How to Choose a Big Wall Route, Partner and Climbing Style
Choosing the right climbing partner is probably the most important part of the climb. This decision can make the difference between having a great adventure or a total nightmare.
This video explains more:
Choosing a Big Wall Climbing Partner
The best wall partner is a person who you already know well, who’s company you enjoy, who shares the same goals and who you’ve climbed many multi-pitch routes with before.
Climbing a wall with a good friend will most likely be a fun adventure, whether you reach the top or not. Climbing with someone you just met on the internet is far less likely to work out well, regardless of their experience. You will be in close contact with each other for days; eating, sleeping and literally filling up poo bags immediately next to each other. It’ll make for a much better experience if you get along well.
How competent your partner is at big wall climbing should be a secondary consideration, since this is something that can easily be improved before the climb by training.
Choosing a Big Wall Route
Choose a route that you and your partner are excited about, a route that makes your stomach flutter when you think about it. You don’t necessarily need to be ready for it now – you only need to be ready when the time comes to climb it.
Make sure to allow enough time to practise the techniques described on this website and be prepared to do an easier wall to ‘warm up’ first.
Preparing for the adventure is part of the adventure.
Climbing Style: Fast or Slow Big Walls?
Do you want to climb ‘fast and light’? Or ‘slow and heavy’?
This video explains more:
Related Topics
The video above is part of a complete big wall course
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The article above is part of the book – Big Wall and Aid Climbing
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Learn how to:
– Lead and follow aid pitches
– Use cam hooks and skyhooks
– Set up a big wall belay
– Use different hauling systems
– Descend with a heavy load
– Place pitons and copperheads
– Camp on a vertical wall
Plus much more.