h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

are there any? i haven't met any....

on a side note, it's amusing to see that not all the words are the same in england as they are here in the US... abseiling = rappelling, carabina = carabiner, following = top-rope....

Nice article, but it should be noted that there are other ways to practice, the most risky (in terms of legality)being buildering,that is finding man made object,ie retention walls, churches, or any other rough hewn wall. It is best to either do it during hours if limited traffic, obtain permission from the owner from said wall, or be on really good terms with the local constabulary. Also don't go too high, it is better to work the wall by traversing it. However it does make climbing more visible.

Actually, I'd have said "top-rope" rather than "follow".

Another climber here. Well, sort of, I'm fairly new. I'm sure I've met others, though.

*grins* i think i'll have to try traversing the neighborhood church during one of their masses... *evil grin*

Well, if you fall and break a leg don't come running to me.

*ponders how she would...*

okay, then, i won't.

Other places to rock climb in the US are The Front Range near Denver, big wall climbing in Yosemite National Park and single pitch in Joshua Tree National Park in California, alpine climbing in The North Cascade Mountains in Washington State, all of it throughout almost the entire state of Utah, and 3,000 foot multipitch sport climbs in El Potrero Chico near Monterrey, Mexico; just drive 7 hours south of the Texas border.

And, try some illicit construction crane climbing - quite fun downtown city climbs that will help your strength and endurance without being dangerous (except that you can go to jail - so keep an eye out for security guards). Beautiful views though (not from jail - from the cranes).

hey, that's a good idea!!!

I'm staying well away from this.

So people...does everyone find climbing an obsession when they first start or am i unusual?? Wouldn't be the first time !

Anyway i took up climbing 6 weeks ago in a 'boring' climbing centre in gloucester and since then i have learned belaying,top-rope climbing. abseiling with all the variety of prossacks?? french, swiss, italian etc?? and lead climbing! And since the first class i have climbed on average 2/3 times a week and actually ventured outside to a climb called winters leap and discovered taht real climbing is both exciting and fecking scary!!!

Anyway...I really took it up to try it out and make friends and i've done both and wil continue to climb and make friends for alot longer i hope!

Take care all and...don't panic!

Abseiling with a variety of Prozacs was that?

Not only did I find climbing an obsession when I first started, but I still do, twelve years later.

Climbed anything big?

Not huge, I tend to go for multi-pitch rock routes, most of my climbing's been in N Wales and Scotland, but I've also done a fair bit in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney in Oz, and some sly winter sun stuff on Tenerife. I lead about E1-2, being from the old fashioned school where bolts are heresey and protection os for psychological reassurance only. My only real experience of the really scary stuff (ice!) and winter mountaineering has been in Scotland. Unfortunately, since I started working as an industrial rope access technician I've climbed a lot less, bus-man's holiday kind of thing.

In other words a lot more than I have.

Ah, but it's the quality that counts! I have tedious climbing friends who give blow by blow accounts of big routes they've done, the "there's this tiny pinch then you move your right hand up about 2 feet till you can find the small sloper that blah blah blah ad nauseam..." kind of conversation, but as long as you're enjoying yourself it doesn't matter how much or how hard you climb. That's how I see it anyway.

Thanks. I'm always meaning to do more, though. By the way, I agree with you about bolts, but I'm not sure about protection.

Coincidentally, the last time I went climbing, the only person who turned up with a helmet was the only person who banged her head. (I know you mean nuts and cams for protection but it reminded me).

Well, when I say protection is for psychological purposes only, it's not cos I don't think you should bother, or practise till you know your gear is bombproof, it's just that I tend to work on the basis that falling off is shite. It's okay on bolts or in the climbing wall, but when I'm doing 'real' climbing I try to avoid it. I'm afraid I'm just a big girls blouse.

As for the helmet thing, although I wear one all the time when on the ropes at work, I must admit that when climbing it depends on the situation. When on some big chossy cliff, I'd definitely wear one, but not on your average trip to the crags. I can't even give you a logical reason why not. Habit I suppose.

Got you, it makes sense when you put it like that. That said, I spend much of my time on crags falling off.

Nice to see so many fellow climbers on here. I've just returned from my first ice trip to the Alps - fantastic conditions. I usually climb around N.Wales, but have managed USA, Franch, Italy and Oz in the past. For a lot of UK based info and gossip check out http://www.ukclimbing.com/caff/forums/index.html