Posts Tagged ‘outdoor’
Hiking Trekking Walking Sticks
May 11th, 2010 | 
Author: Hiking Trekking Walking Sticks
It's an old, familiar, rock climbing story. "I went to Millstone (a cliff in the UK's Peak District) and headed straight for Bond Street (a classic HVS/5.8 climb). I was worried that, if I didn't get on the climb right away, I'd wimp out." "So how did it go?" I asked curiously. "A horror show," my friend grinned ruefully. "For a start, I misjudged the size of the crack and tried to place the wrong pieces for protection. Before I knew it, I was horribly pumped." He grimaced. "You can guess the rest. A minute later, I was sitting on the rope. I'd just blown the onsight. Game over."
My friend had fallen prey to one of the rock climber's greatest enemies - the dreaded flash pump. It doesn't matter whether you're cranking 5.7 or 5.14. A flash pump will close you down almost as fast as you can yell, "Take!"
What causes any pump in rock climbing? The simple answer is a build-up of lactic acid in your muscles to the point where they just don't work properly any more. Imagine someone throwing pig slurry into your petrol tank. Step on the gas and... you grind to a halt. It's demoralising, that's for sure.
The term 'flash pump' refers to the first time in the climbing day when your muscles are engaging in strenuous activity. My friend wanted to get on his onsight project, Bond Street, before he got psyched out. Fair enough. But he also thought he was going on it fully rested, with maximum physical advantage. Big mistake.
How does one avoid the dreaded flash pump? It's simple. You warm up before you climb and again before you climb anything hard. There are many, many ways of warming up (and I'll discuss them in other articles) but virtually any warm-up which doesn't strain muscles is better than none. Your warm-up should be general (e.g. running on the spot) and specific (climbing). I'm one of those climbers who needs a long (long!) time to warm up, so I've learned to do it slowly. It takes me three or four pitches to get into my strike. My best onsight is done after a short rest, but I may have stiffened up (old age!) so another warm-up might be in order. The best time for my onsight certainty won't be the first pitch. It may be pitch five or six. But experiment - find out what works best for you - and stick with it.
A crucial point for avoiding a flash pump. In your climbing warm-up, it's tempting to just stay with routes grades easier than your onsight challenge, on the basis that you don't want to get tired. Don't do this. It's better for your third or fourth route/pitch to be near the onsight level. You need to 'wake up' your muscles and 'fine tune' them for the coming challenge. It's as though they develop a 'memory' for just the right effort, the right approach.
Everybody - even the world's best climbers - can succumb to a normal pump. But none of us should fall victim to a flash pump. It's eminently avoidable, once you know how. And now you know how. So warm up - sensibly and thoroughly.
Michael (Mick) Ward has been climbing since 1967. Aged 56, he still climbs at around 5.12 or F7b+. He has made many First Ascents and written for many climbing magazines. He's still aiming to improve.
If you want to improve your rock climbing, feel free to visit us at http://www.howtoclimbthreegradesharder.com
 |
 Camera MonopodHiking Walking Stick PoleCompass Silver  US $7.99 |  Camera MonopodHiking Walking Stick PoleCompass Blue US $7.99 |  Camera MonopodHiking Walking Stick PoleCompass Red US $7.99 |
 Camera MonopodHiking Walking Stick PoleCompass Black US $7.99 |  LED FlashlightHiking Walking Stick PoleCompass Silver US $7.99 |  LED FlashlightHiking Walking Stick PoleCompass Blue US $7.99 |
 LED FlashlightHiking Walking Stick PoleCompass Black US $7.99 |  LED FlashlightHiking Walking Stick PoleCompass Red US $7.99 |  TREKKING POLES HIKING BACKPACKING WALKING STICK PAIR US $35.00 |
 HIKING WALKING STICK BEAVER CARVED WOOD BADGE US $37.50 |  DIAMOND WILLOW WALKING HIKING STICK TREKKING STICK NEW US $30.00 |  2 WALKING HIKING TREKKING STICK LEATHER STRAP W COMPASS US $30.00 |
 SALE Trekking Hiking Poles Jacko Pro Star Anti Shock Pr US $24.20 |  EXPEDITION TREKKING WALKING STICK POLE rubber grip US $9.99 |  100 WADING STICKS TREKKING POLES LITE WEIGHT 54 LENGTH US $350.00 |
 REAL NORDIC WALKING POLES SAFER HIKINGTREKKING STICKS US $69.95 |  HIKING WALKING STICK INDIAN NATIVE AMERICAN Carved US $37.50 |  2 NORDIC WALKING HIKING POLES STICKS wEXTRA TEAL US $19.95 |
 NUDE LADY UNIQUE HAND CARVED WOODEN WALKING STICK CANE US $119.21 |  HIKING WALKING STICK OWL HANDCARVED STURDY US $37.50 |  2 TREKKING WALKING HIKING POLES STICKS wEXTRA BLUE US $19.95 |
 WALKING HIKING TREKKING STICK COMPASS WRIST STRAP NEW US $16.50 |  WALKING HIKING TREKKING STICK THREADED CAMERA MOUNT US $25.50 |  Vibram Fivefingers KSO Black mens sz 45 NEW US $79.95 |
 Jacko Dyno Trail Aliminium Hiking Trekking Poles Pair US $63.91 |  1Pair Hammers Trekking Poles Hiking Sticks HP5U BLUE US $32.00 |  Hammers Anti Shock Walking Trekking Hiking Stick Pole L US $13.70 |
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
 | Hammers HP5 Anti-Shock Hiking Pole with Compass & Thermometer List Price: $49.95 Sale Price: $25.98 Average Rating:   |
HP5 is a perfect companion for your weekend hiking trips. It has a comfortable cork handle with nylon strap and a small EVA grip for use when the stick is folded. The telescopic stick is made of 3 strong aluminum alloy sections and can be adjusted to a desired height between 55" and 27 1/2"... |
 | Pair of Pace Maker Trekking Hiking Walking Poles Sticks with Bag and Extras (Blue) Sale Price: $24.95 Average Rating:  |
Suitable for people of all sizes. Three sections telescope from 27 to 54 inches long. Superior ultralight 7075 Aluminum. Sweat absorbing and durable cork grips. only 10.5 ounces/pole. Antishock can be turned on or off... |
Hiking Poles (budget friendly) walking sticks trecking poles
Posted in 
Tags: 