Purpose:
To help you to both maximise your chances of success on outdoor projects and to increase how much you are likely to enjoy your day out
Where: at home
This drill happens in your home.
When: whenever you like (although it should be checked at the end of each season)
This is an off-the-wall exercise and therefore the graph here isn’t relevant
The Drill:
Go buy yourself a whiteboard (which will hopefully come with a pen). If you want to go all out, you can get a collection of pens in different colours
- Make a list of a range of 8-20 local projects; climbs that you have tried but not yet completed
- Make sure your list contains a wide range of grades, running from your flash grade up to one grade above your current max
- Make sure your list also contains a wide range of aspects; running from exposed and quick-drying to sheltered (from wind or sun)
- Finally, ensure you have a range of different approaches; from roadside venues ideal for short days or after-work-blasts through to more remote venues for longer days at the crag
At the end of each season (typically when the clocks change) review your list and remove any that are no longer projects for you.
For a more detailed explanation of this concept, please click here
The Outcome: How do you know when it’s working?
You should find that this provides a better structure for selecting the right climb for any given day and increases both your chances of success and your enjoyment for your days out.
Get it right and over time, you may even find your average grade increases over time.