My Surprising First Trad Climbing Expirience

When i was first getting into climbing I always had dreams to really kill it at some awesome multi-pitch climbs a couple hundred feet in the air. It sounds like quite the experience, so bouldering never really appealed to me at the beginning, but as I begin getting in the climbing scene bouldering really became an essential part of climbing in order to build strength and good body movement. I had always felt that way about trad climbing, thinking that it was something I wouldn’t want to get into. The other day I had the chance to go try trad climbing for my very first time and it was surprisingly enjoyable. 

[clickandtweet handle=”bradentobler” hashtag=”newthings” related=”” layout=”” position=””]Always Give New Things At Least One Try[/clickandtweet]

Good buddy Ty Mangum is quite the adventurous guy, he doesn’t really say no to anything and even though we make get ourselves into some sketchy situations, we have a good time. Ty too me to the Bluff Street Crag with his new trad gear rack and threw up some gear on routes around 5.10a – 510c great for climbers starting trad. Southern Utah’s well known for the soft sandstone, which makes it smoother on your hands, but a little sketchier in general. I hear non-locals hate climbing on the brittle sandstone. 

Cranking On Hands And Feet – Sounds Fun

I was always kind of afraid that trad climbing wouldn’t work for me. I’ve had some horrible problems with my ankles because of skateboarding back in the day. I just didn’t think that climbing on twisted joints, cranked on hands and balled up fists in cracks would be fun. Twisting your ankle into a crack until sticks doesn’t sound very enjoyable, but surprisingly it was really fun. I did way better than I expected, but it also challenged me quite a bit more too. Trad climbing forces you use really different muscles and Beta (styles) of climbing in order to get up the wall. You don’t experience that same style in the face/pocket sport climbing that I’m used to. Southern Utah isn’t known for its trad climbing or has a lot of routes, but I would say give it a try. I have hear that there are some amazing trad routes in a place called underworld (sounds appealing) but I have yet to experience anything over there since I’m such a newbie.