I admire Chris Deulen. He is warm and approachable. He is a fantastic dad. He runs his own business in a very eco-smart manner. And, he is one bad-ass climber. I think he may be one of the strongest climbers in the area. Chris takes time out of his very busy schedule, to answer some HCR: Beta questions. Ladies and Gentlemen: Chris Deulen…
HCRB: How long have you been climbing?
Chris: 12+years
HCRB: What are three things that every new climber should know about…
Chris:
- Bouldering… 1. You can always climb harder than you think. 2. Not getting injured is a fine line to walk; educate yourself! 3. Visualize, visualize, visualize.
- Lead climbing… 1. Triple check your set-ups. 2. Travel as much as you can. 3. Go Al-Muerte often (and don’t be afraid to scream!).
- Climbing etiquette… 1. Learn what spray means. 2. Leave no trace. 3. Treat all people with respect and empathy.
- Safety… 1.The longer you climb, the more serious you realize it is. 2. I’ve seen a mom hit the deck on her heals being belayed by her son. I’ve broken my ankle from improper pad placement, sprained the same ankle from running down a trail. Having a greater state of awareness will help you to live longer, and healthier. 3. In a hairy situation: breathe deeply, assess your options, learn to discern good fear from bad fear, then move!
HCRB: What one exercise should every new climber do? Continue Reading