Climbing - Basic Climbing Skills
If you want to learn to climb, there's no substitute for taking a class from a knowledgeable instructor, one with deep experience in climbing. That class will be a combination of lecture and hands-on training. You'll be guided in acquiring a wide variety of skills that are essential for safe and effective climbing.
Students will learn basic knot tying skills needed by every climber. The Italian Hitch for belaying, the Bowline for tying in to the harness, a Double Overhand for joining abseil ropes, a Tape Knot for tying nylon together for a sling and a number of others are essential.
Tying in to the harness is required. Learning it is simple. But doing it properly takes practice. It's important to strap on a waist or chest harness correctly and to test the loops and ties. Students will learn how to check their partner's harness correctly, too. Students learn how to use carabiners the right way and practice becoming adept so the tools are as familiar as a spoon.
Belaying is among the most important early lessons to learn and it goes hand-in-hand with top rope climbing.
In the top rope technique a long rope of semi-elastic nylon about 10mm thick is anchored at the top of an outcropping or plateau. The rope is threaded through a pulley or loop or carabiner(s) and the two ends hang down at the level of the climber and his partner, the belayer. The anchor is attached to an assembly of webbing and carabiners attach the anchor to the rope. The anchor point can be formed using bolts or cams in a crack.
One person climbs, the other belays. As the climber rises, the belayer takes up slack and watches to ensure that, should the climber slip and start to fall, the rope prevents him from moving down more than a few inches. Even on an uneventful climb, the climber often comes down after going up. Not surprisingly, this is called lowering. The belayer plays out the rope and the climber lowers gradually down. There's a proper technique required even for this seemingly simple act.
In class, students will learn to climb, lower and then switch to belay. At all times, climbers are partners. They need to communicate and cooperate to ensure a safe climbing experience.
Of course, for anchors to be set and ropes threaded, someone has to put them at the high point. That divides climbers into two different roles: lead climber and second climber. The leader climbs the pitch (the rock face), places protection (stays made of nuts, cams and other 'pro') and attaches the rope to them with carabiners (small, oval-shaped metal loops).
In that scenario, there is no pre-placed and belayed rope to prevent the leader's fall. The leader will place a piece of 'pro', then climb up to reach the next point of placement. A fall here means moving down more than a few inches - as much as several feet or more. That's why the role is always performed by an experienced climber.
There are many other basic skills, and dozens of details, that students can only absorb and practice in the context of a class. Finding a nearby climbing gym is a good first start. Experienced instructors can teach and monitor you in a safe environment, to get you out to the 'real thing' that much sooner.
