rockclimbing

[solobiker]

You don't need to have a lot of upper body strength as climbing takes pretty good foot work. Initally you will get "pumped" in the forearms and you may not be able to do too many laps on a wall but that will improve in a few weeks.

In my climbing days I could lead climb 5 10 overhangs by walking my feet up and using different techniques to decreasee strain on the arm muscles. My DH on the other hand has a lot of upper body strength and is quite skinny ( I am not) and r could reach ( positive ape index) and power his way through cruxs. It is better to have a flowing technique vs powering because it saves energy, better balance and looks better

What type of climnbing are you thinking? Sport or Trad? Inside or outside? DH and I did mainly high alpine trad. We did sport in the winter months for training.

So I guess my longwinded response would be I don't think it is too late. If you are planning on climbing outside please take self-rescue classes. I can explain more if you would like. There have been way too many accidents lately.

[Kimmyt]

I have climbed with many women who learned to climb in their forties or fifties and could rip it up. Essentially, climbing is like other sports- you get out of it what you put in.

If you go into a situation saying it's not worth it unless you can perform at a certain level (whatever level you ascertain as good enough), then you are setting yourself up for frustration. Just go out, try it, and if you like it do it more.

K.

[tribogota]

thanks for all the advice, I don't know what type of climbing, hadn't gotten that far yet, trying to power DOWN on triathlon and do something slightly different and hopefully LESS time consuming, thus the not becoming a fanatic, but alas, my tri personality will probably kick into gear. Hope to start next month when femur and collarbone TOTALLY healed from cycling.