4 Amazing Rest Day Activities to Keep You Occupied When the Crag's Rained Out

Does anyone like planning a crag day, then looking at the forecast and seeing 99% chance of rain?

Nope. Definitely not.

And when you add that in to the fact that it's your only available wekeend, and your friend might as well send that project before you do, and you put in so much money to get here to this amazing climbing spot?

Life can start to seem quite miserable.

Trust me, I've been there. We all have.

And yet there are certain things you can do to still keep you ready to send as soon as the weather clears and you can get back outside. It just takes a keen mind, a committed soul, and maybe at least a litre of patience.

What I like to do when torrential downpours outside prevent me from projecting my 5.12:

1. Train (at home)

2. Research

3. Hike

4. The Gym

1. TRAIN (AT HOME)

There are a lot of things you can do to still keep training, even if you can't go outside.

• Hangboard or Sturdy Doorframe: Simple dead-hang reps with a timer can go a long way. Be cautious when adding weight to finger exercises, and preferably keep one-armed mono pull-ups to a minimum. ;)

• Stretch/Yoga: Maybe not top pick for everyone, but half and hour of casual stretching can really help your muscles recover from your last session, and increase your flexibility. If you don't know where to start, look up "simple stretching routine for recovery day" and you'll find a variety of easy stretches you can do.

• Workout: You don't need weights or a gym to do a well-rounded workout at home. Consider making it oriented to one aspect you think you need to improve, such as leg streght, core and tension, and etc. Pistol squats, box jumps, pushups, and more are all great exercises.

• Stairs: Do you live in a house with access to stairs? Maybe try running laps up and down those, in that case. Our home has three short flights of stairs, so often I'll run three times up and down - and that's already nine laps of cardio! Just be careful of tripping and falling - broken limbs are not a preference for sure.

Make sure that if you're attempting any high-intensity exercise that you're 100% sure you're doing it correctly, to avoid more injuries in the long-term. Also, doing training 'hours' like these at home are also great for you because they provide a short break from staring into your screen all day long!

2. RESEARCH

Before half my friends roll their eyes at this, I'm going to say: Researching about climbing has taken me a long way in progressing in the sport.

What is a topic that interests you in climbing? Who is an athlete you look up to? What is a dream vacation spot where you've heard of incredible crags? Do you know the history of your favourite climbing location? Does your gym post photos of old competitions on their Instagram?

Googling facts about climbing can help you learn many different things asides from what you use on the wall. It helps you become a better-oriented climber in general, and also will make other people look up to you. Someone who knows their game in the history of a sport is always respected and fun to talk to!

For example, some of these websites have really cool information you can look at, if you're a climbing history geek like me!

https://climbing-history.org

(A really neat baseline source containing links to many articles, media, and posts on almost everything to do with climbing!)

https://publications.americanalpineclub.org

(The AAC Publications have really interesting PDFs with primary source records of first ascents, diary entries, and more.)

http://www.supertopo.com

(Be careful when trusting information from forums, but SuperTopo has been known to provide cool insights from climbers all around North America.)

https://stevensong.com

(This is probably my favourite climber-run blog of all time; "Steven's Peak Bagging Journey."

Mountaineer and hiker Steven Song blogs about his ascents all over the world, with very detailed descriptions and photos. Great for anyone interested in specific mountains to summit.)

https://www.explor8ion.com

(An extensive record of mountains, hikes, and summits mostly around the Canadian Rockies ran by a blogger Vern Dewit, that also has a lot of good photos, maps, and GPX files.)

https://www.peakbagger.com

(A community database containing information on mountains and trails all over the world).

3. HIKE

If you're an outdoor climber, I think I'm free to assume that you're also a hiker.

Well then, why not take advantage of the rainy weather and go for a local hike?

Hiking is great because it boosts your cardio and endurance, walks your dog (if you have one, of course), and supports your immune system by getting some fresh air.

Sometimes, we like to just venture off on a small path in the forest using Gaia GPS and see where it takes us! Just make sure you know where you're going. :)

4. THE GYM

I realize it may be annoying to go to the gym when you were promised a crag day, but there's not much else you can do in that situation.

I like to do some crimpy endurance circuits on the kilter board on those days, to simulate what I would be climbing on lead if I were outside. Sometimes even just being in the gym with friends and brushing the holds of your project can lift your mood by a lot.

After all, it's still climbing!

The bottom line is, it's not the end of the world if it rains.

Look at the situation through a positive lens and tell yourself, "This is for the better. I will have more time to rest and recover before my next crag day; and when I will end up going it will be an even better trip."

I mean, when has it ever rained for eternity? Your crag will dry in a few days, and then I believe that you'll go and send your project first try! :)

-- Sophia