Learning How to Lead Climb – Part 1: My Climbing Journey So Far

My rock climbing journey began in April last year when I decided to celebrate my birthday with an adventure – indoor rock climbing. Since then, it has been a journey filled with determination, challenges, and exhilarating experiences.

Starting Steps:

I started by taking the Intro to Climbing and Learn the Ropes courses at Brooklyn Boulders. Overcoming a slight fear of heights, I pushed myself to climb efficiently. Last year, my climbing buddy, June, and I were conquering 5.10+ routes, and we felt like superheroes. It’s not the highest level, but it’s certainly not the lowest either.

Winter Break Setback:

After a winter break of almost five months, I returned to climbing in mid-April. It didn’t take long to notice some setbacks, but I knew they were fixable. I needed to regain my climbing touch and implement what I’d learned the previous year. Straight-arm climbing remained a challenge for me, but I was determined to improve. Lesson learned: no more winter breaks.

What’s Happening Now:

One of the highlights of this year’s climbing journey was joining a rock climbing community through Meetup in May. It opened doors to meet climbers like myself, from beginners to advanced. During a Meetup event, I met a fellow climber who loved bouldering, a facet of climbing I hadn’t explored much last year. This experience helped me regain finger and arm strength and focus on footwork. With renewed confidence, I decided to face my fear and start learning lead climbing.

The Lead Climbing Class:

Taking my first lead climbing class was a mix of excitement and nervousness, given my lingering fear of heights. The class spanned two three-hour sessions, and I joined five others, along with a friendly instructor. We started by getting to know each other, sharing the strangest things we’ve ever eaten (bull balls and lamb brain were some of the unique answers).

Our instructor took a discussion-based teaching approach, keeping the class interactive. We delved into the world of quickdraws, discussing their design and proper handling. Then came the practical part: learning to clip our ropes from various positions using both hands. It seemed more challenging than the YouTube tutorials and videos of professional climbers made it appear.

We also learned about the common mistakes of lead climbing: Z-clipping, back climbing, and the danger of having the rope behind the leg. I experienced some of these mistakes during the demo clipping sessions. It was one thing to understand the concept, but demonstrating it was a whole new challenge.

Demo Fall:

The class concluded with a demo fall. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as daunting as I expected, possibly because I’d had my fair share of falls during bouldering. One crucial lesson: don’t grab the rope when falling; keep those hands free to focus on using your feet.

Looking Ahead:

Lead climbing is both adventurous and complex, demanding constant alertness. I’ve decided to practice more at the gym before taking the second part of my lead class. We’ll be covering belaying for lead climbing and reviewing what we learned in the first session.

Question for You:

Are you a rock climber? If so, what type of climbing do you enjoy the most? Share your climbing journey with us!