It's one of the hottest extreme sports out there, literally.
"If you feel you want to take it easy, you can take an easy route. If you want to challenge yourself, you can take a harder [route]," explained Trevor Curtis, a Platte City rock climber. "It's a really good mix of athleticism as well as challenging yourself to do something a little dangerous."
On weeks like this one, it's even more dangerous as temperatures flirt with the triple digits. That's why Curtis took to dangling off cliffs indoors instead of out.
"It's definitely a lot cooler [inside]," said Curtis. "When you are sweating so much, your hands get really slippery, so it's nice to have a place to climb in the cool."
As temperatures heat up, so does Ibex Climbing Gym in Blue Springs, where no matter how hot it gets outside, it's always a cool 70 degrees inside.
"It's really fun. It's kind of a thrill. There's always the worry you might fall. That's always thrilling," said Ibex manager Ryan McCrary. She's been climbing since she was 15 years old.
Outdoor climbing involves hours in direct sunlight. Climbers face extreme conditions like sunburn, dehydration and even heat stroke.
"There are some people that will brave the weather and go out there anyway because there are some shaded spots where there is a little bit of a breeze but once it gets to 100 degree weather - whew, it's kind of awful," she said.
No matter what activity you choose to do outside, it's important to stay safe:
- Stay hydrated by drinking water before, during and after your activity. Also be sure to replace electrolytes. Also, eat light meals.
- Don't fully exert yourself. Instead, go a little slower until you acclimate to the heat. And don't be afraid to call it a day if you think you're overheating.
- Avoid outdoors during the hottest part of the day, which is typically between noon and 6 p.m.
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Terra Hall can be reached at terra.hall@kshb.com.
