….A CLIMBING WALL FOR EAGLES ….A CLIMBING WALL FOR EAGLES BIG SKY HIGH SCHOOL ROCK WALL CURRICULUM

Health Enhancement “Curriculum to climb” Climbing Instruction Staff

Indoor Rock Climbing Rock climbing is about stripping away the complexities of the day-to-day and focusing on the simple joy of movement against gravity. It’s pulling with your arms. Pushing with your legs. It’s moving fast and light, diving headlong into a challenge, rather than backing away. It’s finesse and strength, technique and skill. And when all the hoopla and preconceptions are removed, it’s about having fun. Pure and Simple! Black Diamond Climbing Equipment

Frequently Asked Questions: 1.Is rock climbing dangerous? *By its nature, indoor climbing is dangerous and there are risks. However, if all safety precautions and guidelines are followed risk is drastically reduced. Climbing has fewer injuries than sports like basketball and soccer. 2.Do I need big muscles to climb? *No! It is more about movement and balance, than muscles. 3.Can I climb in other places? *Yes. Each year indoor climbing becomes more popular. Besides climbing here, the YMCA, the University of Montana and the Missoula Rock Garden all have great climbing walls.

WARNING Indoor rock climbing is a demanding and exciting activity but, by its very nature, is inherently risky. Risks include, but are not limited to: illness, injury, and/or death. It is imperative to use equipment safely, follow all established safety guidelines and procedures to reduce the chance of injury. HAVE FUN by CLIMBING SAFE!!

GOAL: This course is designed to introduce you to the basic fundamentals of indoor rock climbing, and teach you how to effectively and safely use the BIG SKY ROCKS climbing gym and equipment. This course is designed to train you for indoor climbing, NOT outdoor climbing.

SAFETY FUN LEARNING

Course Objectives Know the potential hazards and safety guidelines specific to BIG SKY ROCKS. Know the potential hazards and safety guidelines specific to BIG SKY ROCKS. Learn the basics of movement and how to apply them to rock climbing. Learn the basics of movement and how to apply them to rock climbing. Learn about the types and uses of basic rock climbing equipment. Learn about the types and uses of basic rock climbing equipment. Be able to confidently and correctly belay using a grigri. Be able to confidently and correctly belay using a grigri.

Inspire to learn more! MOVEMENTS Guided discovery through practical application.

5 Points To Remember For Better Movement

1)Slow and steady wins the race! Dynamic (Big Jumps) Inefficient Dynamic (Big Jumps) Inefficient Static (Smooth) is more efficient Static (Smooth) is more efficient 2)Your body has four hands! Use all appendages Maintain a 3 point contact

3) Climb with your feet and legs  Pay  Pay attention to where your feet are placed.  Stand  Stand in balance over your feet.  Try  Try to climb on your toes or insides of your shoes.  Push  Push more with your legs than pull with your arms.  Quiet  Quiet feet. You should not be able to hear your feet move.

4) Climb with your eyes AAAAlways look where your feet are stepping LLLLook ahead and plan your next move DDDDon’t flail aimlessly in and attempt to find handholds and footholds PPPPlan ahead and look at the route before you even start to climb

5) Resting  Rest with your arms straight, not bent. This uses large muscle groups.  Shake hands out one at a time to relieve muscle fatigue.

Bouldering: C Climbing without a rope and below the line.

SIMPLE GUIDELINES No hands above the line unless you are on belay.No hands above the line unless you are on belay. Don’t climb above or beneath other climbers.Don’t climb above or beneath other climbers. Make sure the mats are in place below the wall, before you start.Make sure the mats are in place below the wall, before you start.

STICKING TO THE WALL 1. Hand Grips: - Hang (pull down) ↓ - Side pull ← - Side pull ← - Under cling ↑ - Under cling ↑ - Pinch →← - Pinch →← - Wedge - Wedge - Crossover (one arm crossed over body) - Crossover (one arm crossed over body) * Get as much surface area of hand on hold. * Get as much surface area of hand on hold.

STICKING TO THE WALL (CONT.) 2.Foot Holds - Edges (toes and balls of feet) - Edges (toes and balls of feet) - Drop knee (knee to inside increases reach to same side) - Drop knee (knee to inside increases reach to same side) - Rockover (transfer of weight to one foot) - Rockover (transfer of weight to one foot) - Push - Push - Pull - Pull * Keep body balanced on feet. * Keep body balanced on feet.

STICKING TO THE WALL (CONT.) 3.Combo (feet and/or hands) - Smear (pushing on a flat wall) - Smear (pushing on a flat wall) - Flagging (also known as stemming, is the posting or balancing of stopped action) - Flagging (also known as stemming, is the posting or balancing of stopped action)

Bouldering Activities “Find the Letters” – unscramble letters to find out message. “A Thousand and One Traverses” – traverse the wall according to different instructions. “Wrong Way” – climbing the wall by positioning body in different ways. “The Contract” – using capacity to see ahead. “The Guided Pathway” – following defined pathway. And many more!!! (see activity book)

END TO SECTION 1 Remember the movement basics. Have fun learning to climb. Please do a quick review of materials and get out to the wall to climb! Learning / Safety / Fun

EQUIPMENT WALL HOLDS HARNESS ROPE GRI CARABINER DAISY CHAIN ACCESSORIES

WALL Walls come in a variety of heights and widths with differing outcrops and overhangs. Big Sky Rocks wall is 25 feet high by 24 feet wide with two outcrops and one overhang. This wall can be used for bouldering or top-rope climbing. Bouldering is done below the 10 foot line which is marked in red. Our wall is capable of having six climbers belayed on the wall at one time.

Pictures of walls Msla. Rock Garden Big Sky Rocks

HOLDS Holds are the attachments that are screwed on to the wall. These attachments come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and positive gripping surfaces. Rocks (boulders) can be moved about on a wall to create different routes and degrees of difficulty.

Pictures of different holds and surfaces.

HARNESS The climbing harnesses which we use at Big Sky are made of polyamide fibres. These harnesses are part of the safety system that we demand. The use of this equipment is for top-rope climbing above the bouldering line. Proper positioning of the harness is required for optimum safety. The inside of the harness must fit snug against the body. The adjustment buckles on the adjustable straps must be closed and tightened until the right fit has been achieved.

Pictures of how to properly wear harness Harness must fit snug to the waist and to the legs. Harness must be fit to the waist first and the legs second. Check for cuts or fraying on the harness before putting it on. Waist strap must be at or a little above the hip bones.

ROPE The rope used for climbing is the indispensable lifeline for the climber. If not properly chosen, cared for, or used, a rope will fail in it’s ability to reduce risks for the climber.

Ropes **Ropes hanging from the wall at Big Sky Rocks climbing gym. **Proper care for ropes is very important. **Rope can be bought in specific lengths or in spool form and cut to the proper length.

GRI The gri gri is a self-braking safety device recommended for use by many professional climbing facilities. This device will stop a climber from falling as a back up to the human element.

Loading a grigri

BRAKING Braking is done by pulling down firmly on the free end of the rope. Braking is done by pulling down firmly on the free end of the rope with the brake hand. Braking is done by pulling down firmly on the free end of the rope with the brake hand.

CARABINER A screw-gate carabiner is the type of attachment device we use at Big Sky Rocks. The carabiner is what is used to attach the grigri to the climbing harness, and attach the daisy-chain to the floor anchors.

Two main uses of a carabiner for indoor climbing. Picture of carabiner from harness to grigri and from daisy chain to floor anchor.

DAISY CHAIN The daisy chain is the device that attaches the climbing harness to the floor anchors. The importance of this is to hold a belayer down when belaying a heavier climber.

Picture of attachment to harness and floor anchor. Doubled back through loop with attachment to harness. (girth hitch) Clipped in to floor anchors with some slack.

ACCESSORIES SHOES CHALK BAG / CHALK OTHER CLOTHING

Pictures of shoes. Style Fit Grip

Figure 8 (step by step) “Choke ‘em and Poke ‘em”

Tying in to the harness ** Follow rope back through

Safety knot

SAFETY CHECK CLIMBER: (check of belayer) 1.Harness 2.Grigri attached correctly 3.Grigri threaded correctly 4.Both carabiners locked BELAYER: (check of climber) 1. Harness 2. Knot correct (2,2,2,2) 3. Rope attached correctly

Belay Loop PULL – PINCH - SLIDE

BELAY COMMANDS CLIMBER:BELAYER: On belay?Belay on. Climbing. Climb on. Take.Got ya. Lower. Lowering. Belay off?Off belay.

Lowering through the floor anchor (Belayer)

End of Part II Remember the climbing basics. Have fun climbing. Get out to the Wall and climb. Learning / Safety / Fun Learning / Safety / Fun

CREDITS: Powerpoint design and creation: Ed Norman Dave Morrison Information: Joel Stinton (Missoula Rock Garden) P’nut Thomas (Climbing Handbook) Passe Montagne Team (Climbing Activities) Health Enhancement staff of Big Sky HS Copyright: 5/24/04 NORMOR Productions