A Great Outdoor Activity – Mountain Climbing
Mountain climbing has always been a worldwide fascination. Young and old are seen making their own conquests on the various summits around the globe. A climb to the top of a mountain like the Everest or Kilimanjaro or Patagonia is without a doubt a lifetime achievement.

An outdoor recreation sure is entertaining and healthy. What better way to stay fit than to do something that you enjoy? An outdoor recreational activity is recommendable to all from time to time. It will help refresh you from the otherwise dull and passive daily activities. A camping trip to the mountains or even a simple fishing or horseback riding etc., is enjoyable and exercises the body. There are many outdoor activities and sports that can keep you healthy and entertained.

For the more daring ones, there are extreme sports and activities like rock climbing, sky diving, bungee jumping, surfing, gliding, mountain biking, open water swimming and so on that guarantees a total adrenaline rush. Climbing could be one of the oldest outdoor sports that is still an increasingly adopted hobby and passion by many around the world.

There are many types of climbing sports today. Some are mountain climbing, rock climbing, bouldering, canyoning, ice climbing, pole climbing, rope climbing, competition climbing. Each has its own dose of fun and require different skills accordingly. The most commonly adopted and enjoyed by most people is the mountain climbing. You could climb a mountain for sports or just recreation. Although it often requires strength and stamina, there is a certain profound sense of accomplishment when you reach the peak. You have to stand on the top of a mountain and witness the view from there to actually understand the feeling.

With more and more people enjoying mountain climbing, the safety and convenience of the sport or activity has also been considerably improved. Today, it is much easier for a person who is new to mountaineering or rock climbing to join a training course or gears or information on the best spots etc. Travel agencies and tour operators, seeing the potential business prospect of mountain climbing, have incorporated specially planned holiday and sports packages based on climbing or trekking mountains.

Since, there are so many choices available now, you can opt to climb a rocky mountain in Colorado in the U.S. or an icy and treacherous one in the Himalayas or a volcanic cone in Africa and more. If you are new to mountaineering, you can hire an expert tour guide to assist you with your climb. You can also make your climb more enjoyable by climbing with a friend or more. However, some preparation and research is necessary as is with any new venture.

Learn about the mountain, weather, wildlife, routes etc., anything that will inform you regarding the climb. You need to prepared physically and mentally too, and an attitude a little higher than the mountain to be climbed. You can get a proper training from a mountaineering training center near you. The right gear and supplies are also essential for your safety and success of the climb. If you are a novice climber or are climbing the mountain for the first time, it would be wise to have an experienced climber or a guide assist your climb.

You can also ask a friend (if you have) who is already an experienced climber to recommend you a location and other tips on the climb. If you are looking for a great spot and a guide online, remember to check up on certain features of each of the website you visit. You can start by comparing the locations (mountains) where the site is offering its assistance. A better established site is likely to offer more locations. Check up on the success record of climbs the site has organized.

If you want to climb it your way, look for a site that offers tailor made climbs where you can choose your own route, duration, date etc. A good website will also be flexible to suit your conveniences, so keep an eye for such features as well. Go for the most experienced website who has been operating and assisting climbs on the mountain of your choice. Some famous climbs include the mount Everest, mount K2, mount Kilimanjaro, Karakoram range, St. Elias mountains, Rocky mountains, Patagonia and more.

Rock Climbing Chalk ? Walk On The Rocks

Rock climbing chalk is an essential component for any mountaineering campaign. Sans it, the climbers would find the sport quite tough. To get the most from chalk, you should know how to use it properly. Applying it in the proper manner will help you. Environmental factors are also important.

Inspired by your adventurous friends, you decided to do rock climbing too. But you found the rocks quite slippery and the sport left your hands aching. Ok. Don’t worry. There is a chalk which could aid you. Just put it on your hands and try. It would feel better.

How is it Useful

It helps you to have better grip on the rock. You can confidently put your hands on the rock without the fear of losing your grip.
The chalk has essential oils which sooth your skin. It lessens the wear and tear on your skin.
Your hands feel better. Rock climbers often feel that hands have become hard and dry. Use of chalk softens hands.
It makes your hand skin resilient. It lessens the pressure the sport exerts on your skin.
Apart from rock climbing, the production be used in sports such as gymnastics, weight-lifting and wrestling too.

How to Use It

While climbing, store the chalks in bags tied around the waist. Most bags have a drawstring closure at the top. Put a chalk ball in the bag and leave it open while climbing. This would make the chalk easily accessible. Whenever you need the chalk, just get your hand inside the bag and use the ball. If you are using loose powder, just pour it into the chalk bag and keep it closed. This would prevent the powder from spilling.

Ball vs Powder

The ball is definitely better than the chalk powder. Loose powder could spill on the rocks while using. This would make footholds slippery, making things difficult for the climber. There won’t be any traction when the climber tries to gain foothold, resulting in him slipping. Using chalk balls would be safer. The ball has the chalk in a mesh bag, preventing it from spilling onto the rocks. This would make the sport safer for the climber. However, at last, it depends on the climbers’ own preference.

The Other Side

Calcium carbonate is the main component of climbing chalk. However, this chemical has negative effect on the rock surface. Its presence on the rock face causes it to erode. The chalk present on the climber’s hands rubs off on the rocks. It keeps building up over time and eats away at the rock face. Gradually, the rock becomes brittle and wears away.

Excessive use of chalk has diminishing effect on the feeling of adventure for fellow travellers. Chalk leaves a trail on the rocks, making the route noticeable to the climbers coming later. This removes the challenge the sports offers. Presence of climbing chalk on the rock face makes it slippery. Reaction of calcium carbonate with the moisture in air results in a slime, which could make climbers slip.

For extracting optimum pleasure out of your rock climbing campaign, you should use best climbing chalk available in the market. A quality product would enhance your joy of climbing too.

The article is written by a rock climbing expert who has used climbing chalk block extensively. The writer is associated with Primo Chalk.