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Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert) [Paperback]

Craig Luebben
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

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Book Description

May 12, 2004 Mountaineers Outdoor Expert
New in the Mountaineers Outdoor Expert series: instruction for the beginning to intermediate rock climber by an internationally known guide.

*Author is an American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) certified rock guide and instructor
*Learning exercises reinforce key skills
*Step-by-step technique illustrated in over 150 photos
Craig Luebben has taught rock climbing basics to hundreds of clients and has conducted self-rescue clinics across the U.S. Here he presents the most common foot positions, hand grips, and body positions and how to use them precisely, from the smear to the crimp to the twistlock. Going beyond static moves, he emphasizes a dynamic style of movement for the greatest climbing efficiency--a style that makes the most of your strength and your time on the rock.

With an emphasis on safety and how to stay within your abilities, Luebben teaches how to evaluate potential hazards and then avoid them. Topics addressed include: risk management, face climbing, crack climbing, gear, knots, anchors, belaying, toproping, sport climbing, trad climbing, multi-pitch free climbs, rappelling, aid climbing, bouldering, training, and self-rescue.


Frequently Bought Together

Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert) + Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills: 50th Anniversary
Price for both: $38.38

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Editorial Reviews

Review

A comprehensive guide for getting started in rock climbing or improving intermediate skills. -- Tacoma News Tribune

If you're not a rocket scientist but love to climb, this 2004 National Outdoor Book Award winner makes climbing...simple. -- Fort Collins Coloradoan

The book's photos and graphics are easy to understand and master, even for the most ground-bound among us. --Idaho Falls Post Register

About the Author

Craig Luebben has been guiding professionally for more than twenty years. The author of How to Rappel!, How to Ice climb!, and other titles, he has written for magazines including Climbing and Rock & Ice. He has opened many new routes on four continents. He currently serves on the board of the AMGA.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 301 pages
  • Publisher: Mountaineers Books; 1 edition (May 12, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0898867436
  • ISBN-13: 978-0898867435
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

The book is organized well and is easy to follow. moablisa  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
This book is well written and details many anchoring systems, knots, climbing skills, etc. J. Ogasian  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Basic climbing Skills in a clear and accessible format January 12, 2005
Format:Paperback
Craig Luebben's new book represents a huge leap forward in climbing skills manuals. Though many excellent skills manuals exist (including Luebben's past works and the vaunted but unweildy Freedom of the Hills which goes beyond rock climbing into aplinism and mountaineering) this manual really sepetrates itself with its patient explanations and particularly with its photo instructions with added graphics for clarity. Many books of this genre have struggled with the clarity involved with diagramming knots and sysytems and Craig obviously went to great lengths to rectify this issue. The book is organized well and is easy to follow. It is nice to have these smaller manuals which focus on a specific discipline in the sport. As a climbing guide and instructor I am frequently asked to suggest learning manuals. This one will now be at the top of the list.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent How-to Book for Climbers February 8, 2007
Format:Paperback
Buy it, read it, use it! Mastering Basic Skills should be purchased at the same time as one's first pair of rock shoes. This book is as comprehensive as Freedom of the Hills but written for the rock climbing niche. It delivers a full spectrum of skills and knowledge every climber should develop. From placing protection to footwork to knots and anchors to self-rescue techniques, it's in there. The way information is parceled makes the entire book easy to comprehend, and to consult topic by topic. It's illustrated throughout with crisp photos. Receiving the benefit of the author's guide experience is a bonus; he's added advanced tips and exercises, as well as his own insights. This makes the material less dry, more practical and personal.

If you've mastered everything in Mastering Basic Skills, you truly are an advanced climber. Chances are good, though, that plenty of climbers who've been at it for while could learn something from this book, too.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Best basic book on rock climbing January 1, 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Guide, author and climbing gear inventor Craig Luebben's book won a National Outdoor Book award and it's well deserved. For anyone taking up rock climbing, or wanting to bring their knowledge up-to-date this is the book to start with.

It's well organized and well-illustrated. Luebben starts the basics of pure climbing - footwork, holds and jams along with special climbing challenges like chimneys and off-widths (he's the Yoda of off-width climbing). Then he covers the gear you'll need like shoes, harness and ropes. He describes basic climber knots and working with ropes and slings. Then he talks about protection, natural and man-made.

He tells you how to build anchors and keep your partner safe with proper belaying technique. He covers top-roping, sport climbing and the basics of traditional climbing including the approach, route-finding, setting pro and the physics and psychology of leading.. Later chapters introduce multi-pitch free climbing, descending and rappelling, bouldering and training for climbing. The concluding chapter explains how to avoid turning your climb into an epic by learning basic self-rescue techniques.

This is by far the best, most up-to-date book on basic rock climbing. After you've read it (more than once) and practiced the skills he describes, get Luebben's book on building climbing anchors.

Bill Becher
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Its OK .. for a guidance book
Unless you don't want to bother going through hundreds of websites and videos to learn about this sport, the book is actually a bit more than OK
Published 2 months ago by Abdulrahman Q
4.0 out of 5 stars Kindle Review
I am happy with the information of this book. I have been climbing on and off for over 9 years and can truly appreciate having this on hand to remind of what I forget (time to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cheyenne
5.0 out of 5 stars The entire series by Mountainering Outdoor Experts are great books1
All the books by the above author and company are great books - loaded with modern up-to-date information, techniques and skills that ANY climber - novice or experienced - can... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Scoobiedoo6559
4.0 out of 5 stars it was ok
Well written and organized. I would have said I loved it the text and
diagrams seem to fall apart by the end of the book. Deadline?
Published 3 months ago by TK
5.0 out of 5 stars Beginner
I like that the book points out a lot of the key elements of climbing so that i have a chance to practice them before I head out to a route. Lots of good information. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Whitish
5.0 out of 5 stars A Christmas gift for someone else
This was a Christmas gift so I don't really know much about it. My grandson was excited to receive it so I'm sure he'll enjoy it.
Published 4 months ago by M. Poirier
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
This book has been so helpful in improving my climbing, it helps with the technical moves in explaining them and just becoming an overall better climber.
Published 5 months ago by Esther Staples
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - from an old friend
I began climbing in 1985. In 1992 and 1993, I had the fortune to become friends with Craig when he and Lizz Grenard opened the climbing wall at Health Works in Fort Collins,... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Z. Henry
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Information
This book is straight forward and easy to understand. A great reference book for more information when you needed. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jessie Darrett
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
This book covers the basics well, and its a good reference book after learning the techniques outside! Read more
Published 13 months ago by jyong
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