It’s been a long, cold winter in the Northeastern United States,  and spring has officially sprung! We were stoked to hop on our first outdoor boulder problem of the season in New York’s very own Central Park.

We spent most of 2015 training at the gym, but now that it’s suns out, guns out, it’s time to get outside! Here are some outdoor bouldering tips for the urban lady:

1. Bring a crashpad and a spotter.

Bouldering outside is serious business,  and falls are much more risky and likely to happen. Have your gal pals and guy friends spot you while you are climbing in precarious positions, particularly at the crux or topout.

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Freshly pressed and totally stoked: we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our first Outdoor Climbing Clinic and invite you to boulder with our badass lady crew on Friday, April 17th!

Discover your inner adventuress and badass and take your climbing to the next level through our butt-kicking, confidence, and strength building Bouldering Babes Outdoor Climbing Clinic in Central Park! 

Have you ever heard that ‘I can’t‘ voice inside your head – you know, the one that tells you ‘it’s too difficult,’ ‘I’m not strong enough,’ ‘I can’t do this‘?

Change those voices from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I CAN!’ and join a community of women who empower themselves and each other through rock climbing:

I CAN do this. I CAN be strong.

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8 years ago, I took a leap of faith: I’d been religiously climbing at an indoor gym for about six months and decided to take my passion outdoors.

I had no clue what I was doing.  While I’d been consistently climbing 3 days a week and making great progress in terms of grades, climbing outside was a whole different ballgame. Suddenly it wasn’t about just holds and tape; suddenly, a lot more was at stake.

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Climbing is an ass kicking, total body workout that often leaves me breathless.  As with any sport, there must be an element of self-care we implement so that we can sustain our passion for the climb without burning out our bodies.  In rock climbing, the vast majority of injuries result from overuse, most often occurring in the fingers, elbows, and shoulders.

Overuse symptoms are no fun and can result in pain and permanent damage.  My own experience of nearly a decade of climbing and neglecting to take care of my fingers and joints in the early years has caused some unforeseen headaches and challenges.

Boutonniere deformities on right middle and ring fingers due to A2 pulley injuries

The three finger injuries that climbers frequently experience are an A2 pulley strain or rupture, a flexor tendon tear, or a collateral ligament strain.

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