How to Stay Psyched for Climbing in Winter

Feeling antsy for summer? Dreaming of Rocktober? Ready to send that crux move you fell off last year? You are not alone.

Grabbing granite is right around the corner. Here are six ways you can stay psyched for climbing throughout the winter.

1. Change Up Your Climbing Style for Winter 

If you’ve been bouldering at the gym, you might be used to short climbs with powerful moves. But, if you take the leap to change up your climbing style in winter, pulling hard on a few pitches of sport can help you grow as a climber in ways bouldering can’t.

Rope climbs are longer and teach you to pace yourself, breathe, and keep going when you’re tired. You’ll learn how to clip safely, find rest stances, and trust the rope. These are all critical skills, especially if you want to climb outside one day. 

That doesn’t mean rope climbing doesn’t also require power; most rope routes still have complex moves that feel like boulder problems. You’ll need strength and technique, but also endurance to top out. Rope climbing teaches you to stay calm when you're high off the ground and helps you build confidence on exposed terrain. 

Trying both bouldering and rope climbing can make you a stronger, smarter climber overall. Each style builds different skills, and together, they make you more prepared to face challenges. 

2. Develop a Weight Lifting Routine 

Lifting weights during the off-season is one of the best ways to maintain strength and stay motivated when you’re not climbing as much. It’s not about becoming a bodybuilder; it’s about building a balanced body that can handle the physical demands of climbing. 

Weight training helps support your joints, reduce the risk of injury, and improve overall power and control while climbing. 

As climbers, we often overuse certain muscle groups and undertrain others. Lifting gives you the chance to address imbalances and strengthen key areas, such as your legs, core, and pulling muscles. This means fewer tweaks, better posture, and more efficient movement when you’re back on the wall. 

One to two short lifting sessions a week are enough to support your climbing. Focus on simple functional movements like deadlifts, pull-ups, goblet squats, and planks. Use light to moderate weights, focus on your form, and stay consistent. Your future self on a long approach or steep crux will thank you. 

3. Build Cardio That Supports Your Climbing 

Remember that one-hour approach last summer? Or that steep hike to pitch one that left you drained before even tying in? If your legs were tired, your heart was pounding, and you were reaching for snacks way too early, it probably wasn’t your climbing that failed; it was your cardio. 

Cardiovascular endurance is often overlooked in climbing. But it’s what helps you move longer, recover faster, and keep your energy high on big days. The goal isn’t to become a runner; it’s to become a more vigorous climber. 

Start small. Try running two days a week at a comfortable pace. If you dislike running, consider biking or using the rower at your gym. You can even hike with weight or climb moderate laps with short rest. The point is to build a base that helps you climb all day. 

4. Embrace the Cold and Climb Outside Anyway! 

One of the best ways to stay psyched on climbing in winter is to keep climbing. Cold days are the perfect time to shift your mindset. Instead of chasing sends or projects, use this time to explore different climbing styles or visit new areas. 

Start with moderate boulders. Get outside with friends, bundle up, and don’t worry about grades. Just move. Cold temps make for great friction. Better yet, you get to enjoy the low pressure of climbing for fun, not sending. 

If you’re curious to take it further, try ice climbing or dry tooling. Leading a pitch of ice is a whole new level of exposure. It’s humbling, exciting, and unforgettable. You’ll find an entire community of winter climbers who stay stoked no matter the season. 

5. Check Your Gear 

There’s no sweeter sound than the clink of carabiners or the satisfying click of cams. Winter is the perfect time to pull out your gear and check what needs cleaning, fixing, or replacing before the season starts. Go through your harness, belay device, slings, helmet, rope, and protection. Inspect for signs of wear, frayed stitching, sun damage, and dirt accumulation.

This is also a great time to get organized. Build or upgrade your home gear wall or storage rack with ideas from Pinterest. Label bins, hang your draws, and separate your alpine kit from your gym gear. 

While you’re at it, brush up on your systems. Practice tying knots, building anchors, or coiling your rope. Watch YouTube videos by the American Mountain Guide Association or revisit books like Freedom of the Hills. Come spring, you’ll feel more confident and more ready to climb. 

6. Plan a Trip 

One last way to stay motivated for climbing during the winter months is by planning a trip. Winter is an ideal time to look ahead on the calendar and give yourself a few long weekends for an epic adventure or explore the unique places you see in magazines. Setting aside a few dates gives you a tangible goal to look forward to and provides extra motivation to join a gym, squeeze in cardio, and check your equipment. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing ‘climbing trip’ written on their calendar? It's a visual reminder to stay stoked for climbing through winter. 

Climbing season doesn’t start in spring; it begins now. Use the winter to train smart, stay stoked, and show up ready to send.