With training for climbing becoming more and more popular, climbers are becoming more systematic in their approach towards improvement.  However, for most climbers, this desire to really plan out their climbing and track it only covers their indoor climbing/training.  Once outside, most climbers adopt a more random approach and have no real structure to their cragging program.

However, if you are really looking to maximize your potential, then you should be carrying over a systematic approach from the gym to the cliff.  To help you do so, here’s an article by coach and trainer Steve Bechtel of Climb Strong in which he describes how using redpoint pyramids can provide structure and direction to your cragging program.

“Getting organized so that you maximize your cragging can take many forms, but the tried-and-true redpoint pyramid is a good place to start. A useful tool to keep you on track, the redpoint pyramid is a simple chart aimed at helping you to progress as the season goes on.” – Steve Bechtel

Cragging Program Pyramids:

Ultimately, redpoint pyramids are a great way to ensure you are getting enough volume at a number of different intensities.  They prevent those climbers with longterm projects from only getting on the same route and loosing fitness as a result and they force climbers who typically only try to onsight routes to get on more difficult routes that will really challenge them.

While the theory is the same behind whatever type of pyramid you’re using, there are a variety of different pyramids and each one is suited to particular situations.  In his article, Bechtel outlines a variety of different pyramid structures that include:

• Classic 5-4-3-2-1
• Long-Cycle Pyramids
• In-season Pyramids
• Onsighting Pyramids
• Project and Sub-Project Climbing

Why Structure Your Outdoor Climbing?:

Bringing this kind of structured approach to your outdoor climbing may seem like it will take all the fun out of it.  However, that’s not really the case as doing so still allows you to climb outside and enjoy yourself.  Adding some structure to your cragging program will simply go along way towards ensuring you get enough volume to stay fit as well as avoid overdoing it on a particular project.

Click through below to read Bechtel’s complete article and learn more about how adding some structure to your outdoor climbing can help you continually progress as a climber.

Full Article: Organizing Your Cragging Program

(Photo Credit: Matt Pincus; @mpincus87; Climber: BJ Tilden)

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