EP 156: Fundamentals — How to Go on a Sport Climbing Trip

Fundamentals (Part 3 of 6) — In part 3 of this series, Jesse and I discuss tips and pitfalls for going on a sport climbing trip. Whether you are a weekend warrior, planning your first-ever sport climbing trip, or a seasoned veteran, we hope this episode will help you send your dream routes and enjoy your climbing along the way.

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Jesse’s Original Episode:

EP 127: Jesse Firestone

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Show Notes:  

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/fundamentals-part-3

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:03:29) – The worst sport climbing I’ve been on, destroying my rental car, and having too high of expectations

(00:09:16) – Jesse’s experiences making weekend trips to Smith Rock

(00:10:29) – Jesse’s Tip #1: Have a good partner or crew

(00:11:38) – Steven’s Tip #1: Try to sport climb as much as possible leading up to the sport climbing trip

(00:13:12) – My trip to Rifle in 2018, and why it was successful

(00:14:30) – Jesse’s Tip #2: Prioritize the right skills before the trip

(00:15:30) – Jesse’s endurance/money analogy

(00:16:14) – A tip for how to practice and train for sport climbing on a spray wall

(00:18:38) – Jesse’s Tip #3: Be mindful of crag’s ethics and history when you travel to a new sport climbing crag

(00:19:48) – Steven’s Tip #2: Be brutally honest with yourself about how much time you have

(00:22:27) – Steven’s Tip #3: Be intentional with what routes you try

(00:23:21) – Bonus Tip: Leave the ground with purpose

(00:23:57) – Jesse’s Tip #4: Think about links on your project as their own goal

(00:25:40) – Steven’s Tip #4: Have a goal or an intention for every try

(00:27:29) – Jesse’s Tip #5: Dial in your snack game

(00:29:02) – Steven’s Tip #5: Do mileage, or try something that is hard for you, but don’t try to do both

(00:31:59) – Bonus Tip: If you are a boulderer primarily, be open-minded and give the routes time to grow on you 0:31:50 – The sunk cost fallacy, being okay with recon tries, and why you’ll probably get better at sport climbing over time

(00:38:35) – Jesse’s Pitfall #1: Not having the right clothing layers

(00:40:47) – Steven’s Pitfall #1: Not being specific enough with preparation before the trip

(00:43:19) – Jesse’s Pitfall #2: Getting redpoint blinders

(00:45:45) – The value of not trying your project on the last day of your trip

(00:48:11) – Some thoughts and tips related to onsighting

(00:50:10) – Steven’s Pitfall #2: Letting the group derail your plans and keep you in your comfort zone

(00:51:31) – Jesse’s Pitfall #3: Not discussing your plans and intentions with your partner before the trip

(00:52:10) – Steven’s Pitfall #3: Having too high of expectations

(00:53:55) – Jesse’s Top Tip: Endurance is important, but it’s secondary to actual sport climbing skills

(00:54:25) – Steven’s Top Tip: Be brutally honest with yourself about how much time you really have, and make your tries count