a pull-up yet, I would work on getting in at least 1 pull-up with proper form as well. One trick I found useful to get the "feel" of a move is hovering over the next hold with my hand before grabbing on to it. If you can reach for the next hold and hover over it for 2~3 seconds, it means you have established a proper base with your feet. Not always possible, but generally you want to be in balance so you conserve energy. Hope that helped, I mostly just climbed with other better climbers and wasn't shy about asking for technique tips, most were very willing to share beta and give me feedback. Good Luck!
The Self-Coached Climber is one of those books that's often mentioned for that purpose. Definitely a great book with lots of good info.
Performance Rock Climbing - Dale Goddard and Udo Neumann
Hiya Michnation.
Assuming you have the usual shoes, harness, belay device, etc...
You will need a rope, quickdraws, some cord/slings/webbing, and a handful of carabiners.
More importantly you should probably check out Freedom and Anchors.
These two books have taught generations of climbers how to climb. A huge part of climbing outside is being comfortable and confident in your own skills. My personal opinion is that you will become a better climber through a lot of time spent learning techniques and practicing them, than if you spend money on a couple guided days. But thats IMO.
Eric Horst's books detail out a macro-cycle system thats weeks endurance building (takes the longest to build up but lasts the longest), 3 weeks of Power, 2 weeks Power Endurance, and then a week off, following by crushing everything. Can't say I've had the patience for it, but he and his kids are wicked strong so.....
http://www.amazon.com/Training-Climbing-Definitive-Improving-Performance/dp/0762746920
That one also has a bunch of additional stuff on diet, etc. That said, you ask 10 people, you'll get 10 answers.
I generally buy a 5 pack at Climb Nashville, rather than the membership - since I have a hard time committing to regularity. I don't have my grip endurance built up, so normally I can't hold onto the wall after more than half an hour. I'll generally try to tie in some cardio, a class, or some lower body stuff so I feel like I get my time and money's worth.
What I love most about climbing is the strategic part to it. Sure you can power up a wall, but it takes strategy and finesse to be able to stretch your endurance.
Performance Rock Climbing is a great book I read in high-school when I started climbing. It really helped me work on technique.
Both East and West have great routes from 'just more challenging than a ladder', to 'I don't think a nickel counts as a foothold'. They're all marked, so its easy to realistically challenge yourself.
What are you trying to get out of your training? Overall, I've found this book very helpful in getting better at climbing. But you might be more interested in other Horst books, like Conditioning for Climbing depending on what your goals and/or focus is.
Start hiking in the mountains in NJ, NY, MD and further in NE or down in the Apps. Find a rock climbing gym and get in as much time as you can there. Colorado rules, I live in Denver and don't ever want to leave. Moving here just because you want to climb mountains without experience, not a good idea. Start reading and training. Once you feel ready then decide where to move. Best book you will ever find for helping you in your quest for mountaineering is here. http://www.amazon.com/Mountaineering-Freedom-Hills-8th-Edition/dp/1594851387