Climbing programs for those with (Fear of heights\climbing)

Hey folks,

I have this fear of heights\climbing that I've been trying to work on lately. The problem is, I know nobody who does the sport. So getting exposure to higher areas to meet my comfort level is a bit tricky. Also no one wants to sit around with someone who freaks out when 50 feet off the ground.

My goal is to get more exposure and make progress each time. Are there any programs in Colorado that helps people overcome their fear of heights of climbing? Something geared towards us acrophobes?

Try cliff diving, it's fun after the 3rd or so jump

I'd just recommend hiring a professional climbing guide for the day to do multipitch climbing. If you freak out, he's getting paid to take you climbing so no need to feel bad about it.

Thanks for the feedback!

Idealy I'd like to start small, maybe a rock that's 100 feet up or so, and just work my way up. Right now I'm just hiking up to areas that have exposure at the top to just test my witts. I'm sure it's helping, but it's not really climbing.

I work as the day manager at Adventure Park Moab located in Moab. We address the fears you speak of at the park all the time in a challenge course atmosphere. Look us up online. Bud

Enroll yourself in climbing technique classes. I mean it. I used to have a severe fear of heights - I wouldn't even go to all the way to the top of the top rope routes in a dinky climbing gym with 30ft walls. After I enrolled in a climbing clinic at the local gym, I started concentrating on the movement and paying attention to where my feet and hands were instead of looking all the way down. Not long after, a friend took me on a super exposed multi-pitch climb - after I followed it I realized I didn't really care there was a 300ft drop under me, but rather focused on how to climb well. I now revel in exposure.

I got over mine by doing more an more exposed hiking, scrambling, and mountaineering. You can do it by yourself and select routes with different amounts of exposure and of course you can turn around whenever you start to feel freaked out. This is much better than starting out with technical climbing where you need to keep your technical whits about you at all times.

This is all good feedback guys, I really appreciate this.

rging wrote:I got over mine by doing more an more exposed hiking, scrambling, and mountaineering. You can do it by yourself and select routes with different amounts of exposure and of course you can turn around whenever you start to feel freaked out. This is much better than starting out with technical climbing where you need to keep your technical whits about you at all times.

In SLC yes, in Colorado no. When I first moved here I didn't know anyone so I would go by myself. I would come to a point and have to sit down and I was sort of stuck. Most times if I waited a little while someone would come along and I would just pick up behind them. You will surprise yourself when you hyper focus on the five feet in front of you (which could simply be someones feet). Same with climbing. You need to focus on what you should be focusing on which is three feet in front of you. I did a climb the other day on an arete that was described as very exposed. The climb was well within my range but run out. I didn't notice any exposure as I was very focused on climbing since it was run out. Step one, acclimate and expose yourself as slowly as you need, step two, focus, step three, learn to control your emotions. If you want to get there you will in time.

I've had this issue all my life too. When I was a kid, I was afraid to go up stairs without risers - still am if they're high enough and I'm not on belay!

Here's some things that have helped me:

1) Go to the gym. Get up a few feet, then just let go and hang on the rope - relax knowing you're not going anywhere. Try it again after going higher. Remember to breathe!

2) As others have mentioned, concentrate just on your immediate space - hands and feet - don't focus below your feet, just on them. Notice some of the goofy holds, interesting cracks, be present with what's right in front of you.

3) The Flatirons in Boulder have been great for me because of their low angle. Find a leader who doesn't mind the run-outs, and go up some of the short easy routes. You can get up quite aways, and it's just a sea of rock sloping off without sight of the ground. When you get to a secure place, try gazing out into the distance and focus on the great view and how cool the rock texture is. Easy climbs will build up the positive feelings you want to associate with climbing, so you can learn to relax 'under exposure'.

4) Go with safety-oriented friends who are relaxed and provide some laughter and support to encourage you, yet be OK if you opt out when you need to. If you don't have anyone handy - sign up with the CMC (CO Mtn Club) and you'll meet a bunch of folks.

5) Learning technical skills will help switch your focus too.

All in all, you need to learn to associate positive feelings with being above the ground, so keeping it fun is actually essential. Surrounding yourself with competent, positive people will go a long ways, plus taking it in gradations from short/low angle -> longer/low angle -> short/high angle -> longer/high angles.

Good luck! You're not alone!

Lots of good suggestion here. If you learn much from reading you might also consider picking up Arno Ilgner's book, The Rock Warrior's Way. He has lots of insight into dealing with fear rationally, and practically. Most of his focus is on lead climbing and falling and the fear of falling, but I know that you would be able to take many of the lessons and apply them to the more fundamental fear you are experiencing.

NOTE: He does clinics also. I see on his website:

"Arno will teach Falling classes during the AMGA meeting in Boulder, CO in October."

I suggest you write and ask him if the class would be helpful for you at your current comfort level.