I met a nice group of beginners, and a couple of work colleagues, so I hope this weekend I can get back and get my accreditation card. Then I can climb on!
Here are the basics I learned:
Communication patterns (climber to belayer)
Climbing: climb on!, Départ: Départ assuré
Take: take on!(break), À sec: Sec assuré
Lower: lowering!, Descends-Moi: Descente assuré
Check the top rope is not tangled. Climber has end closest to wall.
Five points of harness to check - hip strap, 2 leg straps, front loops, rear clip
Figure of Eight knot: Give yourself a length of rope from left shoulder to hand, grab a loop in left hand, loop above and put rope through to form a pretzel. Thread from bottom to top loop, and start threading along the pretzel shape, from the bottom, creating a space to the right. The bottom of the pretzel should have the rope exiting to the harness from above. Tighten by pulling kitty-corner. Give yourself a fist at the harness, and at least a fist left of rope at the end.
Belay - use ATC with teeth to the ground. Thread right side with a loop of rope. Put the carabiner through both rope and atc loops. Then attach to the belay loop at the front of the harness, and lock.
To safely belay, always have one hand below ATC, and grip with thumb overlapping. Grab with left hand at eye level, and don't take too much slack at any one time with the right. If the climber falls, break down with right and get left below as soon as possible. To lower, keep left hand below ATC, gripped, and feed rope through it with right from below.
Climbing! Climb on!
ADDENDUM:
On the first day, we got accredited! We also learned that shoelaces need to be checked too!
Interesting tidbits from the security officer, Andrew: shoulder dislocation is one of the most common climbing injuries!
I didn't know rock climbing was one of your dreams!
ReplyDelete!Cuidado mi hija!