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

by Craig Luebben (Author) "Finding the best handholds, placing your feet confidently, moving efficiently, using good technique-climbing challenges you to push the limits of your skill, strength, endurance, and..." (more)
Key Phrases: autoblock backup, friction hitch, mule knot, Big Bro, Transferring the Load, Indian Creek (more...)

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

Product Description
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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 301 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898867436
• ISBN-13: 978-0898867435
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,096 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #4 in	Books > Sports > Mountaineering > Instructional
  #5 in	Books > Sports > Mountaineering > Rock Climbing
  #39 in	Books > Sports > Mountaineering > Mountain Climbing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basic climbing Skills in a clear and accessible format, January 12, 2005

By	moablisa (utah) - See all my reviews

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent How-to Book for Climbers, February 8, 2007

By	E. Johnson (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best basic book on rock climbing, January 1, 2008

By	William Becher "outdoor writer and photographer" (Westlake Village, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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