Most people's response to cold weather, cold rock, (and me complaining about numb hands) is: "it's perfect conditions dude! I wish it was 20 degrees colder!" Question one: are there other people out there who hate climbing with numb hands? Question two: Have people tried freezing their hands in cold water (e.g., ice cooler), letting them thaw, repeat, repeat before getting to the crag so that your hands with be circulating better? A guy from Colorado suggested this and it worked really well for me. Just curious.Who does the "freeze--thaw" thing?
Who does the "freeze--thaw" thing?
My hands froze on Friday to the point of total numbness (more than once) while I was trying to climb my project. Most people's response to cold weather, cold rock, (and me complaining about numb hands) is: "it's perfect conditions dude! I wish it was 20 degrees colder!" Question one: are there other people out there who hate climbing with numb hands? Question two: Have people tried freezing their hands in cold water (e.g., ice cooler), letting them thaw, repeat, repeat before getting to the crag so that your hands with be circulating better? A guy from Colorado suggested this and it worked really well for me. Just curious.
Most people's response to cold weather, cold rock, (and me complaining about numb hands) is: "it's perfect conditions dude! I wish it was 20 degrees colder!" Question one: are there other people out there who hate climbing with numb hands? Question two: Have people tried freezing their hands in cold water (e.g., ice cooler), letting them thaw, repeat, repeat before getting to the crag so that your hands with be circulating better? A guy from Colorado suggested this and it worked really well for me. Just curious.Hauling a big ego up a route adds at least a full grade.
I am with Spragy on this. I DESPISE icy cold rock. Everyone kept saying "The first route is always the worst. Once your hands thaw out, it's all good from there". HA! Once it goes below 40 degrees (with sun), I am done. It's not even really gotten cold yet and my hands are already feeling it. 
Mj
Mj
...quitting drinking is kinda like washing your hands after you take a crap...why start now?
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canadaclimbergirl
- Posts: 742
- Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2003 7:15 pm
As an ice climber........I will tell you what I do to avoid the pain.
When I first get to the climbing, I stick my hands in the snow until they are really cold. Then I let them warm up. From then on, they never get as bad...but the first time, the pain is so much that it makes you feel like throwing up.
It sucks, but it works.
I do the same when rock climbing/bouldering in the late fall/ early spring. If there is snow on the ground, I freeze my hands right off the get go.
cara
When I first get to the climbing, I stick my hands in the snow until they are really cold. Then I let them warm up. From then on, they never get as bad...but the first time, the pain is so much that it makes you feel like throwing up.
It sucks, but it works.
I do the same when rock climbing/bouldering in the late fall/ early spring. If there is snow on the ground, I freeze my hands right off the get go.
cara
The phrase "working mother" is redundant. ~Jane Sellman