Questions tagged [rock-climbing]
This tag should be used for all questions about the activity rock climbing, books, gear and accessories used or necessary to do rock climbing. The term Rock Climbing is an activity in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls.
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Ideal and Minimal Rope Diameter for Lead Climbing
I'm thinking of a single rope that it's safe to take long lead falls, but also light to carry around. I weight 75 kg and I might climb with heavier partners (80-90 kg)
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How do you compare between different rock climbing grades?
Different countries and rock climbing disiplines have different grading systems, for example the the British trad grade system (e.g. grade HVS 5(a)) and the US point grading system (e.g. 5.9)
If I ...
user2766
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Backup prusik for Abseiling: Where does it go?
When abseiling from an anchor during rock climbing, I like to use a backup prusik as a potential lifesaver in case I screw up.
However, I have heard different advice on where to put it, both for ...
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How to clean rock-climbing shoes?
I have never found a good answer to this one:
How do you clean rock-climbing shoes, without ruining them?
Let me be more specific.
I have a pair of modern leather-and-fancy-rubber climbing shoes ...
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4
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Things to keep away from climbing ropes
There are some no brainers like don't throw your climbing rope next to car batteries in the back of your car. The effect of bug sprays containing Deet seem to be controversial. I have also heard a ...
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What do I do if I lose my belay plate?
The scenario
My climbing partner and I are at the top of a pitch and we drop a belay plate to the ground. There is no safe descent, we were planning on rappelling down off safe anchors.
What do we ...
user2766
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Please Explain Rock Climbing Grades
I have seen various grades for different climbs such as
5.14b,
8b+,
8b - 150m
It seems there are different parts to the grade, e.g. the last one is it 8b for 150 metres?
Do these grades only ...
- 751
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How to toughen up hands?
So I climb. It keeps my hands pretty rough, but for my day job I am a desk jockey now. I was wondering, are there exercises can I do to keep my hands rough so they don't get torn to shreds when I do ...
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Slings for anchoring and lanyard in rock climbing
Probably common question, but: What slings do you use to build anchors for belaying the 2nd in rock climbing? Dyneema or nylon?
I had discussed this problem with my friend and he said that Dyneema is ...
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Rating unorthodox climbs
This question is sprouted from Brick Wall Rating
I occasionally climb in places where it seems unorthodox, such as a brick wall. I've found that even with the plethora of hand holds that buildings ...
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Correct and incorrect slip-slap-slide belay technique
This blog has a discussion of the slip-slap-slide and PBUS techniques for taking in rope when belaying. Here is a video demonstrating PBUS. Slip-slap-slide is illustrated on p. 161 of Freedom of the ...
user2169
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Learning to fall when leading: what is good fall technique?
I'm learning to lead climbs, and I'm terrified of big falls. Part of this is learning to trust my gear placements, but a large portion is because I don't know how to fall - I've only taken small falls ...
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How should I vet belayers? What should I look for?
The other night I went to the climbing gym, intending to look for a climbing partner once I got there. (My usual gym climbing partner isn't available to climb as often as I want to.) The gym provides ...
user2169
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When should I retire my rope
I know there is a degree of "gray" in this question but:
I have a Beal Top gun II 10.5mm, I've had this rope for around 4 years now and I'm starting to think about retiring it.
It's been used ...
user2766
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How do I inspect a climbing rope?
It is imperative that climbing ropes are in excellent shape so they don't split while someone is climbing.
How do I properly inspect the rope when I'm about to start a climb?
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Bouldering vs aid climbing vs free climbing vs free solo climbing
What re the differences between these 4 styles of rock climbing?
Bouldering
Aid Climbing
Free Climbing
Free solo climbing
user2766
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What's the minimum diameter cord to use when climbing a rope using a prusik
If I'm using two prusik's to climb a rope (one as a foot loop and one attached to harness directly) What's the minimum diameter of cord I should be looking for to remain safe?
user2766
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How to take care of climbing hands?
Being a climber one aim is to toughen up your hands (related: How to toughen up hands?). Building up callused skin is important but how do you keep it? Having dry hands especially from the climbing ...
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How should I choose between setting up a Cordelette or an Equalette climbing anchor?
I was going through anchoring techniques and I came across this well-received question:
Anchor without cordelette?
How should one decide when to go for a Cordelette or an Equalette?
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Can I use a bicycle helmet as a climbing helmet?
I have a bicycle helmet that fits well. Can it be used effectively as a rock climbing helmet?
Most climbing helmets have a hard shell that the bicycle helmet does not. However, one of the more ...
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Why go without socks with climbing shoes?
I've been going climbing (indoor bouldering) for about six months, using shoes I rented at the gym, and wearing socks (and everything was fine). I've recently got a pair of climbing shoes, and want to ...
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If the Dawn Wall had been climbed before, why was the 2015 attempt so difficult?
There's a lot of talk in the media about Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell's free ascent of the dawn wall of El Capitan.
This wall has been climbed before, but this is the first time it's been free ...
user2766
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What's the difference between Sport Climbing and Traditional Climbing?
What is the difference between Sport Climbing and Traditional (Trad) Climbing? Is it just that Sport Climbing uses bolts?
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What equipment do I need as a beginner outdoor rock climber?
What are the bare essentials that I need in terms of equipment when it comes to rock climbing? I've done indoor rock climbing but always rented my equipment from the rock-climbing gym.
(For the ...
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How to safely mark a rope
I was reading this question and the first thing that popped into my head is what do you use to mark the middle of the rope?
I was taught not to use any kind of marker on the rope (because there's no ...
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Why are indoor climbing grades easier?
This is possibly a little of a generalisation but, why are indoor grades easier than outdoor grades?
Having climbed at many many indoor walls (all over the uk) and done multiple outdoor climbs (...
user2766
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7
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Light-weight emergency overnight-gear
What is a good emergency-overnight-sleeping-setup when every ounce counts, like on long technical routes (grade V or VI) where the goal is to do it in one day (without hauling), but one wants to ...
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Climbing with a much lighter partner?
Both my fiancee and myself bought some climbing gear recently and we're planning our first trip to an indoor rock gym this weekend. We decided to practice our knots and belay technique before we went ...
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Methods for taping hands, wrists, and fingers for climbing?
I've been climbing off and on since I was a teenager, but one thing I've never done much of is taping my hands. As I gained more experience, it's value is now apparent.
What are some good techniques ...
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How to get kinks and twists out of a climbing rope?
One complaint about using the Munter hitch for belaying is that it twists and kinks the rope. After doing a full rope length rappel with a Munter hitch down a slightly overhanging face to the base of ...
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How high to climb before clipping on a sport climb?
The guy who taught me to lead sport in the gym suggested that when I'm going for a clip, I position my body so that the clip is somewhere between my hips and my chest. He claimed it was a bad thing ...
user2169
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Reference request: books on self-rescue while climbing
Can people recommend books or online resources on self-rescue for roped climbing? As a beginning trad leader, I think I should have a basic understanding of topics like how to escape a belay and how ...
user2169
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What should I look for in a rope for climbing?
I just started rock climbing recently. I don't have any gear of my own and the first thing I wanted to get was a rope. There are various ropes of different prices. What should I look for when buying a ...
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Is "Short roping" "Death Roping"?
I had a "discussion" with someone on Facebook recently. It came about over a photo shared in a group I'm a member of (I can't share the photo as it's not my property).
The photo showed two people in ...
user2766
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Toproping with two ropes joined by a double fisherman's
The other day we were waiting in line for a popular 200 foot single pitch climb in the valley and the party in front of us was using two 70 meter ropes they had joined together with a double fisherman'...
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Can a Finger Pulley injury be predicted / anticipated?
I resumed climbing a couple of months back after a gap of a couple of years.
After spending a month of quality time at the wall regularly in order to get back in touch, I have started to try different ...
- 31.7k
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3
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What to do at the top of a sport climb
I dabble a little at leading trad, but have never led a sport route.
If I do a sport lead, I want to make sure I don't make some stupid mistake when I get to the top. For example, I don't want to ...
user2169
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What does it mean to free a climbing route?
Sometimes I read articles about climbers having freed a route. For example: "Lynn Hill freed the Nose". What does this exactly mean in terms of how they climbed it?
Specifically:
Are they not ...
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Quickest / most efficient way to ascend a hanging rope with rock climbing gear?
Recently I saw an arborist climbing up a single rope with an unbelievable speed, as if it was just a ladder.
Of course he was using all kinds of specialized gear including foot/chest ascenders and I ...
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Why should the angle in a rope attached to two anchors be 60 degrees or less?
This question asks how to set up a top rope anchor. It states that No angle of tension shall exceed 60 degrees. Why?
user2766
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Why static rope rather than webbing for toprope anchors?
I'm signed up for an AMGA single-pitch instructor course (to learn how to teach other people single-pitch climbing). One of the pieces of gear we're supposed to bring is a 30 meter static rope "for ...
user2169
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How to safely train for and grip pockets?
I was spurred to post this after reading Which fingers to use in a 2 finger pocket when rock climbing?
Last year I injured myself training on a shallow three finger pocket with an open hand grip and ...
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"Used" top rope when bouldering
My friend and I often boulder around my home instead of driving to the local area, and when attempting some more challenging features, such as overhangs and slightly taller cliffs, we would feel ...
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Anchor without cordelette?
I have the John Long book on climbing anchors and also a couple of others that describe the subject more briefly (Pesterfield, Traditional Lead Climbing, and Freedom of the Hills). When it comes to ...
user2169
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What is a typical elongation of a dynamic climbing rope?
I'm looking into buying a rope for rock climbing, and I know that I need a dynamic rope for lead climbing. However, trying to find information on the elongation percentages of ropes is proving tricky.
...
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water knot vs figure 8 follow through vs X for rock climbing anchor - What is easiest to untie?
I've recently been using figure 8 follow through on anchor webbing, and although it takes more time to dress properly and setup than a water knot, it's easier to untie at the end of the day and I feel ...
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Brick Wall Rating [closed]
Hi I am a new boulderer and have climbed many difficult routes, or official ones for that matter. Currently when I am not able to go out the local region, I attempt to send the side of my house. The ...
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Why are twist-lock carabiners considered dangerous for some applications?
There are different types of locking carabiners. A screw-gate carabiner requires multiple rotations of the screw in order to lock it. A twist-lock carabiner locks automatically whenever you close it.
...
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How do I tie a figure of 8 knot
How would I tie a double figure of eight knot for attaching to a rock climbing harness?
user2766
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1
answer
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How use a nylon cordelette as an adjustable tether for rock climbing?
Sometimes when clipping in people who are rappelling, or setting up anchors in some places from above or showing people how to get onto a fixed line, I need an adjustable tether.
I often carry a ...
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