Rock Climbing Cake Walk in Backbone State Park

[@bullfrogoutdoors2666]

I would like to try this sometime, how does one go about getting into this? Roughly what’s it cost for the gear? Can you rock climb solo or do you always need a buddy? I’m an Iowan myself and can’t say I know anyone who climbs, pretty rare in Iowa haha

[@iowacampclimbhike6083]

I highly recommend by starting at a climbing gym. Gain some experience in the gym with belaying, tying knots, and general climbing experience. If you’re like me and didn’t live near a gym than you have to have somebody show you. My brother and I learned together but It’s not my recommendation you do that as climbing is an extremely dangerous sport if mistakes are made. For the cost of gear it depends if you want to do indoors or outdoors. For indoors I’d say $350 would get you started (shoes, harness, chalk bag, chalk, and gym membership). Outdoors can be much much higher if you look into trad. If sport maybe another $100-200 for a rope and another $80-100 for a set of quick draws Edit: I would also recommend against climbing alone unless you’re bouldering. But even then bouldering is dangerous