Climbing walls

[MariaD]

I was considering visiting one, but having read guru's post about how sweaty they are, I'm beginning to reconsider. Also, the bizarre colour coding system walls apparently have just sounds plain strange. Should I bother?

Question for Guru & Malcolm L (and any other Leeds resident) - what's the bouldering section like at the Leeds Uni wall? My partner can't make it down on weekday evenings, so I'd have to go alone & I'd only be able to boulder.

[guru]

There not really sweaty, just the odd hold on the easier more well used routes can be a bit slidy! The bouldering section is pretty good, lots of different problems to go at.

they do a night on a wednesday called "partners in climb" you just turn up solo and they'll try pair you up with someone who climbs at a simular level. That might suit you?!

It really is a very clean and well run place and I've had a lot of fun there, when it is peeing it down and you really wanna climb or you just can't get to real rock it is deffo worth it!!!

also has a cafe (run by a really nice girl who I do fancy a bit!) where you can get a bit of food and a cuppa-tea (2sugarsnomilkformeplease) and a fairly well stocked climbing shop!

Don't go not trying it cos I said something daft tho... You really might have a good time!!!

[MariaD]

Is it the uni wall, or the Leeds Wall that you mean? The uni wall is easier for me to get to, I think, although I have to drive through central Leeds on my way back from work anyway, so I could drop in at the Leeds Wall.

I might pop along on Wednesday and see what it's all about - think I'll just try out the bouldering section to start with.

[wandering_fox]

"Also, the bizarre colour coding system walls apparently have just sounds plain strange. Should I bother?
"
Might be teaching grandmothers to suck eggs here but:

Can't say if the Leeds wall is particularly bizzare, but generally the different colours are different routes. So on one rope you can do 2 or 3 different routes of varying difficulty before finding a new spot. Particularly useful if you're well hard and your belay partner is a wimp. Or vs versa. So you'd climb the reds* only** route, and they'd climb the blues***.

Should you bother ? upto you. I find them useful when the weathers bad or you can't otherwise get to real rock, but they aren't the same. Good for keeping your strength up.

Sweaty - depends on how many people are there. Popular routes or tricky holds can be, but generally dry out very quickly.

* Note- Whether or not there are set grade/colour relationships depends on the specific wall. Some have posters at each pitch, some have a general scheme.

** You are not normally allowed to use features, edges etc to make the grade unless it says so. Feet should also only be on the correct colour holds.

*** Depending on your personal skills and choice whether getting to the top on any hold is more important than getting part way**** on the correct holds.

**** Unlike on real rock, particularly for long routes, the gear is bombproof so you can shout for your belay to "take" and just hang on the rope to regain some strength.

[Ollie]

I tend to find them quite worthwhile, but it depends upon the quality of the wall and how busy it is. I tend to find myself sitting round not doing a lot for ages, then climbing for a while, then taking another massive break and just sitting (or lying, if it's very quiet!) on the floor! But this is pretty much what I do on 'real rock' too so it doesn't really surprise me :p

Ollie

[Marmot]

obviously quality also depends on the standard the wall has bedesigned for - if you at a place with majoritively stupidly hard routes you get quite disenchantised with the place, or again if theyre too easy

[guru]

the Bfd Uni wall mate

[guru]

partners in climb at leeds wall