Climbing training Northwest

[Dw1]

Hi All

I am interested in getting into the whole climbing SRT thing, but I have a few questions. Firstly I am 35 and not done anything like this apart from a tiny bit of abseiling climbing with the scouts at fifteen years old! Is it too late for me to get into this type of thing? Old dogs new tricks and all that!
If it isn't.
What is the best way to get into Climbing in the northwest?
Is there a list of climbing walls where I can look at the most local?(I work quite long hours and the last thing I want at the end of the day is to be travelling miles and miles!)
What gear do I need to start with and what would the initial set up cost?

Grateful for any help!

 

[snappel]

Lots of climbing walls, lots of helpful staff.

You're not too old - not by a damn sight! An introduction to rock climbing is a good way of becoming rope savvy. From here learning about SRT techniques isn't such a big step. As always though it comes down to lots of practice and understanding of the best techniques, and of course safety.

To climb you need a harness (~£45 for a decent Petzl/Wild Country one, although I often use one that sells for £23 in Ellis Brigham!!), belay plate and HMS carabiner (£15 the pair). Climbing shoes help.

For SRT you'll need ascenders, a chest tape or harness, 'cowstails' (short ropes with carabiners on the end) and a descender. So another £100 or so. But many build there kit bag up as they go.

 

[Dw1]

Thanks for the reply! Are the climbing associations or whatever listed on the WWW.? Or is it a case of getting the phone book out?

 

[NickUk]

http://www.manchesterclimbingcentre.com/links/index.html

OR

http://www.awesomewalls.co.uk/

Sorted

 

[Edd]

if your looking at SRT play you really need to look towards caving clubs as climbing places are not the best for SRT stuff.

We have a nice little rope run set up in wood mine at alderley for practise. Altho its often best to sling a rope up a tree for a bit of day time play :)

 

[TheSmurfinator]

I'm 35 too and have just started climbing, just on indoor walls at the mo and struggling finding the time and money to do much of it, but I am enjoying it and it's not as hard as I thought it would be...

 

[Brick_Man]

UK access establishment in Kendal will/can teach just about anything, and you'll get a certificate, but £££ for the pleasure. THey are very good though, or so I've heard, I've learned a bit from here, a bit from there, and a bit from just mucking about.
Find a local friendly caving club or such, they often have a 'noob sess' once a year, probably at this time of year (light evenings approach) where all the experienced ones will unload onto total beginnners in exchange for beer.

 

[Alley]

Awesome Walls introductory lesson is about £20-£30 depending on how many people go.
They teach you how to fit your gear and belay.
There are more advanced lessons too.

You'll need a partner to belay if you decide you like it.
If the belayer is lighter, don't forget the sandbags

 

[cybergibbons]

Climbing and SRT are totally different things. If you want to get into climbing, then do an introductory course at a wall.

What's the current obsession with SRT? I think we can count the places you need to use SRT to go on one finger. The gear is expensive. It's dangerous at the best of times, never mind with the police shouting at you. It's not really a hobby either...

 

[Edd]

depends where you want to go exploring. SRT is an essential thing to learn on underground trips as many have some interesting parts. But as mr gibbons says if its just for general exploring you wouldnt need to knwo it but then again neither would you need to climb. My advise learn both opens up new worlds of fun

 

[Porter]

Its mentioned above but the indoor wall in kendal is very good, i may be corrected but one of the tallest indoor walls in the country i've been told.

 

[Brick_Man]

I think learning climbing first is sensible, the knots, the common sense and getting an idea of what you can do without tonnes of kit & rope should defanatly be the first step.

I didn't so the above, and so I'm back at square one again, again :S

 

[Edd]

agreed learn as much basics as you can first as at the end of the day your risking you life everytime you play on ropes or up crags so you need to know as much as you can to stop you injuring yourself.

 

[Dw1]

All the replies are very much apreciated!

I am more interested in learning the different techniques to basically try out and see what I like. The srt seems interesting as I haven't heard much about it before.

I feel that having a knowledge of as much as possible, has only got to be a positive thing!

 

[Dw1]

Not to sound greedy but both! I am sure that there would be some situations in which climbing is not an option (Shear faces etc) So that would be when the SRT would come in!