How to Do a Figure 4 in Rock Climbing

You know when you're rock climbing and you can see the perfect hold that's just out of reach? Well this is a technique to help you get just a little higher to grab that hold. It's an advanced climbing technique that requires a lot strength and some flexibility; with a lot of practice, though, anybody should be able to execute this climbing move.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Standard rock climbing safety gear

1. Find a reliably solid handhold with your left hand.

2. Bring your right leg in front of you and hook it over your left wrist. It helps if your wrist is perpendicular to the cliff or parallel to the ground; this gives optimal leverage.

3. Push down with your right leg. Work yourself up to where you're sitting on your hand with your arm going between your legs.

4. Now that you're a couple feet higher, grab that elusive hold with your unengaged right hand.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice this move whenever you find a solid handhold, not just when you need it.
• These steps are written for a left handhold. Just reverse them for a right.
• Practice this move in a top-roping situation. "Trad" climbing is not the time to try this out because it's easy to fall if you're not prepared for a figure 4.