With hundreds of thousands of people worldwide trying climbing these days, dozens of learn to climb books are on the market. They cover every possible subject you can imagine: sport or gym climbing techniques, gear placement, climbing knots, how to read the weather tips, how to aid climb, where to climb, how to lead, how to ice climb and so on.
What to Look for
Because so many books line the shelves of climbing shops, a climber can typically find exactly what he is looking for. Rank beginners should check out the "How to Climb" series, which are written by a variety of experienced, professional climbers and on Amazon.com they all have four- to five-star ratings. There are more than two dozen titles that cover all sorts of specific things, from learning how to sport climb to learning how to top rope. A good book to start with is "How to Climb Series: Climbing Anchors," by John Long, which specifically teaches people how to place and remove gear and create anchors in the rock. This book is perfect for aspiring traditional climbers.
Both novice and expert climbers should check out the most popular book in the world of climbing, "Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills." First published in 1960 by a new publisher, The Mountaineers Books, the series includes a half dozen editions. Written by around 40 people, the "mountaineer's Bible" includes chapters that detail in photos, drawings and written descriptions of all you need to know to alpine, rock or ice climb. Everything is covered, from safety procedures and emergency responses and knot tying to physical conditioning and land stewardship issues. Newer editions of the book include more than 400 illustrations of various techniques for rope management, climbing and how to determine the impact force of falls.
Common Pitfalls
When purchasing a learn to climb book, a climber should focus on exactly what it is she wants to learn as specifically as possible. There is the potential for information overload if you purchase too many books. Expert climbers at shops, gyms or local crags can assist the beginner climber with narrowing down the choices. Also, you should never rely exclusively on books for learning climbing techniques. Books should only supplement professional instruction, which is available through guide services, rock climbing gyms, climbing clubs and also colleges and universities.
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