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In 2023 Niagara Adventure Club added Climber's Rock Inc. to our list of NAC Partners. Since then we have hosted numerous climbing events and introduced quite a few adventurous people to the world of indoor rock climbing. Feel free to join us, and if it's your first time, NAC will provide you with a free day pass and a free lesson. But why should you come you ask? Well, read on...
Adding indoor climbing to one’s regular workout routine yields an array of benefits for adults and children alike, no matter what fitness level or prior experience they bring to the sport. Benefits of rock climbing include increased physical fitness, improved problem-solving skills, building trust and teamwork, and an expanded social network. Rock climbing indoors is a healthy activity everyone from families to business associates can enjoy together.
Who Can Rock Climb?
A person does not need superhuman strength or massive arms to start climbing. In fact, it’s common to witness a slender, flexible woman out-climbing a burly, toned man. What a person does need to begin rock climbing is to sign up for a beginner climbing lesson at their local indoor climbing gym. The lesson will teach the necessary safety skills for indoor rock climbing.
A Total Body Workout
Nearly every climb will at some point engage almost every part of one’s body, from toes to fingertips. A challenging, all-over body workout demanding coordination, endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance, rock climbing is one of the most calorie-consuming fitness exercises out there. The calories burned while rock climbing rival many more commonly employed workout routines, such as running, cross-country skiing, and bicycling.
An Excellent Exercise in Problem Solving
Unlike so many other workout routines, rock climbing offers the added mental element of continuous problem solving in the midst of a physical workout. Most gyms possess a great variety of injection-molded plastic handholds and footholds. These holds are bolted to the wall in particular sequences, which are marked out as climbing routes. The climber attempts to ascend a selected route without falling.
Building Trust and Teamwork
Rock climbing is one of the best team building activities available for individuals, families, and corporations alike. Participants must learn to work together cooperatively to achieve their individual aims, which they cannot safely achieve alone. Climbing partners literally hold each others’ safety and security in their hands every time they belay.
Expansion of Social Network
Climbing regularly at an indoor gym opens up a new social scene. Since rock climbing safely demands a partnership between climber and belayer, it’s an inherently social endeavor. Climbing partners often discuss “beta” for routes, or the particular way that each believes a certain move or series of moves is most effectively performed. Oftentimes, too, a climber is helped by beta and encouragement shouted from those watching on the ground.
Indoor Climbing for Families and Businesses
Parents looking for active family activities should consider signing their children up for a lesson at an indoor gym — and learning with them. Seeing children as young as six (and sometimes younger) climbing the walls of indoor climbing gyms is not uncommon these days. Climbing gyms often do not allow children under a certain age (often 12) to use the gym without adult supervision.
Businesses can also benefit from using an indoor climbing gym for a corporate outing. Gyms often offer package deals specifically designed for this purpose. The teamwork and team building skills acquired in the informality of the climbing gym environment can potentially translate into a more effective, efficient, and mutually supportive workplace.
Written by Lisa Mitchel for The Adventurerr. Posted October 22, 2017N.A.C. NEWS
(Sunday, January 14, 2024)
Good Morning,
Well, the bug finally got me. I have been ill for the past few days. Much like most of you, I HATE being sick. On Friday, however, I pumped myself full of medication and a small group of 5 attended Climber's Rock for our Rock On Indoor Climbing event. Although I didn't do any climbing, I did put on my harness and belayed like it was nobody's business. It's been a minute since we've been climbing, so everyone was a little rusty. But all who attended finished strong.
The 2024 Iceland Expedition still has plenty of space. This trip promises to be an incredible journey across one of the planet's most surreal landscapes. Currently there are still 9 spaces left, and only 16 more days to fill the spots.
We still have 5 spots left for the April trip to the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. There are only 10 more days to register for this amazing trip that is only a short drive away. The Appalachian Trail is world famous, and the Michaux National Forest is a gorgeous mountain trek. If you're going to do one trek this season, this should be the one! Please register soon!
There is still plenty of time to get your 2024 NAC Season Pass! With an NAC Season Pass you will gain access to a season of adventures, new friendships and incredible memories. You'll also have access to discounts and benefits from our NAC Partners that makes the NAC Season Pass by far the best value in a hiking club pass in all of Ontario!
That's all the news for this week. As always, stay safe, and happy adventuring!
Lenny Burch