Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert)

Perfect for beginners

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

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, Colorado and brought me on as an on-staff belayer and then as route setter. Craig and Lizz taught me so much and took me from climbing 5.9s to redpointing a 5.13b. Craig used to lend me his ice gear when I was too broke to afford my own. We lost touch over the years and I was heartbroken to hear of his death a couple years ago. I am now introducing the sport to my girlfriend, and was thrilled when this book was listed first among my search results. I bought it in a heartbeat, knowing it would not disappoint. Craig was one of the foremost mountaineering guides around and will be missed. Those new to the sport are lucky he has passed on some of his knowledge in this book! Highly recommended to anyone just discovering the sport (of course - I am a bit biased ;-) )!

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 time) and some very worthwhile info that even experienced climbers have not offered me. I am not sure about the actual book, but the only weakness of the kindle edition is that the explanation for tying a knot and the corresponding pictures are not together and even seem to be out of order. One of the knots is described but not shown. I am not super upset as I intend to get a dedicated book for knots... but still frustrating. Overall... I cannot express how much I believe that this is a book that every beginner and intermediate climber will find useful and should include in their library. Happy climbing

Clear and direct which was ideal for a beginner and will be useful when reading it again. I found this book would cover all the skills I wanted to know about to get started in climbing, and some parts beyond. I will use the intermediate chapters (Multi-pitch and Escaping) as and when required.A very good compliment to the "Self Coached Climber - Hague & Hunter" which was only covered briefly in chapter 1 (Climbing Technique) and even briefer in chapter 13 (Mental and Physical fitness).Lacked some diagrams about gear that was mentioned and never shown (Kindle) and a couple of knots that I had to look up independently to fully understand. Otherwise would have been 5 stars.

I'm new to the whole idea of rock climbing and I wanted to know more about the basics and fundamentals. From what I can tell, this is a good starting point, talking not only about methods and safety and terminology, but also how to respect the areas and fellow climbers etc, its about the lifestyle too. It can be exciting and dangerous, but thats all part of it, if you're smart and be careful, you shouldn't have a problem. Even if you are just vaguely interested in climbing, this book is a good resource in my opinion. Lot's of good information in these pages.

There is a great amount of useful information in this book, but the pictures are horrible. They are small, black and white, and matte. This makes them incredibly hard to make out and almost worthless.

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.

i recently purchased this book as i have taken up climbing again after some 10 12 years of being absent from the sport and i was looking for a comprehensive but clear guide to bring me upto date .this book couldnt be clearer its well defined and concise in its information it has simple step by step guids for tying ropes climbing techneques and how to set up your equiptment its fantastic as i said i have climbed in the past so i was only looking to brush away the cobwebs but it would be an invaluble referance book for any experianced or novice climbers .all in all increadably satisfied with this book and i will be looking out for the rest in the series to boost my knowladge base in the sport .

Whilst this book is very well written and informative, the title is somewhat misleading.As somebody who is just starting out as a climber, many of the techniques described in this book after the opening chapters are well beyond the scope of 'basic' knowledge I was looking for.Its good, but don't expect a simple beginner's guide.

Really great book, lots of interesting information, definitely worth having in your climbing library!

Excellent book if your eating into rock climbing. There is a lot to learn from this book.

A great book for all climbers, from beginner level to more advanced climbers looking to solidify and codify their knowledge. Chock full of great information and great value for money. This book is a must buy!