Any Rock Climbers On Here??

[TaggyTagz]

Hey, anyone a rock climber on this forum? Anyone climb at True North Climbing at downsview sports park?
I had the trial membership and I like the gym, lots of great bouldering problems and routes, couple cracks and a chimney climb. Problem is I don't think my friend is going to get a membership. So im debating whether to sign up now because as fun as bouldering is, Its nice to climb the tall walls once in a while with a partner.

[rzapata]

Hey, anyone a rock climber on this forum? Anyone climb at True North Climbing at downsview sports park?
I had the trial membership and I like the gym, lots of great bouldering problems and routes, couple cracks and a chimney climb. Problem is I don't think my friend is going to get a membership. So im debating whether to sign up now because as fun as bouldering is, Its nice to climb the tall walls once in a while with a partner.

Where is this? I use do wall climbing. Not anymore because I don't know where...


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[PCLoadLetter]

I used to rock climb with my ex. It was really fun/great workout and I'd love to get back into it. (I think I still have my harness somewhere).

How long have you been climbing for Taggy?

[Booostin]

Yeah... Rattlesnake Point in Milton.. int he spring/summer/fall obviously

[TaggyTagz]

I'm hoping to make it out to Rattlesnake this spring.

I just started climbing this year so in the gym I climb like a 5.9, maybe a 5.10. Tho As I said I was partnerless for a while so I started focusing on the bouldering to help build up strength and technique. I'm fortunate my line of work is physical so I came into climbing with already quite decent strength, especially finger and wrist strength for pinches etc. Framing houses holding heavy nail guns and skilsaws all day long and pinching lumber to pick it up really helped me haha :).. but I don't frame anymore so gotta hit the gym, I had an unfortunate accident which took me outta commission for about 6 weeks for physiotherapy etc.

rzapata true north climbing is at the downsview sports park/complex thing which is Sheppard and Keele, so just east of the 400, north of the 401.

[n00bMeiSter]

rzapata true north climbing is at the downsview sports park/complex thing which is Sheppard and Keele, so just east of the 400, north of the 401.

Yup, can't miss it. There's a massive air force / military base there lol


I've always liked rock climbing, but I've never been any good at it. Wouldn't mind trying it again sometime when funds are more available.

[TaggyTagz]

Yup, can't miss it. There's a massive air force / military base there lol


I've always liked rock climbing, but I've never been any good at it. Wouldn't mind trying it again sometime when funds are more available.

Ya thats my issue right now. membership isn't cheap, the time and gas to drive to and from the rock wall makes it difficult to keep up for me too. I'd have to be going like 2 or 3 times a week to make it worthwhile, but that would add up financially.

[Globex]

I'm planning to start going with my gf soon at Rock Oasis which I heard good things about when they were at Bathurst but they recently moved to Gerrard and Carlaw. Haven't tried it but definitely looking forward to it, any tips? :D

[n00bMeiSter]

I'm planning to start going with my gf soon at Rock Oasis which I heard good things about when they were at Bathurst but they recently moved to Gerrard and Carlaw. Haven't tried it but definitely looking forward to it, any tips? :D

Just googled it. I'm LITERALLY the exact same distance from both of those... 32 kms... fml lol

[TaggyTagz]

I'm planning to start going with my gf soon at Rock Oasis which I heard good things about when they were at Bathurst but they recently moved to Gerrard and Carlaw. Haven't tried it but definitely looking forward to it, any tips? :D

Climb with your legs, not your arms (when possible). Depends on the type of wall you're climbing. Tho I'm sure you wont be climbing stuff much steeper than 90 degrees so I'm sure it will apply to a lot of what your start out climbing. When I started out I bought a book on how to rock climb. I would've been lost without it. Teaches basic to advanced techniques, history, equipment, different terms, different types of climbing... It gives you the knowledge and understanding to go in and just start right in on trying to improve from the first time you go.

Or if you don't to buy a book right away, just look up some stuff on youtube to get some knowledge. If I hadn't done my homework prior to going I wouldn't have enjoyed climbing as much because I wouldn't have understood the art of climbing.

[TaggyTagz]

Just googled it. I'm LITERALLY the exact same distance from both of those... 32 kms... fml lol

Consider the fact that one is deeper into the city, and one is coming out of the city. I don't know what parking is like at the new rock oasis facility and whether it is free or not, but I can tell you the parking lot at downsview is huge and free.

[n00bMeiSter]

Climb with your legs, not your arms (when possible). Depends on the type of wall you're climbing. Tho I'm sure you wont be climbing stuff much steeper than 90 degrees so I'm sure it will apply to a lot of what your start out climbing. When I started out I bought a book on how to rock climb. I would've been lost without it. Teaches basic to advanced techniques, history, equipment, different terms, different types of climbing... It gives you the knowledge and understanding to go in and just start right in on trying to improve from the first time you go.

Or if you don't to buy a book right away, just look up some stuff on youtube to get some knowledge. If I hadn't done my homework prior to going I wouldn't have enjoyed climbing as much because I wouldn't have understood the art of climbing.

What book?



Consider the fact that one is deeper into the city, and one is coming out of the city. I don't know what parking is like at the new rock oasis facility and whether it is free or not, but I can tell you the parking lot at downsview is huge and free.

Yeah... Either way I'm driving 30km over shit roads :(

[Zuluwun]

Always wanted to get into rock climbing. Funds/time permitting of course. I always had a great time climbing whenever I had the opportunity.

[TaggyTagz]

What book?

Great book.

To get into indoor climbing its not too expensive after the membership is covered. I bought climbing shoes, a harness, and a chalk bag and chalk for just over 200 bucks.
Gets a little more expensive when you get into climbing outdoors if you're doing lead climbing because then you'll need rope and various carabiners, quickdraws, slings etc. Gets a lot more expensive when you get into trad (traditional climbing), which is when you're fixing your own temporary fall protection equipment onto the wall, various cams, hexes etc that you jam into cracks etc to arrest your falls. But like I said, thats something that you wouldn't get into unless you were an avid climber with loads of experience and balls haha.
http://www.amazon.ca/How-Rock-Climb-John-Long/dp/0762755342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322282680&sr=8-1
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IEI%2BX6aUL._SS500_.jpg

[n00bMeiSter]

I may just have to give that book a look.
Thanks Tagz

Although, I don't think I'll be buying my own equipment, I do enjoy it, but with soo many things that I like to do, I never spend enough time doing all of them lol

[terapr0]

best ropework book I'ds recommend is called "On Rope"
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41uSLNdH8VL._SS500_.jpg
geared more towards SRT / Search and Rescue / caving / Arborism / Military applications, but its pretty conclusive and covers a bit of everything. All rock climbers should be exceptionally fluent in proper rigging and rescue techniques. Get it from Amazon. Read it, understand it, know it, dont die.

I used to climb at Summit climbing gym in mississauga (long since closed) and more recently at Climbers Rock in burlington, but these days most of my interest is in rappelling / SRT / rope access type of stuff. Rappelling off bridges, tower cranes, into silos, caves and abandoned tailrace tunnels. If any of you guys want to learn more about this aspect of the sport, or want to get out for some scary fun times, get at me :D

few recent favorites

http://www.tohellandback.net/junk/rope/resized_jsb_7013.jpg

http://www.tohellandback.net/junk/rope/resized_JSB_6628.jpg

http://www.tohellandback.net/junk/rope/LDM_2053.jpg

http://www.tohellandback.net/junk/rope/jsb_5453resized.jpg

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