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Copyright 2023 Visit Truckee-Tahoe
Anyone! While the mention of rock climbing might conjure up the iconic image of Alex Honnold bracing himself against the face of El Capitan in Yosemite (3.5 hours drive from Truckee), the truth is that climbing is a lifetime sport that folks both young and seasoned can enjoy. The key is finding terrain that matches your skill and fitness level, and hiring a climbing guide if you don’t have experience.
Climbing season begins when the snow melts from access routes in late spring and continues until the first flurries touch down in fall. The best time to plan a climbing trip is midweek during the summer when you’re most likely to have warm weather, snow-free trails, and dry rock conditions.
For these two types of advanced roped climbing, climbers are protected with a harness, rope, belayer, and bolts or “pro” protection gear placement. The rope is slipped through carabiners clipped into bolts via a sling, or protective gear as they climb upward. Sport climbing involves clipping bolts already drilled into the rock, whereas the more technical trad “traditional” climbing involves placing protective gear in cracks and features of the rock, then clipping in.
In this type of roped climbing, you are tied into one end of a climbing rope that passes through an anchor at the top of the route and your belayer at the bottom of the route. You use only your hands and feet to move up the rock wall. New climbers will want to hire a guide to get an intro to roped climbing, which requires technical skills. A guide will provide all of the gear, set up the rope and anchor, and give you helpful pointers as you climb up.
A great introduction and perfect for kids who love scrambling. It involves less gear and technical skills than roped climbing. Instead of scaling a tall rock face, bouldering is simply climbing small boulders and staying low to the ground so that you can drop onto a foam bouldering mat (crash pad) if you slip off. All you need to get started is a crash pad, pair of climbing shoes, and a chalk bag.
Be aware of high-elevation mountain weather, which can move in quickly and unexpectedly. Lightning poses a serious threat in the mountains so keep a close eye on the Truckee-Tahoe weather forecast before you go out, always carry extra layers, and know what to do if you get caught in a storm.
You’ll need some basic gear to go rock climbing in Truckee-Tahoe. Breathable, non-cotton, stretchy clothing layers are a must, as is a pack for plenty of water to stay hydrated in our dry climate and energy food/snacks. If you plan to go with a guide, make sure they provide technical gear like rock climbing shoes, ropes, and hardware.
For everything else, check out these Truckee-Tahoe gear shops:
Show your love for our climbing areas by following the Recreating Responsibly and Leave No Trace guidelines. They help us all have a great time outdoors while respecting one another and our favorite places.
Pledge to protect Truckee-Tahoe and be entered into a weekly drawing for a custom Leave No Trace Deuter Dirtbag.
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Copyright 2023 Visit Truckee-Tahoe