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Step 1
Grab the rope, exiting the belay device with your right hand. This is your brake hand; it must never let go of contact with the rope once you call "on belay." Letting go of the rope risks your partner's life.
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Step 2
Yell "Climb when ready!" to tell the climber it's OK to begin. The climber yells "Climbing!" to acknowledge and starts up the rock face.
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Step 3
Take hold of the rope coming into the belay device from above with your left hand. This is your guide hand.
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Step 4
Pull the slack of the rope from the climber down to the belay device with the guide hand and pull the rope through the device with your brake hand out in front of you or to the side. Pull first with the guide hand, then the brake hand.
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Step 5
Move your hands along the rope to reposition and continue pulling the rope through until the climber has reached the top.
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Step 6
Let the climber rappel down and disconnect from the belay rope only after she has disconnected from the climb rope. Say "off belay" when the maneuver is completed.
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Step 7
Release slack if the climber calls "slack" by performing the opposite motion. Give rope from the brake hand through the belay device into the guide hand. Do this very slowly.
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Step 8
Pull the rope tight if the climber yells "take in" or "help." This takes some of the climber's body weight into your hands. Maintain a solid stance until you feel the rope slack again.
