Rock Climbing - An Instructional Guidebook

This guidebook, covering all the basic rock climbing skills and climbing equipment, is invaluable not only for beginners but also for climbers wanting to increase their technical knowledge of climbing single- and multi-pitch routes. Written by one of the UK’s top mountain instructors.

This book is aimed, quite simply, at anyone who wishes to climb. Although billed as an introduction to rock climbing, it will be relevant for anyone who wishes to extend or improve his or her technical skills for single- or multi-pitch routes, whether wanting to second, lead or top-rope.

Rock climbing has become a huge participation sport, and the number of people taking to the crags increases substantially every year. Many climbers – including me – were initially self-taught; some have been mentored by friends; a few will have learnt their skills on a formally instructed climbing course. The intention of this book is that the techniques described will appeal to everyone who likes to climb, enabling the reader to learn new skills or to consolidate those that have already been acquired. The novice climber will appreciate the logical chapter order and layout, from learning ropework and belaying to runner placement and the like. Individual sections can be referred to as and when necessary. Several chapters cover subjects or techniques that can be practised at home, such as those on knots and the mechanics of belaying.

The book will also prove a handy reference for anyone starting out and being mentored by another climber, as it clearly demonstrates current best practice in a number of the disciplines. This is essential if you are going to be able to tie on, belay and second effectively, paving the way to learning more as you progress through the grades. Many people are introduced to climbing by a friend, and most will enjoy the experience to the extent that they will want to take it further.

A good number of climbers take up the sport after attending sessions at a climbing wall, and will often be capable of climbing to a high grade indoors. This book covers all the skills required for a safe transition to climbing in the outdoors. It is very unusual for someone who is capable of climbing, say, 5c indoors to climb anywhere near that grade outside initially. This is due to a number of factors. On a climbing wall it is easy to spot the next hold, work out how to get there and proceed up with the minimum of fuss – as long as the hold is any good! However, outside there is no colour coding of the rock, and as a consequence finding holds will take a lot longer. We cannot just launch up and reach for whatever is obvious – it may be just a sloping ledge or a blind pocket. We must take time to look around for holds and try some out, searching with our hand whilst holding ourselves in balance, before deciding on which one to use.