How to Log Outdoor Climbing Sessions with ClimbingNote+
Outdoor climbing doesn't forgive bad memory.
You might remember the day, the weather, even who you climbed with — but not which route shut you down, or why it did. This guide shows you how to build a permanent record of your outdoor climbing with ClimbingNote+.
Outdoor mode builds a personal route library for each crag — not just what exists, but what you experienced. Select your crag, add named routes, and the app remembers them forever.
Why Outdoor Climbing Is Harder to Remember
You don't revisit the same routes weekly
Gym routes get reset. You climb them repeatedly until they're gone. Outdoor routes stay forever — but you might not return for months or years. By then, the details have faded.
Conditions change everything
That 5.11a you flashed in October might shut you down in August humidity. Without notes, you won't remember why — just that it "felt harder."
Guidebooks don't remember your experience
A guidebook tells you what exists. It doesn't tell you which routes you've done, which ones you failed, or how many sessions that project took. That's your story to keep.
Indoor vs. Outdoor: Key Differences
If you've used ClimbingNote+ for gym sessions, outdoor mode will feel familiar — but with features designed for crag climbing:
| Indoor (Gym) | Outdoor (Crag) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Gym (optional) | Crag (with GPS) |
| Routes | Grade + tags only | Named routes saved to library |
| Route Types | Boulder, Top Rope, Lead | Boulder, Sport, Trad |
| Reuse | No route memory | Routes saved per crag |
| Display | Tags on card | Route name on card |
The biggest difference: outdoor routes have names and persist across sessions. When you return to a crag, all your previously logged routes are there — ready to select again or compare against.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for:
- Sport climbers building a tick list across multiple crags
- Trad climbers who want to remember gear and style notes
- Outdoor boulderers tracking problems at local areas
- Anyone who forgets route names faster than they forget the crux
Getting Started: Your First Outdoor Session
1Start an Outdoor Session
Open ClimbingNote+ and tap "Outdoor" on the home screen. This switches the app to crag mode with route library features.
2Select Your Crag
Choose your climbing area from the location list. The app uses GPS to sort crags by distance — if you're within 100 meters of a saved crag, it can auto-select for you.
First time at this crag? Tap "Create New Location" and name it. The app saves the coordinates so you (and the route library) can find it again.
3Add Your First Route
Tap the floating "+" button. You'll first choose the climbing style:
- Bouldering - V-scale grades (V0 to V17)
- Lead - For sport and trad routes (5.7 to 5.15d)
Then you'll see two options:
- Select existing route - If you've logged routes at this crag before
- Create new route - Add a route to your library
Creating Routes for Your Library
When you create a new route, you're adding it to the crag's permanent route library. Here's what you'll enter:
Route Name
The official or common name of the climb. This is what appears on your route cards and in your tick list.
Route Type (for roped climbs)
Choose between:
- Sport - Bolted protection (shown as "S" badge, blue)
- Trad - Gear placements required (shown as "T" badge, brown)
This distinction matters for tracking your progression in different styles.
Grade
Select the difficulty. Boulders use V-scale; sport and trad use YDS (5.7–5.15d).
Once saved, this route lives in your crag's library. Next time you visit, just select it — no re-entering details.
Logging a Climb
After selecting or creating a route:
Add Tags (Optional)
Tags work the same as indoor logging. Useful for outdoor notes like:
- Conditions: "hot", "humid", "perfect temps"
- Beta notes: "heel hook crux", "dyno finish"
- Gear notes (trad): "#2 Camalot", "long slings"
Mark Send or Attempt
- Send - You topped out or clipped the chains
- Attempt - You tried but didn't complete
Note: Each route can only be logged once per session. If you send your project after multiple burns, log it once as "Send" when you finish. Use tags like "3rd attempt today" if you want to note the effort.
Understanding the Route Card
Outdoor route cards display differently than gym cards:
From left to right:
- Climbing style (purple = Lead)
- Route type badge (S = Sport, T = Trad) — outdoor only
- Grade
- Route name — outdoor only, replaces tag row
- Status (✓ = sent)
Building Your Personal Guidebook
Over time, your route library becomes a personal guidebook — not just what exists at a crag, but what you experienced there.
To view and manage your routes:
- Go to Profile → Locations
- Switch to the Crags tab
- Tap a crag to see its route library
From here you can:
- View all saved routes (filtered by Boulder / Roped)
- Edit route names, grades, or types
- Delete routes you no longer need
What You'll Notice After a Few Sessions
After logging multiple outdoor trips, patterns emerge:
- Your tick list grows — you can see every route you've climbed at each crag
- Project history becomes visible — how many sessions before the send?
- Style preferences appear — are you sending more sport or trad? More vertical or overhung?
- Grade progression across crags — are you climbing harder at familiar areas?
If you've ever flipped through a tattered notebook trying to remember "that 5.11 on the left side" — this is what replaces it. Searchable, organized, and always with you.
Tips for Better Outdoor Logging
- Name routes correctly: Use the guidebook name when possible — it makes your log more useful later
- Log at the crag: Add routes while you're there and the details are fresh
- Use tags for conditions: "Seeping", "polished", "cold" — context you'll want to remember
- Don't stress about one-per-session: Log the send, note the attempts in tags if needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I only log each route once per session?
Outdoor climbing is different from gym circuits. You typically work a route until you send it, not repeat it multiple times. The app tracks your send/attempt status for that day. If you need to note multiple burns, add it as a tag.
Can I edit a route after creating it?
Yes. Go to Profile → Locations → Crags → [Your Crag] to edit route names, grades, or types.
What if the same route has different names?
Use the most common or guidebook name. You can add alternate names as tags if helpful.
Does the route library sync between devices?
Currently, all data is stored locally on your device for privacy. Export features are planned for future updates.
Can I use this for multipitch routes?
Log each pitch as a separate route, or log the entire climb as one route with pitch notes in tags.
I mainly climb indoors. Where should I start?
Start with our Indoor Climbing Logging Guide — it covers gym sessions, tags, and the basics before you head outside.
Start Building Your Route Memory
Every outdoor climber has routes they're proud of — and routes they've forgotten. Your personal guidebook makes sure the good ones stay remembered.