As a beginner you should never attempt to climb alone without professional help or without any prior knowledge of the sport.
Equipment
Some equipment is common to all types of climbing although there are variations in materials and designs. For the beginner, climbing is one of the least expensive sports as much of the equipment will be provided by an instructor or a centre when you arrange a climbing session. Most of this equipment is used for your safety.
Rope
Climbing rope, made of nylon fibres, is an essential piece of safety equipment. It is constructed so that it can stretch a bit if necessary without losing any of its strength. Ropes are usually ten to eleven millimeters in diameter and fifty meters long.
Webbing
Tubular nylon webbing is often used in climbing. It does not stretch like climbing rope and is most often used tied into a loop.
Carabiners
Carabiners are strong rings of solid aluminum with spring-loaded gates. They are used in many climbing techniques. Normally, the spring holds the gate closed, but the gate can be opened for a rope to pass through. Carabiners are made in various shapes that suit
different climbing situations.
A carabiner is safe until its gate opens. In climbing, two carabiners can be used in tandem with their gates opening in opposite directions. This is more secure because it is less likely that something would cause both gates to open at once. As an alternative, a locking carabiner has a mechanism that makes it harder for the gate to open accidentally.
Harness
A typical harness has a wide belt for the waist and a pair of leg loops for the thighs. You attach your harness to the rope by putting a loop of rope through the appropriate loops on your harness. The figure Eight Follow Through is the traditional knot used and your instructor will show you how to do this the first time you climb.
The harness is designed for safety but it also keep you comfortable when you climb because it places most of your weight on your legs. Some harnesses have padding and adjustable leg loops.
Belay Devices
A belayer's job is to hold the rope that is attached to the climber. For the climber's safety, the belayer wears a belay device. The device is clipped to the belayer's harness with a locking carabiner and the loop of rope is passed through it.
The device allows the rope to pass through as the climber is ascending but if the climber falls, the device helps the belayer to hold the rope to stop the climber's fall. There are many types of belay devices, but they all easy to use and very safe.
Shoes
Appropriate footwear is important but take advice from your instructor about what to wear at the outset and only buy proper climbing shoes if and when he/she recommends it. When you do start to use climbing shoes you will find that they assist your ability to climb in the same way that spikes help a runner.
Modern climbing shoes have stiff, smooth rubber soles that protect your foot from sharp, rough rock, and provide more friction. They fit tightly to prevent the foot from sliding around inside. They may feel slightly uncomfortable at first because they are tight.
Safety Precautions
An experienced climber or instructor is the best source of information about safety, although books and magazines can provide you with some useful ideas.
- Never climb on your own. If you are a beginner, you should always be accompanied by an experienced climber or instructor
- Learn how to check your gear and your harness
- Always wear a helmet if you are climbing outside
- If you are involved in outdoor climbing, wear suitable outdoor clothes and boots or shoes. Be prepared by packing wind and rain proof clothing
- If you are climbing in an unfamiliar area stick to easy routes and well used paths to get to your climb. Go down the way you came up. If you follow another route down, make sure you are certain where it leads. Take a guidebook and map/compass, or a clearly written description and sketch map of the route. Pack a torch (with spare batteries and bulbs), sufficient food and drink and small emergency aid kit just in case
- Make sure a responsible person knows exactly where you are going to be when you are climbing and what time you are expected back. Accidents do happen and if anything should go wrong and a rescue team has to be sent out, then they know where to start looking
- If there is an accident and you need to get help, make sure that you are able to guide or direct a rescue party to the scene of the accident. (If you are interested in climbing on a regular basis, then you would find a basic first aid course useful.)
- Climbing is serious 'fun'. Don't fool around or you will put yourself and others at risk
