How to Go to a Climbing Wall Without a Partner
Imagine yourself at a climbing wall: you are heading straight up, carefully grasping each support and support, the rope that connects the harness around your hips to the block at the top. The only problem: you don’t know who will be on the ground by holding the other end of the rope. So, like many would-be climbers, you stay at home. Alone.
But you don’t really need a partner before you hit the gym. Aside from getting someone to hold and control the rope — a simple but important skill known as belaying — you have other options. Here are four ways to go climbing, even if you don’t know other climbers:
- Start with bouldering . You don’t need a rope for bouldering because you never get off the ground. (There are mats on the floor, just in case.) Perhaps you will like it so much that you will forget about looking for an insurance partner. The bouldering area usually contains marked routes or “problems” that you must solve. Try, fall, rest your hands for a minute, and then try again. In between attempts, try talking to other people who are doing the same. They will help you find ways to climb and prepare you for the next tip:
- Make friends . When you find yourself in the climbing gym, try to talk to the people who are there. If someone is bored, ask if you will be insured, or vice versa. If you’ve never insured, the gym will probably need to attend a lesson or lesson first, and you can also meet people during that lesson or ask your instructor for advice on how to approach regulars.
- Find a gym with auto insurance . Some gyms have auto belay that will hold onto the rope and slowly lower you if you fall. However, you are on your own when you use it; if you forget to gain a foothold, you will not have a partner to notice and stop you.
- Find a group or class . If your gym offers climbing lessons, take advantage of that and meet people! You can also search for Facebook groups or appointments online to befriend you before you leave.
Every climbing hall I’ve been to felt like a pretty social place (especially in bouldering spots) where people chatted and happily belayed each other. Walking alone is not considered strange either. Before your first trip, check out the gym website or call ahead to see if they have a large bouldering area or if they offer group classes. Then hit the road and have fun!