Updated Articles and Resources
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1971: First Ascent of The Bride
Created:
Friday, May 24, 2013
Updated:
Friday, May 24, 2013
In 1971, legendary American rock climbers Fred Beckey and Eric Bjornstad made the first ascent of The Bride, a 300-foot-high sandstone tower hidden in a canyon near Moab in eastern Utah. Here is an... -
Climbing Helmets Wear Out
Created:
Monday, October 25, 2010
Updated:
Monday, May 20, 2013
Climbing helmets wear out from regular use and from exposure to UV light. Learn when you should retire your helmet and buy a new one, and how to take care of your helmet to make it last longer. -
Essential Parts of Climbing Helmets
Created:
Monday, May 20, 2013
Updated:
Monday, May 20, 2013
A climbing helmet is an essential piece of your personal climbing equipment. Helmets save your life and head from falling rocks and impacts from falls. Learn more about climbing helmets, the parts ... -
Your Rope is Your Lifeline
Created:
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Updated:
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Ropes are a critical and essential piece of climbing equipment. A climbing rope is our lifeline. The rope secures us to each other in a climbing partnership and attaches us to cliffs and rock faces. -
Don’t Sit or Stand at the Base of a Cliff
Created:
Friday, August 22, 2008
Updated:
Sunday, May 19, 2013
When you go climbing on loose cliffs, you have to expect that rocks are going to fall off. And when they do fall, you don’t want to be in the line of fire. Unless you’re the belayer, fo... -
How to Avoid Loose Rock
Created:
Friday, July 25, 2008
Updated:
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Loose rock is encountered on almost every route that you climb. Follow these 15 safe climbing tips to avoid loose rocks and climbing accidents caused by rockfall. -
Yell "ROCK" If You Dislodge a Rock While Climbing
Created:
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Updated:
Sunday, May 19, 2013
If you're climbing above another party, be extremely careful not to knock any rocks off. Falling rocks can injure or kills a climber below you. If you do dislodge a chunk, always yell "ROCK!" to wa... -
Don’t Belay Below a Lead Climber
Created:
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Updated:
Sunday, May 19, 2013
It's essential to set up your belay anchors below a lead climber that are out of the line of fire of falling rocks. It's dangerous to belay directly below a leader since rocks from pebbles to bould... -
Watch for Loose Rock When Rappelling
Created:
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Updated:
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Rappelling is one of the most dangerous aspects of climbing. Loose rock is found on ledges and faces when you rappel down a cliff. Learn how to avoid loose rock when rappelling and when you pull yo... -
Parts of a Climbing Harness
Created:
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Updated:
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Your climbing harness, which connects your body to your rope, is a complicated piece of equipment. A harness has lots of parts—straps, buckles, and loops. Read this breakdown of all the parts... -
Your Climbing Harness
Created:
Friday, June 06, 2008
Updated:
Sunday, May 19, 2013
A climbing harness is a key piece of your personal climbing equipment. Your harness, with a waist belt and leg loops constructed of sewn webbing, connects you to your climbing rope with a knot. Lea... -
Take Night Sky & Star Photos
Created:
Friday, May 17, 2013
Updated:
Friday, May 17, 2013
It's surprisingly easy to make stunning photographs at night of star trails and the stars when you're outside on a climbing trip. All you need is a digital camera, tripod, and some basic exposure a... -
Mount of the Holy Cross: 51st Highest Mountain in Colorado
Created:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Updated:
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Mount of the Holy Cross, one of Colorado's Fourteeers, is one of the state's most famous natural features. The mountain's east face features a huge cross formed by a vertical couloir and a horizont... -
Sport Climbing Safety Checklist
Created:
Friday, February 10, 2012
Updated:
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
If you're sport climbing, follow this checklist of 6 safety tips before you start climbing and both you and your belayer will be safe and have more fun. Learn why you should check your harness, tie... -
10 Lightning Tips for Climbers
Created:
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Updated:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
If you’re out climbing and get caught in an open exposed place like a mountain summit or cliff top, follow these 10 climbing safety tips to minimize your risk and stay safe from lightning str... -
Facts About Lightning
Created:
Friday, May 16, 2008
Updated:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Learn interesting facts about lightning. What are your chances of being struck? How many lightning strikes are there each day and year? What are the most dangerous places for lightning in the US? -
Lightning Safety for Climbers
Created:
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Updated:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Summer, the best time to be outside climbing, is also the season for lightning storms. Learn here what lightning is and why lightning loves high places. -
First Aid for Lightning Victims
Created:
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Updated:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The worst thing to happen during a thunder storm is that you or someone in your party is struck by lightning. If lightning strikes while you're climbing, follow these first aid steps to save a life. -
Use Climbing Hand Signals to Communicate
Created:
Friday, August 26, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Voice or verbal climbing commands can be difficult in bad weather, wind, or above roaring rivers. Use line-of-sight to easily communicate with your climbing partner and use hand signals instead of ... -
Emergency Info Planner Card
Created:
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Before you go climbing, fill out an Emergency Info Planner card and leave it with a family member or friend so that they know your climbing plans and when they should call search-and-rescue service... -
How To Avoid Ticks
Created:
Friday, May 04, 2012
Updated:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Ticks are pesky little arachnids that are often encountered when you're approaching cliffs or on cliff-tops after you've climbed. Learn all about ticks and seven tips on how to avoid ticks and keep... -
Fist Crack
Created:
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Updated:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Definition of Fist Crack, climbing words for a crack that is as wide as a climber's fist. -
Finger Crack
Created:
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Updated:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Definition of Finger Crack, climbing words for a finger-sized crack that is ascended by jamming or wedging a climber's fingers into it. -
Chimney
Created:
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Updated:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Definition of Chimney, a climbing word for a crack that is wide enough to fit inside of. -
Use Your Feet to Climb Better
Created:
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Updated:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
If you want to climb better, then you need to use your feet better. Learn here why good footwork is important if you want to get up hard climbs. -
The Secret Life of Your Climbing Rope
Created:
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Updated:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
How long will your climbing rope last? A long time if you take care of it properly. Find out here about the life of your climbing rope and what wears your rope out. -
Slab Climbing is Fun and Teaches Footwork
Created:
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Updated:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Slab climbing is ascending rock faces that are angled less than vertical. To learn how to climb slabs, you need to use good footwork, learn to read the rock, and keep a cool head. Find out the most... -
Do a Buddy Check When Climbing
Created:
Monday, May 25, 2009
Updated:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Use the buddy system when you go climbing to keep safe. Buddies look after each other on the rock, check and double-checking knots, harnesses, and safety systems. Follow these 5 tips before leaving... -
Learn to Read the Rock and Use Your Feet
Created:
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Updated:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
If you want to become a better slab climber or even just a better all-around climber, then you have to learn how to read the rock surface and how to use your feet better. Learn here how to read the... -
Learn How to Hand Jam
Created:
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Updated:
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Learn how to climb hand cracks (cracks the width of your hand) by using hand jams and good footwork. Hand cracks are the best cracks to learn how to crack climb since they offer tbe easiest and mos... -
Cracks Form Natural Climbing Routes
Created:
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Updated:
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Cracks form natural weaknesses in rock faces that rock climbers ascend by jamming or wedging their hands, fingers, and bodies in the cracks. Learn about all the different sizes of cracks, how the d... -
Practice Jamming to Climb Cracks
Created:
Friday, January 28, 2011
Updated:
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Crack climbing, also called jamming, is a learned climbing technique. The best way to learn how to jam cracks is to practice jamming at your local cliff. Read more about how to learn how to crack c...