There is a great deal of difference between using climbing walls and going on a real climbing trip. Firstly, indoors, you will not have to worry about where you are going to be placing your hands and the whole act of billeting is made far easier. Secondly, weather will play a part when you start climbing outdoors and even for those who have headed out into the country to do some proper climbing, preparation is going to be extremely important and needs to be approached in the right way.
Climbing can be one of the most exhilarating pastimes imaginable, but it can also be dangerous – therefore, you need to know what you are doing. For those heading out for the first time, it is a very wise idea to go with someone who is experienced, as trial and error is not the best of ideas when you are dealing with such safety issues.
You will need to ensure you have good quality climbing equipment, the right outdoor clothing and a thoroughly planned route if you are going to make the most of your trip and complete it in the safest possible way. Planning will be the most important aspect, as running into problems you hadn’t considered can leave you extremely vulnerable in places you really don’t want to face issues. Make sure you have maps and a compass for the journey too.
Likewise, the climbing equipment you use should be thoroughly checked to ensure that it is up to the task at hand. Poor quality equipment can be even more dangerous than not planning your route, and finding good quality equipment is too easy to overlook such a simple task.
Finally, wrap up in the right outdoor clothing. Making sure you are warm enough but not liable to overheat is integral and wearing layers of the right materials will mean that you don’t find yourself halfway up a mountain and ready to pass out from fatigue and overheating.