Adam Fox, American Mountain Guides Association certified guide, and owner of Fox Mountain Guides and Climbing School offers some key tips to make your first climbs a more satisfying experience.
Check your form. Picture Spider-Man’s building-hugging stance when you’re climbing. Your weight should be centered over your feet as you climb. If you’re feeling unbalanced, try moving your hips closer to the wall.
Use your core. Your hands and forearms shouldn’t ache when you climb. “If you’re climbing well, it should be your core muscles, not your arms, that are sore,” says Fox. Avoid pulling with your arms as you ascend. Instead, use your legs to push up.
Plan your route. Note the path of someone who appears to be climbing well as you plot the holds you’ll use and where you’ll rest. “On indoor climbs, I like to get into a corner,” says Fox. “Then I can bridge with one foot on each wall, let go with my hands, and have a good rest.”
