EP 152: Fundamentals Part 1
January 15, 2023
Photo by Charlie Egan
Fundamentals (Part 1 of 6) — In this episode, Jesse and I each share our top tips and pitfalls for going on a climbing trip. Whether you are planning your first-ever climbing trip, or are a seasoned climber, we think you’ll find some helpful nuggets here. We learned these lessons the hard way. Hopefully, you won’t have to.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts
Check out more Fundamentals episodes!
Jesse’s Original Episode:
EP 127: Jesse Firestone (July 18, 2022)
Sponsors:
Athletic Greens:
Use this link to get a free year's supply of vitamin D + 5 travel packs!
Rhino Skin Solutions:
Use code “NUGGET” at checkout for 20% off your next order!
And check out EP 22 with Justin Brown to learn more about how to use Rhino products!
Petzl:
Or shop for Petzl quickdraws at your local climbing shop!
Patreon:
Become a Patron:
We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:
Leo Franchi, Michael Roy, David Lahaie, Robert Freehill, Jeremiah Johnson, Scott Donahue, Eli Conlee, Skyler Maxwell, Craig Lee, Mark and Julie Calhoun, and Yinan Liu
Show Notes:
Jesse’s Tips and Pitfalls:
Tip #1: Set the tone for the trip early
Tip #2: On a week-long trip, always rest the second day
Tip #3: Minimize the decisions you have to make right after climbing
Pitfall #1: When people recommend climbs to you, keep in mind that they almost always recommend climbs that they had good experiences on, not things that are objectively good
Pitfall #2: Training right up until the trip, and cramming training in at the last second
Pitfall #3: Wrecking your skin
Jesse’s Top Tip: Set the tone early in the trip
Steven’s Tips and Pitfalls:
Tip #1: Be open
Tip #2: Climb some easy things
Tip #3: Go look at tons of stuff
Tip #4: Measure the success of the trip in experiences, and not in sends
Pitfall #1: Spending the entire trip on one climb
Pitfall #2: Climbing way too much
Pitfall #3: Not getting the intensity right
Steven’s Top Tip: Be open
Jesse’s Links:
Nuggets:
0:02:53 – Jesse’s story of breaking his toe in Thailand, and my first-ever bouldering trip to Bishop CA
0:06:28 – Lessons from our first failed climbing trips
0:09:11 – Jesse’s Tip #1: Set the tone for the trip early
0:12:11 – Jesse’s Tip #2: On a week-long trip, always rest the second day
0:13:58 – Patience, and taking a week or two to acclimate on longer trips
0:17:55 – Steven’s Tip #1: Be open
0:21:48 – Steven’s Tip #2: Climb some easy things
0:23:47 – Bonus Tip: Pay some attention to what your climbing values are
0:24:10 – Steven’s Tip #3: Go look at tons of stuff
0:25:51 – Jesse’s Tip #3: Minimize the decisions you have to make right after climbing
0:27:24 – Try to avoid survival mode
0:29:09 – Steven’s Tip #4: Measure the success of the trip in experiences, and not in sends
0:31:28 – Bonus Tip: Set process-oriented goals rather than achievement-oriented goals (and scrap the tick list)
0:34:12 – How complicated it is to climb well on a trip
0:37:34 – Jesse’s Pitfall #1: When people recommend climbs to you, keep in mind that they almost always recommend climbs that they had good experiences on, not things that are objectively good
0:39:11 – My first trip to The Red, Jesse’s first trip to Hueco, and thoughts on training for your first trip to a new area
0:41:55 – Jesse’s Pitfall #2: Don’t train right up until the trip, and don’t try to cram your training in at the last second (show up rested)
0:45:10 – Steven’s Pitfall #1: Spending the entire trip on one climb
0:46:07 – Steven’s Pitfall #2: Climbing way too much
0:47:21 – Bonus Tip: Be genuinely interested in other people’s climbing
0:49:01 – Bonus Tip: It’s ok to climb a lot on a trip, but be sure to rest appropriately afterward
0:52:39 – Jesse’s Pitfall #3: Wrecking your skin
0:54:47 – Steven’s Pitfall #3: Not getting the intensity right
0:57:52 – The sunk cost fallacy on a trip
0:58:57 – Jesse’s Top Tip: Set the tone early in the trip
0:59:37 – Steven’s Top Tip: Be open
1:00:31 – Wrap up