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September 25, 2024 | CLIMBING

WHY DO WE CLIMB? REFLECTING ON THE MEANING OF ROCK CLIMBING

If you’ve ever found yourself clinging to a rock wall with sweaty hands, shaky muscles, and a racing heart, you’ve probably asked yourself: why on earth am I doing this? What is it about rock climbing that draws us in? What’s the point of all this effort to scale rocks and mountains?

In this blog, we’re going to dive into these questions and explore how this crazy sport benefits (and maybe even harms) us.

The Search for Challenge: Pushing Our Own Limits

For many, climbing is about testing yourself. Every route is a new challenge that pushes you out of your comfort zone. When you finally conquer that route that seemed impossible, the satisfaction is unreal. Climbing teaches us how to deal with fear and frustration and how to enjoy the process as much as the result. It’s an adrenaline rush and a confidence boost all rolled into one.

Connecting with Nature: Unplugging to Reconnect

In a world full of screens and concrete jungles, climbing gives us the perfect excuse to unplug and reconnect with nature. Climbing a wall isn’t just a physical workout; it’s a full experience. The feel of the rock, the sound of the wind, and the breathtaking views from the top fill you with energy and remind you how awesome it is to be alive. You can’t get that at a gym!

Benefits for Body and Mind: A Total Workout

Climbing is one of the most complete workouts out there. It builds strength, endurance, flexibility, and coordination. But it’s not all about the physical side. It’s a mental challenge too, forcing you to stay present, think through each move, and make quick decisions. Plus, it releases endorphins, reduces stress, and leaves you with a huge sense of well-being. It’s like yoga, but vertical!

The Climbing Community: A Group That Rocks

Climbing isn’t just for loners. It’s actually a super social sport. Sharing tough moments on a route, cheering on your friends from below, or celebrating together after completing a climb creates strong bonds. In a world where we’re often more disconnected, climbing gives you a real community where support and camaraderie are the norm. It’s like one big vertical family!

The Downsides? Nothing’s Perfect!

But, like everything in life, climbing has its downsides too. It can become an obsession, where some people start neglecting other areas of their life in the pursuit of the “perfect project” or the “hardest grade.” Plus, the environmental impact is something to think about. Trail erosion, trash, and respecting natural habitats are issues that climbers need to handle responsibly.

So, Why Do We Climb?

Everyone has their own answer. Some want to conquer their fears, others fall in love with nature, and many find climbing to be a form of active meditation. The truth is, this sport is more than just a physical activity; it’s a lifestyle, a way of expressing yourself and discovering who you are. And even though we may keep asking ourselves why we do it, maybe the real answer is in the act of climbing itself, always seeking that next adventure beyond the summit.

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QUESTIONS AND RESERVATIONS

You can contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone to (+34) 645 432 307, or by filling up the contact form in the following link.

Client Reviews
Excellent!

(Translated by Google) In August I climbed two long routes in the Pyrenees with Santi, "Tanger" in Collegats and the next day "El Rap del Niño" in Cavallers. A fantastic experience and the best guide to get back to climbing after a break of almost a year due to injury. 100% recommended :)
(Original) En agosto escalé con Santi dos vías largas en el Pirineo, "Tanger" en Collegats y al día siguiente "El Rap del Niño" en Cavallers. Una experiencia fantástica y el mejor guía para volver a escalar después de un parón de casi un año debido a una lesión. 100% recomendado :)

– Ivan Torres Murillo
Excellent!

(Translated by Google) Santi is a great professional and passionate about climbing. I took the rock climbing course as a beginner and at all times I felt safe. It was a very funny experience. I have been left wanting more, so I will repeat again with them!
(Original) Santi es un gran profesional y apasionado a la escalada. Realicé el curso de escalada en roca siendo principiante y en todo momento me sentí segura. Fue una experiencia muy divertida. Me he quedado con muchas ganas de más, así que repetiré de nuevo con ellos!

– Nicole Morales
Excellent!

(Translated by Google) Brutal fear management course! Highly recommended to have strategies to deal with it! Some cracks Santi and Sol!!
(Original) Brutal el curso de gestión del miedo! Muy recomendable para tener estrategias para afrontarlo! Unos cracks Santi y Sol!!

– Nacho B
Excellent!

(Translated by Google) A climbing baptism is one of those moments that are not forgotten. Perfect as a gift for my children. Santi has helped us with a lot of patience and professionalism and we have all learned a little. Challenge completed! Thank you!
(Original) Un bautizo de escalada es de esos momentos que no se olvidan. Perfecto como regalo para mis hijos. Santi nos ha ayudado con mucha paciencia y profesionalidad y todos hemos aprendido un poco. Reto superado! Gracias!

– Teresa Lozano
Excellent!

I had a great experience today climbing with Giordano in Garraf! Just driving to the location was beautiful and the views once you reached the top were spectacular! I felt very safe with my instructor and he balanced making sure I had fun with safety, which you could tell was his priority. He was so encouraging throughout my climbs and made me feel good about what capabilities I had. I will be looking into taking a course with southclimb now and would recommend them to others. Santi was exceptional with communication on WhatsApp and made the entire process very smooth and simple. Thank you!

– Tie Crisi
Excellent!

(Translated by Google) Great experience! Santi is a crack. It explains great and gives a lot of security. 100% recommended for everyone (whether you are starting from scratch or if you already know and want to learn/improve).
(Original) Genial experiencia! Santi es un crack. Se explica genial y da mucha seguridad. Recomendable 100% para todo el mundo (tanto si empiezas desde cero como si ya sabes y quieres aprender/perfeccionar).

– Marc Martinez
Excellent!

(Translated by Google) We did the long track course with Santi. The guy is a machine, he explains very well and gives a lot of security. Totally recommended.
(Original) Hicimos el curso de vía larga con Santi. El tio es un máquina, explica muy bien y da mucha seguridad. Totalmente recomendado.

– Enrique Jose Montagut Cañete
Excellent!

My goal coming to Spain was to get out for a couple days rock climbing with my family. I’m a fairly accomplished climber but the mechanics of trying to take the family out on my own. Mariano our guide was the perfect example of what a guide should be, he was quick to set up and take down the climbs, had the perfect eye for challenging but achievable routes for the family, was friendly, great with the kids, a just an all around good guy. I can’t recommend this company enough, and am already planning my return trip to Spain to climb with them.

– James & Carmen Corbin
Excellent!

(Translated by Google) Hilario and I turned to SouthClimb to do a long route in Montserrat. In our case, Santiago made us an excellent guide, we recommend him and above all we will repeat the experience. He makes you feel very safe and comfortable on the wall, he explains all kinds of details, both safety and technical details of the track, he is an expert in it. Days before, he gives you all kinds of details and information, adjusting the time of the activity and the necessary material very well. Just thank him and encourage everyone who wants to discover similar experiences, he is a great person.
(Original) Hilario y yo recurrimos a SouthClimb para hacer una vía larga en Montserrat. En nuestro caso, Santiago nos hizo una guía excelente, la recomendamos y sobre todo repetiremos la experiencia. Te hace sentir muy seguro y cómodo en la pared, te explica todo tipo de detalles, tanto de seguridad, como técnicos propios de la vía, es un experto en ello. Días antes te da todo tipo de detalles e información, ajustando muy bien el tiempo de la actividad y material necesario. Solo darle las gracias y animar a todo aquel que quiera descubrir experiencias similares, es una gran persona.

– Miguel Mansergas Collado
Excellent!

I can’t say enough good things about my experience with SouthClimb. Let’s begin with how gorgeous Siurana was! Our guide Santi found an area and climbing routes that were fun and perfectly suited for the grades that myself and the other girl in our group climb. There were specific skills I wanted to work on (cleaning the anchor) and Santi climbed up the route next to one I climbed so that we could work through the process together in a way that was simple, clear, and made me feel safe. I HIGHLY recommend a tour with SouthClimb whether you’re very experienced and want a challenge or it’s your first day on the rock. Don’t hesitate to let your guide know if you have specific goals in mind, because they’re very kind and enthusiastic about helping you learn and grow in the sport. It was a gorgeous day and I am eager to spend more time with SouthClimb! A massive thanks to Santi!

– Claire Stephens