Rock climbing has been growing in popularity since the 1930s, and it’s no wonder. This exciting activity lets you spend time in the outdoors while challenging yourself both physically and mentally and bonding with friends and family. With the increasing availability of a variety of climbing venues, including indoor climbing gyms, it’s easier than ever to try rock climbing. Rock Climbing is the perfect book for anyone who wants to develop the skills.

Rock Climbing will help you explore one of the world’s fastest-growing activities safely and successfully. The experts at the Wilderness Education Association ensure you learn proper technique, which is essential to a safe and enjoyable experience. They prepare you for your adventure with information on fitness and conditioning, equipment and gear selection, and nutrition. Safety skills are integrated throughout the book. You’ll learn how you can use indoor climbing to practice basic skills before moving on to refine and build on those skills in the outdoors. You’ll find easy-to-follow instruction of climbing fundamentals, including knots, belaying, building anchor systems, moving on rock, descending, and lead climbing, giving you all the skills and knowledge you need to be a capable beginning climber.

Throughout the book the authors share consumer, technique, and safety tips collected from their years of experience as both climbers and instructors. They also list Web sites to help you find climbing organizations, shop for equipment and gear, plan outdoor climbing trips, and more. The book also includes Success Check questions for each chapter that will help you test your climbing knowledge.

Use Rock Climbing to join the millions of other climbing enthusiasts around the world. This complete resource will teach you all the essential information for a successful rock climbing adventure!

Preface
Acknowledgments

Part I: Preparing for a Rock Climbing Adventure
Chapter 1: Going Rock Climbing
Chapter 2: Climbing Into Fitness
Chapter 3: Indoor Climbing
Chapter 4: Know Before You Go
Chapter 5: Gearing Up for Rock Climbing

Part II: On the Rock
Chapter 6: Knots for Climbing
Chapter 7: Managing Friction: The Skill of Belaying
Chapter 8: Building Climbing Anchor Systems
Chapter 9: Strength and Grace: Techniques for Movement on Rock
Chapter 10: Descending
Chapter 11: Lead Rock Climbing

Web Resources
Success Checks
Photo Credits
References
About the Editors
About the Contributors

Text for university students taking introductory rock climbing courses; reference for consumers who want to learn the basics of rock climbing.