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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Tips for Safe Climbing

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Follow These Basic Safety Tips for a Safe Climbing Adventure

Climbing is dangerous. You need to do everything you can to mitigate the effects of gravity and falling. Redundancy is key—always back-up every important piece of gear with another and always use more than one anchor. Your life depends on it. Beginner climbers are most vulnerable to accidents. Always use sound judgment; respect climbing dangers; don’t go over your head; ask for advice and help; be self-reliant and cautious; find an experienced mentor or take lessons to learn how to climb safe. Remember that most accidents happen because of climber error. The following 10 tips will keep you safe on the rock.

1. Always Check Harnesses
After you’ve geared up, always check that both the climber’s and belayer’s harness buckles are doubled back

2. Always Check Knots
Before you start climbing, always double check that leader’s tie-in knot (usually a Figure-8 Follow-Through) is tied right and finished with a backup knot. Also check that the rope is threaded through both the harness waist loop and the leg loops.

3. Always Wear a Helmet
A climbing helmet is essential if you want to live long and prosper. Always wear one when climbing or belaying. Helmets protect your head from falling rocks and from the impact of falling.

4. Always Check the Rope and Belay Device
Before you lead a route, always double check that the rope is properly threaded through the belay device (especially if it’s a GriGri). Also, always make sure the rope and belay device are attached with a locking carabiner to the belayer’s harness.

5. Always Use a Long Rope
Make sure your rope is long enough to reach the anchors and lower back down on a sport route or to reach a belay ledge on multi-pitch routes. When sport climbing, if you have any doubt that the rope is too short, always tie a stopper knot in the tail end to avoid being dropped to the ground.

6. Always Pay Attention
When you’re belaying, always pay attention to the leader above. He’s the one taking the risks of a fall. Don’t visit with other climbers at the base, talk on a cell phone, or discipline your dog or kids. Never take the leader off belay unless you are absolutely certain he is tied in and safe and he communicates that to you.

7. Always Bring Enough Gear
Before you climb a route, always eyeball it from the ground and determine what you need to bring. You know best. Don’t rely strictly on a guidebook to tell you what to bring. If it’s a sport route, verify visually how many bolts need quickdraws. If in doubt—always bring more than you think you need.

8. Always Climb With the Rope Over Your Leg
When you’re leading, always make sure the rope is over your leg rather than between them or behind one. If you fall with the rope in this position, you will flip upside down and hit your head. Wear a helmet for protection.

9. Always Properly Clip the Rope
Make sure you always clip your rope through carabiners on quickdraws correctly. Avoid backclipping, where the rope runs front to back rather than back to front in the carabiner. Make sure the carabiner gate faces opposite your direction of travel, otherwise the rope can come unclipped. Always use locking carabiners on important placements.

10. Always Use Safe Anchors
At the top of a pitch or route, always use at least two anchors. Three is better. Redundancy keeps you alive. On a sport route, always use locking carabiners if you’re lowering down to top-rope off the anchors.

source : climbing.about.com

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Tips for safe climbing
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10 Rock Shoe Buying Tips for Beginners

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Okay, you’re interested in rock climbing and you’ve seen all those cool colorful rock shoes that the cool guys and gals are wearing at the crag. But what should you get? How do you decide what shoes to buy? And what kind of shoes do you need? The rock shoes you buy, even your first pair, is one of the most important climbing equipment purchasing decisions you will make. Buy the wrong pair of shoes and your feet will hurt and you’ll probably give up climbing. But buy the right pair of rock shoes and you’ll be dancing up the walls. Follow my 10 tips below to make smart buying decisions.

1. Buy at a Reputable Mountain Shop
For your first pair of rock shoes, buy at a reputable mountain shop with an experienced sales staff that is knowledgeable about climbing.

2. Buy an All-Around Rock Shoe
Buy a comfortable all-around, all-purpose shoe with a stiff sole and high-cut leather upper to protect your ankles. As a beginner you'll do all kinds of climbing--get a shoe that lets you experiment and improve.

3. Get a Snug Comfortable Fit
Get a snug but comfortable fit—not too tight but not sloppy. Make sure the toe box is big enough for your foot. A tight pointed toe box is uncomfortable and useful only on extreme climbs.

4. Rock Shoes Will Stretch
Remember that rock shoes stretch, but mostly in width, not in length. Shoes with rubber rands and linings won’t stretch much. If the shoe is painful and your toes are cramped, don’t buy it.

5. Improper Sizing is a Common Problem
Try on lots of shoes to find a pair that fits your feet. Improper sizing is the most common problem when buying new rock shoes. Rock shoes come in US, UK, and European sizing, which makes size conversion difficult. It’s always best to try them on in person and wear them around the shop for at least five minutes. Some shops have small walls where you can test them on a vertical surface.

6. Great Deals are Found On-Line
Great deals are available from on-line vendors, but be aware that you may not pick the right size and if you buy them, you might be stuck with a shoe that doesn’t fit. Before buying, make sure you can send them back unused for a size exchange.

7. Buy Used and Save Big
Look for bulletin boards in shops and gyms to buy a used pair of rock shoes. Great deals are also found on E-Bay.

8. Buy Last Year's Models Cheap
Buy new rock shoes in the late winter and spring when last year’s models are passé and heavily discounted. Most mountain shops and on-line retailers will have close-out specials. Shop early for your size, otherwise they will have only really big or super small sizes.

9. Do a Test Run at a Shoe Demo
Look for shoe demos, usually at local climbing gyms, to try out different rock shoes and see what works for your foot, experience, and climbing style. The shoe rep can help you decide what kind of shoe and size will work for you.

10. Rent Before Buying Rock Shoes
Consider renting shoes for the first few times that you go climbing, whether outside or in a rock gym. That way you will know if climbing is a sport you will stick with as well as have an understanding about how you climb and how the shoes you’re renting perform at the cliff.

Topic Relation :
Tips for safe climbing
Rock shoe buying tips
Good rock climbing wall
Rock climbing techniques
On choosing best pair of rock
Rock climbing easyly
Basic supplies for rock climbing
Best of worlds rock climbing
Expert shares rock climbing
Beginning i rock climbing
Joys of rock climbing
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