Preparing for the Climbing Wall

Answer 1

Climbing safety checks for climbing safety

Getting ready to climb at a climbing wall starts with selecting the right clothes to wear. They should be comfortable and should not restrict your movement. Jeans are not the best choice here; wear track pants, gym shorts, or yoga-style bottoms instead.

At the climbing wall you will wear sport climbing shoes, which have a sticky rubber sole. They should feel tight, so you can control your movements with precision.

Next you will put on the climbing harness, securing the waist belt and leg loops. Most climbers also like to attach a bag of chalk dust, to absorb sweat as needed during the climb.

When it's your turn to climb, you will tie in to the rope. The end of the rope passes through both the bridge and the crotch strap of the harness, and is tied back onto itself using a figure-eight knot. As a backup, a double overhand knot is tied, with just enough extra rope to leave a short tail.

Safety Check

Before starting up the climbing wall, always do a safety check with your partner, who will be belaying you. Check yourselves, and also check each other. To help you perform the safety routine consistently, use the mnemonic "ABC," which stands for "Anchor, Belayer, Climber."

• Anchor
  1. There should be no excess slack in the line connecting the anchor to the belay system.
  2. The carabiner should be locked.
• Belayer
  1. The belayer's harness should be snug and properly secured.
  2. The belayer should be properly clipped in to the belay device.
  3. The carabiner should be locked.
  4. The rope should be loaded through the belay device properly.
• Climber
  1. The climber's harness should be snug and properly secured around the waist and around each leg.
  2. The climbing rope should pass through both the bridge and the crotch strap of the harness.
  3. The figure-eight knot should be tied correctly.
  4. The backup knot should be tied correctly.