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.