The Complete Guide to Rock Climbing (Practical Handbook S.) - Softcover

Rock climbing is one of the fastest growing leisure activities, involving millions of people worldwide. This is a fully comprehensive, illustrated guide to the subject with topics ranging from basic indoor wall climbing techniques to the ultimate adventure of scaling sea cliffs and high mountain crags. The guide begins with the history of climbing, taking a brief look at the origins of the sport and its development. Advice on essential clothing and equipment follows, with instructions on how to prepare and warm-up to avoid injury and also covering more advanced techniques required for climbing steep rock. Topics on ropework and emergency ropework should detail all you need to know whether climbing indoors or outdoors, while a section entitled "Into The Hills" looks at climbing in remote places and the special skills needed to do this safely. "Advanced Training" is for climbers who want develop their climbing performance further and achieve the ultimate in strength and endurance through systematic training. The final chapter "Rock Around the World" takes a global tour of the very best climbing locations - from The Old Man of Hoy off northern Scotland to the big walls of Yosemite Valley in California.