Adele, David, Laia and Vic wanted to develop their climbing techniques and learn more belay basics so we can start to climb independently.

Learning the ropes. safety checks for climbing and belaying.

How to Tie Yourself In & Belaying Basics

Steeping into harness red for right – tighten up around your waist & legs

For Climber:
Tie a figure eight knot in rope:
Measure about a metre of rope (approx 1 1/2 arms length)
make a bite (bend) in the rope
grab the tail end of the rope, wrap it over that bite (bend)
take the tail end and poke it right back through the whole you made and pull it tight. you should now see figure 8 in rope.

Tie in loop to harness. bottom to top
Trace the figure 8 with another knot
add safety knot (double fishermans knot)

safety check and number the 14 knots

For Belayer:

carabiner secure in to harness &

attach rope to Belay device
take bite of rope, feed through belay plate one of the holes
rope to climber should be coming out of the top of the plate and the dead rope at the bottom.
Take screw carabiner take it through rope and the belay device then attach it to your harness, teeth down on belay device. make sure you screw it on nice and tight.
Always check screw gate on carabioner is done up before your belay

action to belay is V to KNEE always have one hand on dead rope (right hand side) rope going to floor (not climber)

Hold rope in dead lock position

lock off:  both hands on dead rope.

letting the climber down:

belay take in all the slack from the rope
hold the climber at the top
Belayer says OK to let the climber know they can lean away from the wall
and the Belayer has to start lowering them down
which is done by feeding the rope back through the belay plate

 Adele loves tying the knots and the look of these knots and reminds her of her Celtic knot drawings.

Always stretch before you climb (using muscles you climb with) shoulders, hips. legs, arms, feet. Climbing techniques. climb with legs not arms. strong legs.