Summer Climbing 101, Tips & Tricks
As the seasons change, perfect fall weather turns into pleasant winter days, which then turn into cool spring sessions. But before we know it, summer is here. The days get longer, temperatures rise, and the humidity is off the charts—especially in the Midwest, with no high-elevation areas to escape to. It can be easy to get discouraged. Holds that were easy to grab all of a sudden feel impossible. It’s not uncommon to think that you suddenly suck at climbing, especially when you get a nice, cool, low-humidity day followed by some serious heat and humidity. Escaping to the gym doesn’t necessarily mean escaping these problems either. While it might be cooler than outside, gyms still run hot, and humidity still plagues us. That doesn’t mean the summer season is a wash. Here are some tips and tricks for making the most of your summer climbing so you are ready when fall comes around!
Adjust your mindset! Grades aren’t everything; trying hard is. Grades are subjective, and conditions can affect them. So, while that climb might be VX in perfect conditions, in super-sweaty summer conditions it might feel VX + 1 or 2. Adjust your expectations, be okay dropping grades, trying hard, and don’t let a change in grades keep you down.
Adjust your sessions! Summer can be a perfect time to address weaknesses since we are likely spending more time in the gym and not distracted by our projects outside. Use this time to train so that when fall comes around, you are in prime condition to climb hard. Hangboard, lift, board climb, improve your flexibility, or work on your antistyle.
Follow your psych! It’s okay to have breaks and downtime. We don’t have to be climbing 24/7. If your psych isn’t there, rest! Usually boulder? Take some time to rope climb and vice versa. A little downtime can do wonders for tweaks and injuries, which could hold you back in the fall!
Make the most of good conditions! Download a weather app, look for “cooler” days with lower humidity, and adjust your schedule. See a nice day coming up? Take an extra rest day and get after it!
Make your own conditions! While summer might not have ideal conditions, there are ways to improve them. Portable fans can be used to keep your hands feeling nice and dry inside or outside. Night sessions, while still humid, can be cooler. Seek out areas and times that are windier. These little details can make summer climbing more manageable.
Take a vacation! While summer climbing in the Midwest isn’t ideal, there are destinations across the US that are in season all summer. Take a vacation and check out a new area!
Climbing is dangerous, it involves inherent and other risks and cannot be eliminated. The information presented here does not describe all of the risks associated with climbing and is not intended to replace or supersede expert instruction and training.
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