10 tips to prepare your climbing trip and climb safely
Whether you're an experienced climber or a beginner, safety is a concern for everyone involved in climbing. To ensure that this thrilling sport remains a pleasure, it's essential to take a few precautions and take out travel insurance before you set off.
Invest in good climbing equipment
Investing in quality, standard-compliant equipment is the most important safety requirement when it comes to climbing. Climbing shoes must fit perfectly and the rubber soles must be impeccably smooth. Harnesses and harnesses must be strong yet light, so as not to impede your movements. Helmets, too, should be light enough to avoid giving you a headache, but strong enough to absorb the shock of a rockfall. Finally, ropes and quickdraws must be snag-free.
Before setting off on your climbing trip, check all your equipment thoroughly. And just before you start your ascent, carry out a final routine check. Your safety is at stake.
If you're a beginner, it's a good idea to rent your climbing gear so you can decide which equipment is right for you. Don't hesitate to seek advice from experienced climbers to make the best choices.
Choosing the right destination for your climbing trip
Just because you've been climbing for a long time doesn't mean you can climb Everest or K2. When choosing the destination for your next climbing trip, it's essential to take altitude into account too. As you know, the higher the wall, the more oxygen becomes scarce. If you find it difficult to breathe during your climb, your safety is no longer guaranteed. Choose destinations that are less high, but just as attractive.
And if you're keen to take on vertiginous walls, don't hesitate to take courses and training courses to learn how to control your breath and climb them safely.
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Organizing your climbing trip
To ensure that your climbing trip runs smoothly, a minimum of organization is essential. This includes booking your accommodation and planning your itinerary. If the latter requires it, you'll also need to hire the services of a guide. And don't forget to take enough food and drink with you so you don't run out of anything. Band-aids and mosquito repellent may also be useful.
Find out about weather conditions before setting off on your climbing trip.
If the weather conditions are bad, you'll be putting yourself at risk. Even if it's heartbreaking to give up your climbing trip, your safety is at stake. Properly covered by travel insurance, your expenses will be reimbursed and you won't lose out.
Prepare yourself physically for safe climbing
Climbing is a sporting activity that requires good physical condition. It would be unwise to embark on a climbing trip if you are in poor health or if your body is unprepared. It is therefore advisable to train regularly on boulders to maintain your climbing reflexes, or to practice a physical activity that maintains your muscles if there is no climbing gym near you.
Just as the body needs to be maintained throughout the year, so do the muscles and tendons in your fingers. Particularly put to the test during climbing, they need to be able to bear the full weight of your body to prevent you from falling and jeopardizing your safety. To protect them, especially if you're a beginner, apply straps.
>> Calculate your insurance premium for your next trip <<
Taking care of yourself while climbing
Before you start climbing a wall, no matter how difficult, you should always warm up properly. If you start climbing with cold muscles, you risk injuring yourself or even falling.
As climbing is a physically intense sport, it requires a high caloric intake. So you need to eat well before you start climbing, especially with foods containing slow sugars and vitamins. Don't hesitate to take fruit and energy bars with you to recharge your batteries when you feel a little sluggish.
It's no secret that climbing makes you sweat! To avoid the risk of dehydration when climbing, drink small quantities of water regularly.
Take time out for yourself
Climbing is great, but it's also exhausting! Before you run out of energy, take it easy and take breaks. These breaks should not be seen as a waste of time, but rather as an investment in your personal safety. Inattention errors, injuries and falls are always more frequent when you're tired.
Surround yourself with competent people
Although climbing can be considered an individual sport, knowing how to surround yourself with the right people is beneficial in more ways than one, and not just when you're a beginner. Indeed, climbing with 2 or more people ensures safety, particularly in the event of technical problems or discomfort. It's also a good psychological and moral support, if you encounter a difficulty or feel discouraged.
Paying attention to others and the natural environment
Il n’est pas rare de croiser d’autres grimpeurs quand on escalade une paroi. Pour votre sécurité et la leur, il faut It's not uncommon to come across other climbers on a rock face. For your safety and theirs, always follow the rules. Out of respect for nature, take along a container to keep your food wrappings in.
Travel insurance for safe climbing
Climbing can present safety risks, even if you're a seasoned climber and have prepared well for your trip. For peace of mind, we recommend that you take out travel insurance. In the event of an accident, your medical and repatriation costs will be covered. If you get lost, search and rescue costs will also be covered. And if your climbing trip is cancelled or interrupted, your living expenses (transport, accommodation, guide, equipment hire, etc.) will be covered.
