Why do rope bags have one strap?

We recently purchased a rope bag for our new Sterling Rope (that we LOVE). One of our favorite places to go outdoor rope climbing is the exits - exit 32 or 38 in North Bend Washington. We don’t have a very long approach for either exit but our new rope bag is turning out to be less than desirable.

The Edelrid Caddy rope bag has a great bucket concept. There are rope tie-ins on the inside and a fantastic tarp that folds out and nicely stuffs back in but it has one shoulder strap. The more time we spend looking at different rope bags the more we see bags featuring a single strap approach. Why? Even with a short approach to a crag carrying a 70 meter rope + shoes + quick draws and chalk bag gets mighty heavy for a single shoulder to bear. So I ask again, why?

On our second crag trip with the Edelrid Caddy rope bag we attempted to stuff it into a backpack for easier carrying – its rotund shape did not like being stuffed into another pack nor did it easily pulled back out of the pack. Even with its awesome bucket concept, loops and tarp it was returned to REI. It is apparent, we need a rope bag with two straps - a backpack approach.

There are some great backpack rope bags out there that we would love to own - but their prices are outragous! We are looking for a reasonably priced backpack rope and gear bag. We are thinking of trying out the Speedster next. I'm still drawing a big wtf on why there are so many one strap rope bags out there...

If you have any other suggestions or experience with the Speedster please comment with them below :)

Climb on!

-Elle

Crux Wednesdays

If you are a Harry Potter fan and read the title of this post, crux is not short for horcrux :P But I do mean crux in reference to a portion of a climbing route.

This morning a coworker greeted me with a cheery "happy hump day!" Her words lingered throughout the day as I was stuck indoors. Naturally, my mind wandered to climbing.

A crux in a climbing route is the hardest section. It's usually the part that gives you trouble and prevents you from flashing or red pointing a route. Wednesday's are like a crux in a climbing route. It's the middle of the week and I feel tired from the activities that happened on Monday and Tuesday. My brain doesn't want to function as it blankly stares at my computer screen. Just like in a climbing route, once the crux is over the rest of the route or week feels like a breeze - or breezier. 

After pushing through a crux and wrapping up the remaining moves, a sense of bliss washes over me as I either A) clip into the anchors or B) hang onto the last bouldering hold with complete control. Another route complete! Similarly, as the clock strikes 5:00 pm on a Friday, heck yeah, BLISS! Hello weekend and outdoor climbing!

We made it through the week's crux! Just a few more days to go :) Until then, I'll be dreaming I'm outdoors, getting my climb on....

Climbing in Leavenworth Washington - pockets for days

As usual, if any of the climbing terminology went over your head, here's the vocab!

Crux

The most difficult portion of a climb

-From: Wikipedia Climbing Glossary Terms 

Flash

To climb a route first time without practice but with beta. Climbing it without beta would be an on sight.

-From: Rock Climbing Glossary 

Red Point

In sport climbing, the term redpointing refers to free-climbing a route, while lead climbing, after having practiced the route beforehand (either by leading with frequent rests on a rope - for which the team "hangdogging" arose - or by top roping). Many climbers will frequently try to redpoint a route after having failed to onsight or flash it; although occasionally a climber will forgo an onsight attempt if they suspect that the route is so difficult that an attempt would be pointless.

-From: Wikipedia Redpoint Climbing 

-Elle

Climbing I love It

I believe your first climb or two will determine your relationship with rock climbing. Either you'll love it or you won't.

My very first pseudo-climb was in college. I say pseudo-climb because I didn't have proper climbing shoes and I had no one to guide me. You see, my university had a climbing wall, and as long as you stayed below a certain height, you could climb what you wanted. Attempting the climbing wall was a whim decision and lasted maybe ten minutes before we continued to our regular gym activities (probably to elliptical -- snore).

My next introduction to climbing however was the true start of it all. A college friend's cousin owns a climbing gym in Tacoma Washington called Edgeworks. A group of people were car pooling down together to have a bit of climbing fun. It was the beginning of a weekly event. Every week I could feel myself improving. I was learning more about my body, how to position it, how to make certain movements and how to trust my feet. 

Many people assume rock climbing is all about your upper body strength, it's not. Rock climbers, like Ballet dancers have strong feet, ankles and calves. As you begin to advance from V0-V2 beginner routes, to more challenging sets, your feet holds get smaller and smaller. You often end up relying on chips that only fit the tip of your rock climbing shoe. The same goes for hand holds, you learn to embrace crimpers ;) I often find myself now saying, don't worry it's a great little crimper! 

I started off bouldering and then rapidly got belay certified and began rope climbing. Soon climbing once a week wasn't cutting it. Then we discovered Seattle Bouldering Project. The largest indoor bouldering gym in the world, heaven! Okay, almost heaven. It's down fall is exactly what's so amazing about it, it's only bouldering.  To supplement, once or twice a month I'll go to Stone Gardens Bellevue, to top rope and lead climb - mostly as training for outdoors.

Last summer I dipped a toe in outdoor climbing. First stop, bouldering in Leavenworth WA. It was a whole new playing field! I was not prepared for the mental game that goes with outdoor climbing. During one of my first climbs I couldn't stop thinking about how heigh up I was on the rock and how far I had to fall - on what seemed like a teeny tiny crash pad. I had a committing move to make and sweaty hands. I eventually found for me to succeed on rocks outdoors I have to shut out the world; calm my mind, thinking about the sequence I must perform and breath.

Leavenworth is filled with granite! Granite is great because of the amount of friction you get but when your fingers aren't use to the sharp crysals your skin wears down fast! By the end of the day my fingers are pulsing and my pads blood red.

Last fall I dipped another toe in outdoor climbing. Lead climbing at the exits in North Bend Washington - Exit 32 and Exit 38. After bouldering outdoor lead climbing felt less scary. Though, it carries its own amount of risk with placing biners correctly and trusting your belayer. I'll elaborate more next time.

Gotta stop typing now, it's time to get my climb on!

-Elle