■ トンデモ収集器になっているワタクシ No Marcy on Poorly prepared climbers
またロープも持っていないのに登りに行きたいという人がいて、困っています。
以下、リンヒルペルソナによるAIの生成回答。
もう、トンでも収集器として耐性、付きつつあります（笑）。いちいち付き合ってられん系ですわ。
私のような指導的立場にある人は、AI活用してください。適切な文面、作ってくれます。
■ AI's answer
You: Hey, I'm new here and really want to find a climbing partner, but I don't have the right gear. Any advice?
Answer: I understand the challenge you're facing. Climbing without proper gear is not just tough, it's impossible and unsafe. Here's what you should do:
１）Rent Gear: Check if local climbing gyms or outdoor shops offer gear rental services. It's a practical way to access the necessary equipment.
２）Buy Essentials: Prioritize essential gear like climbing rope and draws. These are crucial for safety and can be more affordable than a full set of gear.
３）Learn About Gear: Educate yourself about the different types of climbing gear and their proper usage. This will help you make informed decisions when acquiring gear.
４）Safety First: Remember, safety is paramount. Climbing without proper gear can lead to accidents. Consider indoor climbing options until you can secure the gear you need.
５）Save Up: If possible, start saving for the gear you need. It's an investment in your safety and enjoyment of the sport.
Well-being should always come first in climbing. Good luck on your climbing journey, and remember to prioritize proper gear for your own safety.
I find it great to go climbing at the ripe old age of 71. It is fun to move up vertical rock, and it trains my body without having to endure a dull fitness programme. Through climbing I meet old friends as well as getting to know new people. But I gain even more from learning to climb better and to reach seemingly unachievable goals. For other senior citizens with a similar orientation I have put together a few tips.
These suggestions were triggered by Steve Mc Clure’s piece “Old Folk”. Based on my own experiences, some of his rules were slightly changed and commented. Disclaimer: It is quite possible that my advice doesn’t meet the needs of every senior climber – each body is different, and we old ones should listen to it very carefully.
By the way – Steve Mc Clure calls all people over 45 “old folk”. He was 48 years old when he sent “Rainman” 9b, the hardest route in England at that time.
Even if you aren’t a leading climber like Mc Clure, you can profit from the following tips as an old geezer. Without suffering or mutating to a training monster:
1. Don’t injure yourself.
2. Train your strong points.
3. Stay or become flexible.
4. Climb regularly, also at a highly intensive level.
5. Don’t be scared of falling where it is safe.
6. Have fun!
Before you start to train (no matter in which form), you should set a concrete goal. “To get better” or to “keep one’s standard” isn’t clear enough. In contrast, to climb a specific route or to achieve the ability to climb routes of a certain grade are examples for precisely defined goals. This is much more motivating, and success can be verified.
1. Don’t injure yourself
Stay away from training on the campus board, bouldering in the modern style (dynamically between volumes - far too much strain on the shoulders!). Toprope bouldering is the much better alternative.
If something hurts or even only slightly twinges, it is better to stop at least until the following day and to look out for what develops.
Really warm up well. This can take a damn long time, especially in cold weather. I need at least 5 warm-up routes on the climbing wall with increasing difficulties.
Particularly train your shoulder stability. I only do two exercises twice a week, but more would be better, especially for people with long limbs.
Stop climbing before you get very pumped. Most injuries happen when you are tired.
Treat your limitations with care. For instance, “Egyptians” are dangerous if you suffer from arthritic knees, and people with elbow problems should stay away from locking off. Most often you can substitute risky moves with other techniques.
2. Train your strong points
Most climbing coaches would advise you to improve your weak areas of performance. But I believe that this is valid more for younger climbers who are striving to become high performing allrounders in every type of climbing, on rock as well as on plastic. At my age of now seventyone years I basically climb following the pleasure principle. So I don’t struggle up a horrible offwidth crack and avoid those revolting slopers. The climbing I most enjoy is on well structured limestone with small crimpy holds. People who prefer granite or sandstone, will naturally be dealing with cracks, that call for good holding power and advanced jamming techniques. People focussing on artificial walls will again have different priorities, like explosive dynamos and learning to work miracles on slopers by the laying on of hands. It is essential to concentrate on what you really enjoy and to choose your goals correspondingly. Then your chances for success will be best.
3. Stay or become flexible
To train general flexibility and body tension, Yoga (and Pilates) are certainly very suitable. For people who like to practice these methods, they certainly are an excellent complement to climbing. However, they are nothing for me, finding them too time consuming and difficult to keep up. So I train my flexibility specifically for climbing. For instance, to achieve high and precise foot placement, calling for active flexibility - the limberness and power to lift the legs very high. Also, an open pelvis is useful, allowing to keep your body closer to the wall, as well as the ability to perform extended spreads in dihedrals.
4. Climb regularly, also at a highly intensive level
If you want to climb hard routes at your personal limit, it will be necessary to pull really hard at the crux moves. Young people do this without holding back, while senior climbers tend to be more hesitant.
But your standard of climbing decreases if, for fear of injury, you limit yourself to the cruising routes.
Except for top athletes, it is probably sufficient to try hard crux moves once or twice a week, at 80 or 90 percent of your maximal power. In roped climbing, your projects will provide a perfect opportunity for this. Hereby you can try out new moves and improve your technical abilities. If jumping off isn’t a problem, of course you also can go bouldering.
You should climb hard endurance routes always after and never before the stress of close-to-the-limit maximum-power-moves.
To keep your endurance, one session per week is enough for the general costumer.
5. Don’t be scared of falling where it is safe
Fear kills the fun of climbing. And it also steals your strength, as you hold on much too hard if you are afraid. On top of that your climbing technique also often evaporates. So to lose your fear of leading can easily mean to advance a whole grade. However, healthy caution also has its place – see tip number one. Check out the situation rationally. Stay away from dangerous routes and don’t hesitate to disarm a hazardous section with a clipstick. But also don’t hesitate to fall if the situation is safe! If this seems difficult, you can take a special course in air traffic control or hire a coach.
6. Have fun!
For many older climbers like myself typical climbing training, maybe on a fingerboard or a pull-up-bar, just isn’t fun. So we don’t train long and hard enough - and the results are negligible. People of such persuasion can work towards their goals solely by climbing, if they follow a halfway systematic approach. But this also isn’t everybody’s cup of tea! Then you will have to accept, that the aspired goal is not that important after all and that your top priority is having fun. That’s fine too! If you’re old, you realize how little time you have left and how important it is to enjoy it.
