The wintertime is one of my favorite times to rock climb. Especially in desert destinations like Joshua Tree National Park. Three of my go-to pro tips for climbing in the winter include:
- Chase the sun: even if the daily high temperature is chilly, like in the 40s or 50s, climbing in the sun can feel perfect.
- Bring a thermos of tea: hot tea is a NECESSITY at the crag on cold days. I prefer something with a little caffeine.
- Stash your climbing shoes in your puffy: in between rock climbs, keep your rock shoes stashed inside your puffy– they'll stay warm and toasty.
What are your wintertime climbing tips?
These tips are spot on!! 👍👍
I might add "Choose the Right Rock"
Maybe I'm just a baby, but my fingers get SO cold on granite on cold days. I much prefer sandstone for winter climbing!
These tips are spot on!! 👍👍
I might add "Choose the Right Rock"
Maybe I'm just a baby, but my fingers get SO cold on granite on cold days. I much prefer sandstone for winter climbing!
Good call on the sandstone. As the geological history of the US turns out, a lot of the best sandstone climbing destinations are located within southern latitudes and lower elevations.
@twdondanville Haha that's a very fair point! There's some overlap in a few areas, though. When I lived in CO, I had a good mix of both and definitely wasn't spending a lot of time on granite in the cooler months 🤣