Customer Reviews

Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

It's an easy read and it gives a lot of good information, but I think the illustrations were lacking. Especially the sections of tying knots (it seemed like he was missing steps at times) and equipment descriptions (he'd name off all sorts of gear, but not show a picture of each one). The pictures are in black and white, so it didn't seem like you'd have to try very hard to include lots of them.

I wasn't thinking of using the book as a training manual, but I wanted to make sure I had the concepts right when taking my classes, so I would know the questions I needed to ask.

This book covers all the basics from climbing techniques for all sorts of different types of climbing, such as face climbing, crack climbing, etc, to how to sport and trad climb. I use it a lot to refresh my memory on different types of nots used in building anchors and how to get off belay to potentially help the second climber coming up. I also learned lots about different types of top belaying. It doesn't always contain intricate details of everything, but for that there are the individual books dedicated to specific aspects of climbing from the same publisher.

A professional guide and industry innovator for over 20 years, Craig is an incredible resource for expert instruction. The updated techniques presented in this manual have been great for me, a climber for 8 years. There are beautiful climbing photos and close-up explanatory photos. This book won the National Book Award.

it may not be perfect, but it does everything it needs to (at least for me). as per the title, i'd recommend this book to any beginner or strong gym climber who wants to move to real crags. for advanced climbers who want to improve their skills there are probably better books out there.

It's a good book, read it, practice it, and remember it and you'll know more than most climbers.
(Specifically I'm thinking of deficient rescue skills.)

The two downsides to this book:
- The photos are hard to make out at times, color and if each photo had a diagram drawn for it, would make it much more clear.
- The style of writing didn't click with me, so I found it a bit boring. Didn't laugh once!

It's one of the best books you can get of its type. I recommend buying it.

I bought this book along with "Rock Climbing Anchors: A Comprehensive Guide" by the same author. And I just want to say that these books are terrific. A definite must for the bookshelf of anyone interested in climbing.

This book is well written and details many anchoring systems, knots, climbing skills, etc. This book is great if you are interested in any sort of outdoor climbing and if you have any questions about just about any topic in rock climbing at all. And, for more seasoned climbers this book offers many technical tips and suggestions that may make you look at some things in a different (more helpful way).

Bottom line: If you are going to be climbing at all, BUY THIS BOOK.

for a new climber this book was awesome! It is really a great addition to "Freedom of the Hills". I would recomend this book to anyone starting out, great pictures and instructions.