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Hello From California

• July 2007
• Uncategorized

Hi Steph,
Hows it goin? Im 15 and im starting climbing agian. I
used to when i was real little with my uncle. Do you
have any tips for building strength and stamina
without any “special” equipment? And are there any
ways i can better my skills besides just climbing?
Whats your take on bouldering? A few people i have
talked to say that its good but it sort of limits how
you view the rock. The reason i ask is cause i have a
whole mess of boulders basically right outside my
house.

How long have you been climbing? What/where are your
favorite routes? Know of any fun climbs around
Riverside, CA?
Peace,
Rory
p.s. I almost forgot, where is Hueco?

Dear Rory,
Hi! Thanks for writing! You have a LOT of questions! First of all, about your boulders, go and boulder on them!! Bouldering is great! And, by the way, Hueco is just outside of El Paso, Texas. So it’s a good winter place–but requires a little planning nowadays, I hear, because there are lots of park rules and numbers of people allowed in per day, and things like that. So you should definitely check into what the current story is before you go.

It’s great you’re climbing again. I’ve found that climbing as much as possible is the best thing to do for climbing. But climbing on plastic is really good for finger strength, and I also think that yoga has helped my climbing a ton. Not only does it make me more flexible, but yoga also teaches my body to relax in unusual positions–which it then remembers how to do when I am trying to be relaxed on a climb, or in a rest stance.
I’ve been climbing for sixteen years now, and yoga has been the single best thing I’ve done for climbing–and I’ve tried weight lifting too, for several years, but yoga gives better results.

Now, I hate to admit it, but I’m not exactly sure where Riverside is! Is it in Southern Cal? If so, you’re close to Joshua Tree, Tahquitz, Suicide and Black Mountain–all great places with everything from bouldering to long gear routes.

Be careful out there, and have a blast–and don’t listen to anyone who tells you not to climb on your boulders!
xx Steph