Customer Reviews

Rock Climbing (Outdoor Pursuits Series)

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Rock Climbing is an excellent resource for beginning courses offered through high school and university programs. The text is full color and includes many exciting photographs by noted climbing photographers and very nice artist renderings of gear and techniques. All the basics for getting started are covered. The text describes techniques and methods for Traditional and Sport Leading as well as for Top-roping routes. Information on specific training for climbing is provided and one chapter even presents a mini-guide to some of the best areas around the world. Of course, I am a bit biased since I wrote the book

A picture is worth 1000 words and this book uses color pictures well. The book is fairly short, but covers the subject with concise grace. I am a rank beginner. My first climb was 3 days ago, my second was yesterday (both indoors). I took my 3 year old and 10 year old yesterday and they loved it! In the past 2 days I've read 5 books on climbing, and so far this has been the best.

I read a 250 page "textbook" on climbing, and only saw about 10% that I cared about right now. At this point I really don't want to know 75 different ways to wrap a rope around my body to rappel. (you know what I mean?) Teach me something fast, show me some good graphics. Get me started on the right foot! That's what this book does in spades.

The author's best use of pictures are to show both the right way and the wrong way to do something (like run rope through a 'biner). Also, I have done alot of equipment pricing over the past few days, and this book is DEAD ON when it comes to costs of climbing equipment and accessories.

This book is everything the beginner needs to start crawling up walls, just make sure you have a belay partner so you don't kill yourself. :-)