UKC

Hi.

I am going back to the wall to do traversing....
I know there are many benefits like improved footwork and increased strength endurance.
What are all the benefits of doing lots of traversing?

Sav

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

You get well good at traversing.

In reply to snoop6060:

Thanks

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

Mostly stamina and finger strength.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Thanks
Very helpful
You are a great man!

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

If you fall off the floor is only inches away.

In reply to The Ivanator:

I know

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

Facing sideways, stepping through, foot-switching, use of the outside of the shoe, etc. Oh, and usually very safe; no need to rope up.

In reply to John Stainforth:

Awesome.
Gracias
You are a great man.

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

I don't really have anything to add, I'm just here for my compliment.

In reply to TheFasting:
Ola!
I've checked your profile and what can I say!?....
Wowzers! Yikes!
You are a very brave man!....
Sav

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

You can do it on your own. Plus you can vary your routine to develop areas you think need specific work; sequences using only small holds, small holds for the hands and bigger ones for the feet, small ones for the feet and bigger ones for the hands, back and to using all the larger holds until everything screams (this may take a while; or you may be surprised that it doesn't).

Best as part of a varied climbing diet, but can pay dividends.

T.

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

It is once the strength in your fingers takes on a pincer-like quality and your back starts to harden to a shell-like consistency that you know you have become a true master of the traversing Arts.

In reply to The Ivanator:

What a load of crab.

In reply to Pursued by a bear:

True.....
I tend to use big hand holds and small footholds. I agree.

In reply to The Ivanator:

Your footwork becomes as silent as a mouse and as precise as a snipers shot.

In reply to SiGregory:

V. Funny.

LOL. LMAO

In reply to Mountain Spirit:
Actually sav, you'll be ahead of the game when they publish the sister guide to the 7s and 8s: 2669 straight ups in fontainbleau.

3 and 4s: 1200 bum shuffles in the forest.

You'd be primed to smash it.

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

It's fun.

In reply to bouldery bits:

You are right.

I do have a lot of fun traversing.

In reply to snoop6060:

Hi.

Smash what?....

The 3 and 4s bum shuffles in the forest or the 7s and 8s: 2669 straight ups.

I've never been to Font!

In reply to TheFasting:


Awesome post, I bet you're a brilliant climber

In reply to abseil:
Look at his profile

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

Haha, you guys are great.

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

You may be lucky and fall off on someone giving a sarky answer to your thread.

As for font ... its great if you have kids. Tell them to follow the arrows and stand behind them ready to catch. Otherwise its massively overrated IMO. Why travel all that way to spend time in the woods with boulders when the Alps is just down the road? We have plenty of excellent bouldering in the UK.

Traversing is great for balance and technique in a safe position, and more like proper mountaineering when on a crag.

In reply to TheFasting:

Tu eres great!

In reply to tallsteve:

Yes we do have excellent bouldering in the UK like Northumberland Sandstone and the Grit stone of The Peak.

I agree with you on traversing.

Sav

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

Nothing to see here. Move along..

In reply to ukb shark:
Good one

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

There's key thing the Ivantor's point about the floor being only inches away. Because you're so completely safe you can push yourself to your limit without any inhibition from fear of falling. Learning how hard you can still climb whilst pumped is a useful thing to learn and then apply to lead climbing.

In reply to stp:

Especially sideways!

Or you could jump on an auto-belay and achieve the same, but with a teensy bit more specificity (I may have jkust invented a new word)

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

You can practice going the splits.

In reply to stp:
Great post
Very true

In reply to LastBoyScout:
You are talking about hip flexibility!?

In reply to Andy Hardy:

True

In reply to Andy Hardy:
The problems with auto belay are firstly that you can't dog the moves. You not going to do anything near your limit if you can't dog it. A second problem is that auto belay routes cannot be very steep because of the risk of swinging outwards if you fall low down. Vertical routes only train in a very limited way - for instance you won't be using your core as much as on a steep route. A third problem is whether you can even find something at your limit. There's only ever a very limited supply routes at most walls and most will be either too hard or too easy. Low level traversing on a board with plenty of holds, if there's not a pre-existing route at the right grade, you can design your own choosing whatever holds you like.

I agree with you that up routes will be more specific. Personally I prefer straight up lead routes when I can get to a wall with a partner. But, for the solo climber especially, I think the accessibility of low level traverses have a unique place and purpose.

In reply to stp:

Brilliant post.....
I agree 100%

In reply to Mountain Spirit:

Traversing back is easier than downclimbing.
I'm ready for my complement! ☺

In reply to Gwain:

I agree
Awesome grades!