How to Belay

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By midwestclimber
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The guy on the ground is the belayer

A belayers roll in rock climbing is extremely important. The rock climber in many ways is trusting you with his/her life. Pay attention.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Take a locking caribeaner (beaner) and connect it to your belay loop on your harness.
Step 2

Now take your belay device and connect it to your beaner.
Step 3

The standard belay device has two slots as it is safest to climb with two ropes. A few feet from the climbers knots (for sport and traditional climbing only) take the rope in a u shape a stick it threw one of the slots. If your "brake hand" is on the right (if your right handed) put it threw the right one. For top rope climbing simply take the OUTSIDE HALF OF ROPE(!) and stick it threw.
Step 4

After sticking the rope threw the slot you need to connect it to the beaner. LOCK YOUR BEANER. You have now secured your belay device.
Step 5

Belaying a top rope climber is fairly easy, as the climber climbs tighten the rope, or "take in" the rope. If the climber falls, put your brake hand on the left side of your butt. Top roping is the safest form of climbing aside from bouldering. For Sport and Traditional climbing the belayers role is a little bit more challenging. Since your rope is not going up to chains and back down you are not on belay until the climber has clipped protection or a hanger, so you need to "give out" rope as the climber climbs.
Step 6

When the climber reaches the top of his climb he should shout his belay signals and you begin to lower him. The idea is to lower the climber at a steady pace, some people use gloves.