Rope setup:

• Very important to know rope strengths, knots, and rope management. A certified climbing instructor must supervise the activity.
• Belay the climber by using an anchor above the belayer.
• If the anchor is below the climber, they will fall twice the distance to the anchor. Add additional anchor points while climbing to limit the fall distance.

Holds:

• Pull: Use fingers to lift.
• Friction: Body weight keeps hand or foot on surface. The more of the hand or foot on the rock the better.
• Push: Often used when climbing down. Palm on rock and fingers down.
• Pinch: Pinching fingers together on protruding rock for momentary balance in moving to a better position.
• Jam: Placing hand in rock fissure and attempting to close into a fist.
• Chimney (cross pressure): Feet are placed on one opposing rock and pushed to wedge back and hands against other rock. One body part is moved at a time to work up or down.

Principles for climbing

1. Keep three contact points on rock at all times: either 2 hands and 1 foot or 2 feet and 1 hand.
2. Test all holds.
3. Let legs do the lifting and use hands for balance.
4. Keep handholds between shoulders and waist.
5. Yell “Rock” if a rock is dislodged. If you hear rock, keep head down.
6. Execute a jump step to change feet rather than crossing legs.

Descending

• Easy: Face out and move down.
• Moderate: move down sideways.
• Difficult, move down backwards.
• Generally move the hands down before the feet are moved.

Rappelling

• Equipment: sit harness and figure-eight style descending device.
• Use three anchor points at top.
• The ends of the rope must both touch the ground.
• Wear gloves to prevent rope burn.
• Move the brake hand away from hip and relax fingers, lean back, and let gravity do the work.
• Speed is controlled by adjusting the grip on the brake hand while the other hand guides the above rope to ensure balance.
• To stop, move the brake hand back to the hip and squeeze fingers together.
• After reaching the bottom, yell “Off rappel.”
• Safety: Use a belay rope attached to the harness or have a person hold the rope at the bottom and pull to stop an out-of-control rappeller.