A Trailside Guide: Rock Climbing

Climbing has become a hugely popular sport thanks to indoor climbing walls in cities and towns across America, but conventional climbing guides haven't kept pace with this surge in popularity. Rock Climbing is designed to help beginners go beyond their first experiences at a climbing gym and gain the skills they need to get out, rope up, and climb on real rock faces.

This guide explains safe climbing techniques in a logical step-by-step sequence with special emphasis on transferring techniques acquired indoors to the wider world of actual rock. Full-color sequential illustrations, stunning color photographs, and the author's field-tested teaching approach clarify all the fundamentals, including gear, knots, top roping, leading, anchors, belaying, and rappelling. Whether you're getting started at the local gym or aspiring to head to the big mountain faces, this guide will give you a rock-solid foundation to build on.

Part of Norton's best-selling Trailside Guide series, this fully revised edition features updated "Sources & Resources" sections including websites, gear, services, books, clubs, and organizations, plus the latest in gear technology, wilderness medicine, and first aid. With its handy portable size, more than 100 color photographs, detailed technical illustrations, information-packed sidebars, and complete index, this guide provides everything you need to make informed decisions about gear and technique as you progress in the sport.