Climbing in Hong Kong for nutlings

Now that you've tested out your climbing feet and passed the height awareness test, what's next?

This entry is a quickie guide to climbing in Hong Kong for new nutlings.

1. There are two main climbing organizations in Hong Kong (MU and SCU) with rumours they are about to be merged. These two organizations issue the standard assessments for the public government walls.

Level 1 is the basic top-rope assessment; tying yourself in, rules of climbing, belay techniques and safety. For Level 1, the ropes are already set up and you basically tie in and climb. Level 2 is the lead assessment where you bring the rope up the wall yourself. To book lanes in the public government climbing walls, you need to have passed the Level 2 assessment.

Free government climbing walls are at Shek Kip Mei and Shun Lee Tsuen but they are generally booked up pretty good so it's better to check before hand. Lei Yue Mun, Tsai kok Tsui and Kai Tak East are also government walls but you need to pay a fee to rent the lanes.

2. But what if you have Level 1 and want to practice without the hassle of finding a Level 2 partner?

Another alternative is the YMCA. If you already know how to tie yourself in and belay, you can do a quick and simple assessment at the YMCA in Tsim Sha Tsui where it is all top-rope (http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/snr/cw/). Call them to set an appointment for the assessment and then afterwards you are free to use the lanes. Alternatively, if you don't feel confident about the tie in and belay, you can take the 3 hour intro course and then afterwards you will be certified to climb at the YMCA TST. Be aware that this assessment is only for YMCA and cannot be used at the government walls.

YMCA also has another climbing wall at King's Park in Jordan but for this you need a lead assessment. They offer lead courses at King's Park but I suggest you take the cheaper Level 2 course with MU or SCU and then just do the assessment at King's Park afterwards.

3. Bouldering Gyms. Bouldering gyms are a good place to go if you can't find a belay slave. GoNature (http://www.gonaturehk.com/) is a good one for beginners as well as the advanced climber.

4. Climbing Gear. As you climb more often, you'll find that some gear are essential: a harness, chalkbag, and climbing shoes.

Mong Kok is the place to go for climbing gear. The Rock Girls and I generally haunt Mammut, MU and RC Outfitters and they are all situated within the same area in MK.

Mammut is a pricier brand so it's more like eye-candy.

MU (http://www.chamonix.com.hk/) has a good selection of climbing shoes but you might have to go often as they run out of sizes soon after a shipment comes in. For Rock Girls, 5.10 makes a really great pair of shoes that fits the slender female feet better, aptly named the LV and comes in a girl pleasing light purple. I personally prefer the ones with Velcro straps as opposed to lace ups since I like to take my shoes off in between climbs to let my toesies wiggle about a bit. For the first pair of climbing shoes, don't go too tight. It should be close fitting, but not too loose or too tight. MU also sells Black Diamond harnesses which are nice and light weight. But again, fit to your own personal preference. If you spend over a certain amount, MU gives a nice discount.

MU is located a block down from MK MTR Exit E2. Walk out towards the Ladies Market and the entrance is on the street corner to your right. The shop is on the first floor but you can't miss the outdoor gear display.

RC Outfitters (http://www.alink.com.hk/) is another shop for climbing gear although I prefer to buy shoes and harnesses from MU. But it's worth a look to get a feel of what fits you better. RC Outfitters stocks some Mammut harnesses as well as Evolv shoes and a good selection of chalk bags.

5. Finding a climbing partner.

There are lots of climbing clubs in Hong Kong. With the advent of Facebook, it's not difficult to search one out. Or just start hanging out at the YMCA or bouldering gyms. You'll be sure to pick up a belay partner.

Have fun, be adventurous, and you're on your way to being a certified nutty climber.

The Guy's Guide to the Rock Girl - Part 2

Why Rock Girls rock

Rock Girls can sweat it out on the crags and still look good doing it.
When the going gets tough, Rock Girls rise to the challenge.
Rock Girls don't whine about trivialities like chipped nails or mussed up hair, not when they're preoccupied with staring down the crux.
They look for mental strength over physical appearances.
They're down to earth and love to have a great time on and off the walls.

a climber's mantra

Today was a milestone; I completed my first multi-pitch and I feel a renewed inspiration towards climbing again. It wasn't a particularly difficult route and I should have flashed it easily and yet there were spots that nearly defeated me. As I hung there, I felt so incompetent like I was a newbie all over again but isn't that what climbing is about? You must overcome the challenge in your mind first otherwise you're just another fish floundering about on the wall and you might as well not have gone climbing in the first place.

Mind over body.

The Guy’s Guide to the Rock Girl - Part 1

Between a rock and oblivion

So, you've finally come to the realization that the leggy blonde in the office cubicle down the corridor from yours is never going to notice your existence despite your subtle and not so subtle tactics (i.e. conjuring fictional errands just so you’ll have an excuse to coolly saunter past her desk). You’re starting to feel lost and out of your league among crowds of sleek, manicured women swinging their designer totes and hiding behind their Chanel frames. With a sense of hopelessness, you wonder if the only way to get a girl is to stock up a closetful of Armani suits, flash a Rolex and get promoted to an annual salary 10 times that of the regular office Joe Schmoe.

You obviously haven’t been looking “high” enough.

Unlike the blinged-out, brand-conscious divas you’ve been eyeing, Rock Girls have learned long ago that material possessions and looks aren’t everything. Even better, Rock Girls don’t want a buffed out hunk of meat and you don’t have to be a Tom Cruise in the opening sequence of Mission Impossible to catch a Rock Girl’s attention (since all Rock Girls know that real Rock Guys climb without the aid of CGI manipulation). In fact, most Rock Girls are turned off by testosterone-pumped showoffs. It takes more than brawns to scale a wall.

urban climbing dictionary: entry no.1

harness-tire (här'nĭs-tīr)

noun:

The exposed flesh between the waist belt of the climbing harness and the waistband of the pants or shorts. Generally seen in shirtless climbers wearing a climbing harness and low-rise pants.

rockgirl consumerism

A self-conversation with the rockgirl in the sport climbing aisle at MEC (a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast):

"Do you really need that?"

"What are you talking about? Daisy chains are useful and I"ll use it!"

"But don't you already have one? A nice, almost-brand-new-and-unused, orange one?"

"So? I can always use an extra."

"You used the one you have only ONCE."

"Because I usually use a long quickdraw for anchor."

"Hah, like I said... do you really need that?"

"But it's... it's... PINK!"

"Oh, god. How more girly can you get?! It's just a daisy chain!"

"But it's pink..."

"........."

"Shut up. I'm buying it... Why am I even talking to myself?"

beauty and brawns?

What do men want? A girly-girl gilded in gold who sits on the sidelines in wide-eyed awe and who will fan over her man while feeding him grapes from her dainty fingers... or an independent woman with lean muscles and a fearless attitude?

As a rockgirl, I'm always encouraging other people (especially women) to try out the sport. There's nothing like the mental challenge that climbing presents and the exhilaration of completing a particularly tricky route. While most girls are willing to give it a go, surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) the biggest complaint from women is the fear that they'll become too buffed up, as if toning the body is something undesirable. Granted, since I started climbing, most of my jackets, shirts, and tops have gotten a wee bit tight in the shoulders, but why should the idea of physical strength be seen as diminishing to a girl's femininity?

Or phrased in another perspective, do men find physical strength unappealing in women?