Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert)
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.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #10736 in BooksBrand: Craig LuebbenPublished on: 2004-03Original language: EnglishNumber of items: 1Binding: Paperback301 pages
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
About the Author
Craig Luebben has been guiding professionally for more than twenty years. The author of How to Rappel!, How to Ice climb!, and other titles, he has written for magazines including Climbing and Rock & Ice. He has opened many new routes on four continents. He currently serves on the board of the AMGA.
Customer Reviews
Best 1st rock climbing book
This book is really great for clearing up any confusion for a new and intermediate climber. It provides clear guidance from climbing techniques to gear selection and use. It covers all types of protection and gives clear pictures. The book shows everything from just top roping to efficient multipitch trad climbing. The end has self rescue which is very important. It seems confusing, but it is a confusing concept. It cleared up most confusion that I had and was easy to read. It is a good resource. Obviously it is more for outdoor climbing, look at the cover and the guy has cams in his hand. I strongly recommend this book for someone who wants to climb outdoors. This wont replace an experienced friend, but I didnt have any climbing buddies so I used this to get started.
Rock Climbing- Beginner to Expert
Craig Luebben's book is possibly THE Best Single Book written for rock climbing. It should be THE textbook for all people interested in learning to climb as it begins with basic but critical hand and footholds, basic climbing gear, knots, belaying, and rappelling. Later chapters for intermediate or advanced Sport or Trad climbing go into great detail. You will find yourself reading and referring to this book for your entire rock climbing lifetime.
for novice and intermediate climbers
As a relatively new climber (i.e., as of this writing, I've been climbing about 7 months), I found that this was a good introductory text to keep around. Granted, climbing is not something you really want to read-then-do; think of the reading as a good supplement to your training and climbing.
I enjoyed how Luebben dives right into the material; he keeps the introduction short and then goes immediately into the science and sport of rock climbing. He writes in a colloquial style that is easy to digest and presents the material in a way that makes it seem like a conversation. It's like it's you and him out on the rock, Luebben telling you everything he needs you to know.
While the book's focus is definitely on outdoor climbs, Luebben emphasizes techniques that should easily transfer to indoor rock gyms. Especially early in the text, Luebben writes a lot about body and foot position, how to approach routes and problems, and the mental elements of rock climbing. While these techniques are typically discussed in an outdoor context, the lessons all easily transfer to whatever surface you're climbing.
For a new, mostly indoor climber like myself, there seemed to be a lot of material in this book that either didn't apply to me or served merely to whet my appetite for outdoor routes. If you're looking for something specific to indoor climbing, you're probably better off exploring Matt Burbach's Gym Climbing book. Still, even a mostly-indoors beginner climber will find the chapters on body position, footwork and hand-holds, knots, belaying, and bouldering to be useful.
Price: $13.57 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Related Links : Product by Amazon or shopping-lifestyle-20 Store
