Spring Gear Cleaning
5 Things to check before your first day of the outdoor season
Check your rope for flat spots or excessive wear. Consider washing it and re-marking your middle mark. Middle marks are quick to wear, and also very quick to resolve. Try getting a Sterling rope marker (or Sharpie) and making an obvious new middle mark. This is a very useful tool of the rope to help navigate both your ascent and descent. Pro-tip: If you find yourself on a multi-stage rappel with no middle mark on your rope, the first time you find the middle, grind a bunch of chalk into the sheath of the rope at the middle. Typically this will last for a handful of rappels and save you time finding the middle each time you pull your rope.
Put fresh markings on your rack. Nail polish is a great solution to making a unique identifier for all your cams and carabiners. Unfortunately, it can fade and wear off throughout the season. Try putting the nail polish over the kN markings or on the spine of the carabiners so the paint settles into the depressions, thus lasting longer. Make sure to have consistent markings on all of your gear so that it doesn't end in your partner's pack at the end of the day. Try being unique by using more than 1 colour.
Need fresh rubber? Shoes are an expensive and high-wear item. Inspect your climbing shoe rubber and if you see a hole or peeling on the sole, consider taking them to the cobbler and getting a resole. A well-timed visit to the cobbler will save your shoes and extend their life. Early is better than later here, as saving the rand of the shoe can maintain the performance and fit of the shoe, as well as costing only a fraction of buying a new pair. Check out West Coast Resoles, they do a top-notch job. Plan ahead as the turn around time for resoling can be as long as a couple of months.
Be prepared for self-rescue. Practising with your partner will keep you sharp and identify any oversights in a safe controlled environment. Best to practice before the stress of a real emergency. If you come across topics where you don't know how to perform the technical aspects of rescue or who to call in an emergency, consider seeking out professional instruction (ah-hem:). Learning from a pro will boost your confidence by equipping you with the tools and knowledge to address the scenario.
Create a tick list for the season. Not gear per se but it includes a paper and pen so- let’s go! Having goals written down on a tick list is great for identifying inspiration for the season. Additionally, it's a useful tool when caught in the never-ending discussion with your partner of what to climb on any given day (I call it the Squamish curse- too many options). Consider building a list that resembles more of a pyramid than a tower when it comes to difficulty. Outdoor climbing favours the prepared, and building a strong foundation of routes will make those big routes or more difficult routes even more enjoyable. I often chat with my coaching clients about goal setting, route progression, tick lists and projecting.
