Rock climbing: mastering basic skills

Face Climbing-Dancing on the Rock Footwork Handholds Body position Moving on rock Crack Climbing-Climbing Cracks From Fingertip Width to Full-Body Chimneys Splitters and corners Finger jams Hand and foot jams Moving up the crack Fist jams Off-size cracks Off-width cracks Squeeze chimneys Chimneys Climbing Gear-Outfitting for the Climb Belay devices Carabiners Chalkbag Clothing Cord Crash pad Helmet Quickdraws Shoes Rope bags and tarps Ropes The ten essentials Webbing slings Knots-Bringing the Rope to Life Harness tie-in knots Knots for tying into anchors Knots for tying webbing and cord into loops Knots for joining rappel ropes and top-ropes Rappel safety knots Knots for attaching slings Hitch for rappelling and belaying Belay Anchors and Lead Protection-Protecting Traditional Climbs The evolution of climbing anchors Chocks Camming units Ball nuts Big bro expandable tubes The climbing rack Natural protection Fixed protection Equalizing protection Opposing protection The V-angle Rigging multidirectional anchors Rigging anchors with a cordelette Rigging belay anchors with slings Rigging belay anchors with the climbing rope The daisy chain Keeping the belayer down

Belaying-Keeping Your Partner Safe Rigging a belay device Belayer position and anchoring Belaying a top-roped climber Belaying a Leader Catching a fall Lowering a climber Belaying with a Munter hitch Belaying with a GriGri Belaying the second climber Communication signals Top-roping-Climbing with the Safety of an Overhead Rope Setting a slingshot top-rope Climbing with a slingshot top-rope Passing a knot Managing a top-belay top-rope Sport Climbing-Climbing Bolt-protected Routes Sport-climbing hazards Climbing style Climbing the route Lowering from the route Belaying a sport route Onsighting a route Working a route The redpoint Bailing from a sport route Traditional Lead Climbing-Leading with Protection from Nuts and Cams Traditional rack Topos The approach The route Leading strategy The protection system The physics of falling Keeping your head Bailing Following a pitch The first lead Multipitch Free Climbs-Climbing High and Free The two-person team Rope management Where to belay Hanging belays Fast and light Extra gear for a long route Time budget Three-person Teams

Getting Down-Returning to Earth

Walking off

Downclimbing

Lowering

Rappelling

Bouldering-Leaving the Rope at Home

The bouldering session

Bouldering variety

Falling

Spotting

Bouldering hazards

Environmental considerations

Training-Improving Your Mental and Physical Fitness for Rock Climbing

Warming up

Work your weaknesses

Improving technique

Power and endurance

Climbing strength

Balance

Training the brain

Hydration and nutrition

Resting

Climbing Safe-Avoiding and Escaping Bad Situations

Self-rescue and first-aid training

Self-rescue gear

Friction hitches

Load-releasable knots

Ascending a rope

Escaping a belay

The Next Step Hauling your partner

Rappelling past a knot

Tandem rappel to evacuate an injured partner

Appendix A-Climbing ratings

Appendix B-Suggested reading

Appendix C-Climbing resources