BOISE, Idaho (CBS 2) — This is the time of year is when we typically see the most action out at the Black Cliffs near Boise, the cooler fall temperatures create the perfect environment for outdoor climbers.
I caught up with local climbers to get a taste of what outdoor climbing looks like.
"Everybody thinks you have to be very brave to come climbing, the first time I saw someone climbing out here I was driving to Lucky Peak and I thought, you have to be very brave and bold to be doing that, and ten years later I was doing it, scared out of my mind the first time, but I did it, and gets easier over time," said Andrew Wilburn, Climber.
The fall and spring are the best times for climbers of all abilities to improve their outdoor climbing skills.
"I really enjoy how close it is to home since we just live in central Boise, it's nice that we can get out here after work sometimes in less than half an hour and get a couple hours in," Rachael Carmack, Climber.
Trevor Thorton, Manager at Boise Gear Collective, says, "We've got several hundred rock climbing routes here that are about ten minutes out of town, a good variety of stuff from absolute rank beginner to extremely hard."
"It's a great resource for us here in Boise, it's an easy way to come out and log a lot of time on the rock, train, and really get your mental and physical game, as well as your technical game, dialed in," said Wilburn.
Folks from Boise Gear Collective agreed to show us the ropes.
Unlike color coordinated routes posted at a climbing gym, outdoor routes aren't as easily marked for beginners to follow.
"It's a puzzle and there's a lot of different ways to solve each piece of the puzzle, so it's very engaging," said Wilburn.
Solving my own climbing puzzle, I slowly climbed my way towards the top.
"Climbing's cool because it's a good opportunity to challenge yourself, and push yourself, in a fairly safe manner and it's an interesting way of exploring terrain that you couldn't otherwise interact with," said Thorton.
If you're new to rock climbing, you can begin outdoors with experienced guides, but most experts recommend you start indoors at a climbing gym where it's a little more conducive for new climbers.
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