10 Tips to Keep You Safe While Rock Climbing

By STEWART GREEN

Climbing is dangerous. You need to do everything you can to mitigate the effects of gravity and falling. Redundancy is key. Always back-up every important piece of gear with another piece of gear and use more than one anchor at a belay and rappel station. Your life depends on it. Beginner climbers are most vulnerable to accidents. Always use sound judgment; respect climbing dangers; don’t climb over your head; find an experienced mentor or take climbing lessons from an experienced guide to learn how to climb safely. Remember that most accidents happen because of climber error. Use the following 10 tips to keep safe when you’re out rock climbing.

Always Check Harnesses

After you’ve geared up and tied into the rope at the base of a route, always check that both the climber’s and belayer’s harness buckles are doubled back. Make sure the leg loops are also snug; most harnesses have adjustable leg loops.