Mountain climbing is an exhilarating outdoor adventure sport, but it's also one of the most dangerous activities a person can participate in. To minimize the risk of serious injury or death, you need to have the right equipment and the right knowledge to understand how to use the equipment. Mountain climbing procedure is full of safety measures designed to guard against accidents, often placing the balance of your life in the hands of the equipment you've brought with you.
Rope
Rope is the most important piece of equipment when climbing. It is often used to anchor mountain climbers in the event of a slip or fall. Rope is also used to tie multiple climbers together, tethering them in the event that one of them falls. Rope is often made out of nylon cord and comes in various thicknesses. It is recommended that you bring at least a couple hundred feet of rope with you on a climb, depending on the duration of the climb.
Caribiners
A caribiner is a latching metal loop that helps connect rope to your harness and to help connect multiple pieces of rope together. Caribiners are used constantly during climbing and are extremely strong -- many of them can sustain hundreds of pounds of stress, if not more than a thousand. Caribiners are made of metal and are inexpensive to purchase, with most being available for less then $20.
Climbing Shoes
Climbing shoes are a necessity for anyone doing a long climb. These shoes are lightweight and offer a protective surface over your feet. The underside of the toes are equipped with sharp edges or spikes that can be used to get a grip on smooth or slippery rock surfaces. These shoes can cost $100 or more to purchase.
Helmet
A helmet is worn when climbing to protect the head from any blunt trauma endured from a fall, slip or other blow to the head. If you are climbing in a group, it is possible that climbers above you might knock free a rock and send it falling toward your head. Helmets can save your consciousness and even your life when climbing.
Harness
A climbing harness is a piece of equipment that holds itself to both of your legs and wraps around your torso. Climbers use this harness to attach ropes to the body using caribiners. In the event of a slip or fall, the harness helps catch a climber and keeps them hanging by the rope. The harness also allows climbers to keep their hands free when climbing, making it safer.
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