Once the aspiring climber has acquired the necessary gear, it is time to find someone to teach them the basics of climbing such as be- laying and top rope anchor building. These fundamental skills will ensure the climber and the belayer will have a safe and enjoyable day. The belayer’s job is to capture the rope prog- ress through the belay device as the climber moves up the route. In the event the climber falls or needs to rest, the belayer will pull down on the rope as it feeds out of the belay device, stopping the rope from feeding backward. Through effective communication between the climber and belayer, the climber can safe- ly climb the route to the anchor and then be lowered slowly back to the ground once fin- ished. Typically, the two individuals would then trade positions allowing the belayer to climb the route. With the relatively low financial barrier to en- try, the growing popularity of climbing nation- wide, and new climbing gyms popping up all over the place, now really is a fantastic time to get out there and become an active partici- pant in this wonderful and life changing sport!
So now this begs the question, how do I start rock climbing? Luckily the answer is fairly sim- ple. All you need are a few things to jump into the sport. First and foremost, you will need a healthy sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things. Second, you will need some gear and some training. While most outdoor sports have a relatively high barrier to entry due to the cost of equipment, rock climbing is very afford- able when compared to other sports such as skiing, mountain biking, or kayaking. the bare necessities for outdoor rock climbing are as follows: • A climbing harness • A pair of climbing shoes
• A belay device • A climbing rope • A chalk bag
• 4 locking carabiners • A climbing helmet • A medium length cordelette or sling
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