Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on November 18th, 2009
So you want to be a mountain climber. You want to be a mountaineer, do you? Alright then. Here are the very basics. Mountaineering is the act of hiking, climbing and camping up mountains. To most of us it is a sport, a hobby. But to those for which mountaineering is like breathing, it is a true profession. You must be athletically fit and have the technical ability for it. One more thing many people don’t realize: you’ve got to have the mental capacity for it. It’s challenging for the mind and the spirit. You need every part of yourself.
There are three typical terrains encompassed by mountaineering. They are snow, glaciers and ice—each requiring its own specific equipment. Snow shoes are very useful for deep snow, such as what you may find in long fields of snow or on inferior slopes of a mountain where snow will pile up. Glaciers pose no problem by themselves. The greatest danger is in the common occurrence of a crevasse while crossing one. These deep chasms are often well hidden from sight by a snowbridge that is often just a few inches thick. A wrong step and it could be all over for you. In glacial travel, a system of ropes is used, binding climbers to each other. If necessary, a crevasse rescue to the rescue! Basic glacial gear includes rope, crampons and an ice axe. This will also be your basic gear for travelling over ice. If you’re travelling over steep ice, however, you’ll also need ice screws (aka pickets) and an extra axe. Now, if the ice is a vertical wall, you’ll need ice climbing skills to get up there. Be ready for it.
Climbing a worthy mountain requires days of camping out. Time is needed to acclimatize to the high altitude conditions. It often requires more than a day to descend to the base of the mountain once you’ve reached the top. You’ve got a few choices for shelter on those forbidding slopes. Base camps may be found on many popular, usually very dangerous summits. These camps give you time to prepare for an attempt to reach the summit. Additional camps may be found further up the mountain where the summit cannot be reached from base camp in a single day. Mountain huts, with varying names based on location, have basic eating and sleeping facilities. Some are abandoned during certain times of the year but, at favorable times, are fully manned and stocked. Some huts offer booking in advance and, in these cases, cancellations are advised. If cancellations aren’t given and the party doesn’t show, it could indicate that someone is stuck on a mountain and needs help.
Much simpler, temporary shelters are often used up on a mountain. The most common shelter on a mountain is a tent. They’re easy to pick up, easy to take down. If weather threatens, outcroppings of snow or rock are readily used to fortify them. A bivouac (bivy) is an open encampment that can give you a rough-and-ready resting and sleeping arrangement. Handmade shelters, such as a snow cave, may be dug out of the ground in at least four feet of snow—a very compact fit. A quinzee, on the other hand, is carved out of a pile of snow above ground. While these handmade shelters may not seem like much, they are so much warmer than being outside in the open freezing air. Igloos are surely a possibility, but it takes quite some time to build one. Time, while climbing a mountain, is always something you wish you had more of.
Aside from knowing what types of terrain to expect and how to manage them, what types of shelter are available, you must know what dangers to look for. The three main types of danger in mountaineering are things falling on you, yourself falling and bad weather. Things falling on you include rocks, snow (avalanches), ice and even another climber, or his gear. As a climber, you could loose your hold and drop into very thin air. You may go careening down a mountainside. If you survive the brutal tumble, hopefully you won’t land in a deep hole or a crevasse. Good grief! And a climber should never forget the ever-present threatening danger of the weather. While many dangers may be avoided based on the route you choose going up and down the mountain, no climber can ever escape the weather. You mustn’t ever ignore it. It could mean your life and don’t ever allow yourself to doubt it. I
If you’re going to be a mountaineer, you’ve got to be serious. A few months preparation is not being serious—unless, of course, you’re already athletically fit and adept at another climbing activity. This is one of the most dangerous, most extreme nature sports there is.
You must be fit. You have to be smart. Always be ready. And, please, don’t ever climb alone. You know you’re just asking for it. Be careful up there!
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Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and an adventurer who strives to protect the natural world. If you would like to learn about
- Knife Sharpening: How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them
- The Fastest Way to Sharpen, Tests for Sharpness and more
- Sharpening Other Edges (Maintain and Store Them)
(e.g. Chain Saws, Gardening Tools, Axes)
- Or maybe you could use a Free Guide on Sharpening Lawn Mower Blades
Find it here at www.MakeKnivesSharp.com. your mountain.
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on September 16th, 2009
While outdoor rock climbing is an excellent sport, it is also fraught with risks. You could lose a foothold or you could get caught up in a blizzard or a snowstorm and get frostbitten. Rock climbing also requires proper time and planning. The time spent on planning and reaching your mountain could be more than the time you actually spend on rock climbing. Enter indoor wall rock climbing.
This type of rock climbing where you can climb a wall fitted with footholds and even finger holds can be installed inside your house or even in your backyard. This arrangement offers you almost the same joys of rock climbing without the associated risks. Since you can indulge in rock climbing on a regular basis, you could plan your schedule so that you can train regularly on it. In the long run rock climbing can help you increase your strength in your arms, legs and even fingers and regular training can also build up your stamina.
Once you have built a rock-climbing wall or if you have installed one professionally, then you and your family can slowly start practicing climbing it. You can start with the easy sections first, and if you have a wall with an overhang, then that section should be attempted last, since it places a lot of stress on your hands and fingers. The holds on the wall should also be interchangeable and movable. This will enable you to keep changing their positions to keep your climb interesting and you could also increase your level of difficulty in future by fixing fewer holds.
By adhering to a routine, you can take in all the advantages which rock climbing walls can offer. If it is kept indoors, you can even practice when it is raining or snowing. For city dwellers, a rock-climbing wall is a very practical investment in keeping fit, as it is not possible for them to go outside the city regularly to do rock climbing. You can attach a harness with an auto-belay to help you train alone if your rock-climbing wall has an overhang or if the difficulty level is high. For a simple wall, this might not be required, but a thick soft mat should be spread at the foot of the wall to prevent any injuries in case you slip and fall.
In case it is not possible to install a climbing wall in or out of your house, then you could join a gym, which has one. This makes for an interesting change in workout, when you go to the gym and they would also have trained instructors to correct you in case you make any mistakes. You can increase your stamina by climbing as per different difficulty levels and also different time levels. So slowly and steadily, as you increase your difficulty level and shorten the time required to do it, you will notice your fitness levels rising. For young children too, wall climbing is a very important training aid as it teaches them to think, plan and then execute their moves.
So, any way you look at it you will still have to look up to wall climbing since the benefits associated with it will stay with you in the long run and therefore rock-climbing walls is truly a very important training aid in the quest for a long and fit life.
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on September 13th, 2009
When you are considering purchasing a mountain bike you need to know where to find the best deals. Whether you are a seasoned mountain bike rider or a complete newbie knowing where and what to look for is going to be one of the main keys to your success and fun. No matter what your goals are you must have the right equipment to excel and be safe in your riding
When considering purchasing a mountain bike you need to know where to start. Whether you are an advanced mountain bike rider or complete new to mountain bike ridding, you need to know where and what to look for. No matter what your goals are you must have the right equipment in order to ride, compete, have fun and be safe.
If you are going to start mountain bike riding as a sport the very first step in your journey will be your equipment. You will now need to start looking at all the necessary tools that you will need in order to compete. You will need to compile a complete training plan and start researching all the mountain bike events in your local and surrounding areas. The key is to find a local mountain bike club, this is a great way to train and gain knowledge from your peers. Once you have done most of your research on training and clubs you will definitely need to think about your mountain bike. Your bike besides your own body will be the most important part of your success.
Bikes can range from very expensive to some that are cheep in price and quality. Most people go out and buy a bike from a store who only wants to sell them the most expensive bike in the shop. A great source for purchasing your mountain bike is to research some used mountain bikes that have been tested and you know the brands are quality. Many people who start out are so excited about getting into this sport, that they go and buy the best / most expensive bike they can find because they think that’s what will help them to ride better.
The reality is a great portion of these people because of work schedule or lack of true motivation often hang there bikes up after only a ride or two. They decide only months later to sell there bikes to minimize there loss. That is why as a consumer who thinks about used mountain bike can get incredible steel. You can find top brands rarely used for a fraction of the cost. These bikes have seen very little road time and are usually in great shape. You can find great deals on used mountain bikes at http://www.usedmountainbikes.net
Mountain biking is an extreme challenge and having the right equipment is going to help your quest to compete, succeed and have fun.
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on August 25th, 2009
Climbing is of different types and varieties. Rock climbing history is an offshoot of Mountaineering, since most of the mountaineers always have this particular kind of drive to try more challenging and thrilling climbs and terrains. It is obvious that Rock Climbing involves climbing on steep rocks and cliffs.
According to rock climbing history, rock climbing remained a part of mountaineering. It has remained as a form of training in order to improve their climbing skills and to learn several climbing techniques.
Rock climbing history states that this activity became popular in the U.S as an essential factor in mountain climbing during 1920s. Rock Climbing discovered its identity and people started to recognize rock climbing as an individual sport in 1950s.
More and more people went crazy for this freaky sport rock climbing. This gave the way for the development of grading system. Grading system gave an indication of how easy or difficult the climb is. The climber can choose the grade he wants to climb depending on his level of skill and expertise.
Grading system is different in different countries. Each country has developed its own grading system in order to assess the climber’s level of expertise. What came with this event was the development of different Climbing Styles that are based on the type of the terrain, with or without the use of ropes and several other gear, indoor or outdoor, etc.
Rock climbing history gradually came towards a trend that made shorter but more difficult and challenging climbs. Knowing that Rock Climbing as an outdoor sport could be really dangerous as it can cause fatal accidents. Safety and protection were greatly given importance. Techniques and advanced equipments came about as a natural development leading from harder and more challenging climbing routes.
As we have seen earlier rock climbing was yet a part of mountaineering. Many developments have happened and the invention of modern techniques over the years until it became a sport in its own right, and it continues to gain popularity and craze at present.
People of all ages are enjoying this addictive and exhilarating sport. The various techniques and equipments that have come about for an improved experience aid this passion. This enables the climbers to better enjoy what Rock Climbing has to offer.
Although the practice of rock climbing according to rock climbing history was an important part of Victorian mountaineering in the Alps, it is generally considered that the sport of rock climbing began in the last quarter of the 19th century in at least 3 areas Elbsandsteingebirge, in Saxony near Dresden, the Lake District of England, and the Dolomites in Italy.
Rock climbing evolved slowly from an alpine necessity to an athletic sport in its own right, making it imprudent to cite an Ancestor of the latter in each of these three locales. Thus, Rock climbing has become a popular sport among the adventure lovers whose daring actions literally secretes adrenaline for the spectators.
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on May 10th, 2009
Rock climbing is a sport, which involves climbing steep rocks. This sport originated in the nineteenth century in Saxony, Lake District of England. After Walter Parry Haskett Smith climbed Napes Needle alone for the first time, many people were attracted and it later converted to sports in England, in 1880s and by 1930s some two hundred climbing resorts opened in the Elbsandstein region. As the sport evolved grading system was introduced to analyze different levels of difficulties while climbing. Both the safety equipments and climbing techniques have been evolved with the passage of time.
A climber should be mentally and physically be strong to overcome difficulties and having extensive knowledge can make the task easier. Initially the climbers can learn in pairs, while one learns to climb the other can belay or feed the rope from either end of the rock structure. Incase the climber falls, the belayer can lock off the rope. When multiple climbers climb, the leader can connect a rope with carabiners or quickdraws as a protection measure. A more risky method, simul-climbing, involves the leader and the team members to move at the same time, giving less time to belay the rope.
There are many variations to the traditional rock climbing. They can be broadly classified into free climbing and aid climbing. Climbers do not use any kind of equipment in free climbing and in aid climbing; equipments are used to support the weight of the body against the rocks, which have less natural formation.
In lead climbing, the leader of the group of climber ties the rope to his body and starts to climb the rock structure first, followed by his other team members who have the same rope tied to their individual bodies. In traditional lead climbing, the leader places bolts into the rock to ascend and the followers use the same bolts. The cleaner is responsible to remove the bolts so that no trace is left of the path taken. If any of the climbers’ slips or falls, they will lower themselves on to the ground to start over again, instead on resting on the rope.
In sport lead climbing, bolts are already laid into the rocks so the leader doesn’t have to carry extra equipment with him. But in this case, there is a risk of bolts rusting as they are laid before hand, and if precaution isn’t taken it can be dangerous. If any of the climbers falls, he will rest on the rope and will try to climb again.
When a rope is suspended from an anchor, which is placed on the top of the rock structure, this technique of climbing is known as top rope climbing. This involves a solo climber who is belayed from either the top or the bottom of the hill.
Short climbs on tough boulders is known as bouldering. Some climbers use safety ropes, which are dropped above them and some, find bouldering mat more useful. In case a climber falls, spotting from the ground level by other climbers can break his fall.
Solo climbing involves a single climber who uses rope and protection devices to get to the top of the stone structure. Free solo climbing involves a single climber who uses nothing but natural features of the rock formation to ascend.
Since rock climbing has become more of a lifestyle now, indoor climbing has been on the rise. It is also a good way to get started. An environment is created indoor with the help of wood, plastic and fiberglass.
Rock climbing can be hazardous from environment point of view. Because bolts are driven into the rocks, this can be really harmful if done on a large scale. Other than this, soil erosion, garbage, human excretion, damage to native plants by introduction of foreign plant which grow from the seeds brought by clothing and shoes, etc. are other possible harmful effects. To reduce these effects, it is recommended to practice clean climbing.
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on May 6th, 2009
A rock climbing wall is a manufactured wall that can be found in gyms and amusement/theme parks. This wall provides a safe alternative to beginners interested in climbing. Instead of starting to learn the tricks and intricacies of rock climbing on a natural mountain, that can be extremely dangerous, the learner can hone his skills under the guidance of experienced trainers and gradually progress towards climbing natural cliffs and rock faces. Even non-serious climbers can have fun climbing these walls during their leisure time.
Rock climbing is an excellent sport that not only offers fun, but also provides a full body workout. It is a superb way to get into a great shape. However, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Apart from the physical stress and strain involved, special equipment used for rock climbing needs to be hired for testing and improving your skills on a climbing wall. The gym or park lets you hire this equipment on payment of charges on a ‘by the hour’ basis. Some times other charges like entry or membership fees etc also need to be paid. This makes it an expensive hobby to indulge in. Even if you buy your own equipment, it will cost you a tidy sum, as climbing equipment is fairly expensive. If you are a serious climber, you might save a bit in the long run.
Rock climbing walls are specially built structures that have adequate hand and footholds that allow a climber to scale the wall. Without exposure to such holds that simulate those offered by natural rocks and crevices, it would be impossible for any climber to learn advancing up a mountain face. Different rock climbing walls are manufactured to offer varying degrees of difficulties in climbing. A small wall in a theme park may not be all that grand and a gym would be a much better option.
You can start by training to overcome easy obstacles in climbing during the initial stages of learning and as you gain experience, you can gradually learn to tackle progressively higher and varied difficulties. A gym has the facilities to let you learn the basics at your own pace and progress towards learning new styles and techniques of rock climbing, using the climbing wall.
Rock climbing walls are artificially constructed using brick or wood. More modern constructions use manufactured steel and aluminum. Other types of climbing walls are of premade fiberglass panels, granite slabs and concrete sprayed on wire mesh. One of the most popular materials used to manufacture climbing walls are thick multiplex boards with drilled holes. Every hole houses a special arrangement allowing modular hand holds to be fixed on the wall.
The whole face of the climbing surface of the multiplex board is covered with textured products. Concrete, paint and polyurethane loaded with sand are also used. Apart from the textured surface, the wall can have many surface structures that can be in the form of overhangs, underhangs, indentations, cracks, and protrusion. Grips to resemble outdoor rock face are also formed on the walls. Some oversized grips may have smaller grips bolted on to them.
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on March 19th, 2009
For more info please visit Rock Climbing Articles
Rock climbing has become a nation and even worldwide craze. People are coming to the sport in droves because it offers exercise and excitement at the same time. Do you see the appeal? If not, perhaps you should take a look at exactly rock climbing actually involves. You never know, you may be lining up to be a part of the crowd in no time flat.
Those who have attempted rock climbing before will tell you that it is many things, but easy is not one of those things. Most people, on their first attempt, come away feeling defeated by the sport. What beginners soon realize, whether they try indoor climbing or outdoor climbing, is that this sport requires an incredible amount of physical and mental energy. It is perhaps the most completely demanding sport around.
There are three basic types of rock climbing you can try. The first is called top roping and is perhaps the most common. In top roping you climb with a partner. From the ground, the partner has a rope from his harness up to the top of the rock and then back down to you as you climb. The second type of rock climbing is called lead climbing. In lead climbing you are still with another person and there are still ropes and pulleys. The difference is that the rope is not at the top of the wall, but it is instead hooked into clasps.
The third type of rock climbing is completely different. It is called bouldering, and there are no ropes or harnesses. As a climber, you will likely stay closer to the ground as you climb around and across the rock more than up the rock. There will generally be a route of some sort that you can complete without much resting. In some cases, you will be required to do what rock climbers call a dyno. In a dyno, you leap off the wall and grab onto a hold that is beyond your reach. This is why many will say that bouldering is the most mentally demanding of all the types of rock climbing.
Interestingly, experienced rock climbers will tell you that it is predominantly a leg activity. About three fourths of your work should be done by your legs, and then one fourth by your arms. The key to climbing well is to have solid technique. One major technique rule that you will learn early on is to at all times have three points (each hand and each foot is a point) touching the wall. There is an enormous difference between having your weight on three points as opposed to two. A second rule of technique is to always climb with your feet. Your hands will hold you to the wall, but should never be doing the pulling, and since your legs are stronger, it is a more efficient way to climb anyway. Thirdly, it is important to remember that the closer your body is to the wall the easier it will be for you to climb. With lots of practice, you will see that it is all this thinking and strategy that has helped make rock climbing one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
When you first begin climbing, no matter how well you have been taught technique, it is a good idea to start with one of the first two types. They are easier and by forcing you to have a buddy with you are safer as well. As you develop technique and strength you will find that you can then more easily move into bouldering if that is something you desire to try.
You may feel like rock climbing seems awfully extreme for a regular Joe like you, but it is quite the workout. As you get further into the sport, learn technique, body positions, and even how to shift your weight, you will see that your mental sharpness will improve as well. If you like to get out and work, but also enjoy chess or other strategy games, you will find that rock climbing is right up your alley. It is not enough to be strong or in shape, and it is not enough to be smart, you have to be strong and sharp.
For more articles related to this subject and others please visit ExtremeSports Info
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on March 6th, 2009
A majority of people who indulge in sports aspire to sustain their body strength, no matter what. You would also come across a few individuals who would rather spend their free time working out at gyms, jogging in the closest park, or occupied in the strenuous world of ball games. An individual, who would rather not emphasize a lot on weightlifting and the likes, could go in for a much better option-rock climbing.
Why select the option of rock climbing? Well, it is quite simple, climbing is ranked as one of the most daring and gripping sports in this present day and age. Apart from enhancing one’s body muscles, climbing builds a sense of discipline. There definitely are quite a few barriers, which require to be overcome by a rock climber. Through these, the rock climber’s mental control is irked because his mind is tickled with the intent of applying new tactics to conquer the barriers. On the whole, climbing brings on the power of both, courage and wit.
While a person sets out to go rock climbing, he is blessed with the opportunity of viewing the world from the top. He is also very lucky to soak in the first rays of the morning sun. Furthermore, he enjoys a sense of triumph and contentment. The person should not be frightened of climbing as it is a safe sport as long as the climber is wearing and carrying the appropriate tools and gear. Moreover, he must also gather the experience required to help him go further.
Rock Climbing Practice for a Novice
For all the novices, it would clearly be dangerous to undertake the difficult, steep treks. It would be a much better idea and safer too if they could practice rock climbing on the indoor walls. The climbing walls are man-made objects that consist of crannies and hooks that provide the individual with an actual rock setting. It is during the practice sessions on the climbing walls that the trainers are able to instruct the climber on the appropriate utilization of the legs and arms, the rappel as well as the ropes.
The Actual Handling of Rock Climbing
Rock climbing walls are equipped with the essential parts that stick out to allow the climber to gain a foot-hold. On the other hand, the individual has to apply tactics and assessment to climb the wall or the rock. A single wrong judgment could result in an accident. Being a climber, an individual is supposed to have a vigilant mind. All the way through the lessons, a person is trained to identify his strong and weak points.
A majority of the rock-climbing novices rely on their equipment. The expert rock climbers on the other hand observe the surface to identify the number of free strokes they can apply. Trips for rock climbing could turn out to be costly, particularly if the weather plays havoc. In this case, they would have to acquire an alternative path for the activity.
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on March 5th, 2009
Rock climbing is an exiting sport that makes the climbers hearts beat rapidly and also makes them breathe the refreshing air at the high altitudes of the rocks that boost up their energy. All of us might think what the climber derives out of just climbing the rock.
Well here is the answer to this question, climbing a tall rock and then after all the effort to see the entire world under his feet and too visualize miles and miles of stretches of land and blue sky is the reward. It does sound very interesting however; not all of us are blessed with that opportunity. Only a blessed few can enjoy this thrilling sport.
But we all can always see so many rock climbing pictures and the landscapes shot from the top of the rock all around us in day-to-day lives. Thanks to the modern technology of the digital cameras so called the digicam.
The climbers carry this weight less small and compact yet very powerful and high-resolution cameras with them. They stop at specific points on the rocks where they feel comfortable and with the help of these cameras and immortalize those stunning shots caught in the lens of the cameras.
Although the cameras are very useful, there are specific characteristics they need to satisfy to make the climb easy and comfortable for the climber. They should be very small and compact. They have to be easy and effective to handle. They have to be very light in weight and should not hinder the climb of the climber.
Getting on to the technical aspects the camera should have high resolution and should have good zooming capacity to get good rock climbing pictures. This is to ensure to capture the minute details when aught from a distance. The camera should not record blurred images when windy weather prevails. It should only add to the pleasure of the climber who wishes to carry the memories of his climb all through his life and not make it a trouble.
It is not only for the climber to relive his amazing climbing experience once again but also for the other common people to enjoy the views of the landscapes from the top of the rock which otherwise would not have been possible.
Rock climbing is itself a risky sport but for climbers who long for more thrill and excitement they can add all these features to their climbing experience. But the climbers should ensure their safety first then only comes the part of taking pictures. Some climbers will prefer taking pictures from set ups, which are relatively safer.
That is they can place themselves in comfortable positions and can take their own time to capture the image. However, some dare devil climbers might want to take pictures even from very risky spots of their climbs. At that time, the climber’s safety is of prime importance.
Under this condition, the camera plays a major role. It has to be easy to handle by the climber even when the climber is in a very risky position. The camera should also not make the effort of the climber a total waste by recording blurred images. So for a good rock climbing picture, the camera has to be resistant to very minute shakes and winds.
Several companies in the market have their cameras for sale at competitive prizes. Choosing the one that suits all the above qualities will solve half of the problem. Climbers can carry the glimpses of their rock climbing experiences with them all their lives with the help of these cameras that take memorable rock climbing pictures.
Posted by admin | Extreme Sports | Posted on January 16th, 2009
When most climbers hear about “training for rock climbing,” they look for a quick way to escape.
Honestly I do not know if it is laziness or what, but for too many years, climbers have said that all you need to do to become a better rock climber is go rock climbing. We have been bombarded by other climbers with this idea and most have been left with disappointment and frustration.
Did the ones telling you just go rock climbing and you will get better climb the grades you want to climb? If so, are they even telling you the truth? Most likely they are not. You see they have best intentions but honestly a great training plan can be the difference between success and failure for you. I know that might surprise but stay with me here and I’ll explain.
So first does training for climbing work? Yes, and there are many great training techniques that you can use to help achieve success and improvement.
The first tip — and the one most people get wrong — is to assume that all you have to do is rock climb and you will get better, this is not the case. Thinking this way will waste a lot of time and effort while you continue to be frustrated and weak. You need to think of what your weaknesses are and focus your time on improving them.
When trying to become a better rock climber you must focus your time on building up your weaknesses. Focus your attention on those things that you are not that good at and forget the rest, at least for now. This is a simple and easy question just ask yourself What do you need to improve? Is it your technique, finger strength, your core strength, your endurance, your power, your flexibility, your mental toughness, your overall fitness?
What is it that is holding you back?
Begin to focus your efforts on improving these areas and you are bound to see results that is a guarantee. For example say your finger strength is weak. You can begin by adding some bouldering to your climbing routine. Bouldering is good because it forces you to do powerful moves and typically has more difficult individual moves than sport or trad routes do. That means you will be working with holds that can be more challenging to hold and in effect you will automatically improve your finger strength.
Also, if you had weak finger strength start to add fingerboard training to the end of your climbing session. These fingerboard sessions will also allow you to focus on your weaknesses by isolating different types of hand holds like crimpers, slopers, pockets, monos etc.
Note: Make sure you always warm up your fingers and arms before fingerboard workouts. If you are not warmed up you can fairly easily hurt yourself. That is why I like to do my fingerboard training sessions after my climbing.
Just so you know training for climbing is not easy it will get hard. You need to stay motivated and one of the best ways to do that is climb and train with other motivated people. They can keep you psyched and help keep you accountable for your training.
It is important to stay up to date on new training techniques and ideas. Experts are always devising new and better ways of training that can help you become stronger faster. It is important to read up on these things and buy training for climbing books when you can. This will save you tons of time and frustration, trust me I know.
Please don’t be a stranger either. Start participating in discussion forums, ask questions to climbing experts and talk with your local climbers either at the gym or the crag. Be sure to not only ask for help but also give advice to other climbers when you can.
Look for every sport out there people are training and people are training hard. Just think about a football player does not become a better and stronger football player by just playing football. Yea it helps but that is not all he does. We all know that and believe that. So if that is the case why would you think that to become a better rock climber all you have to do is rock climb? That just does not make sense. I hope this is making sense.
So next time you wonder: Does training for rock climbing work? You will know the answer is yes. Stay consistent, have the drive and desire to improve and use the right training techniques, and you may find yourself exactly where you want to be.