How to Climb on Limestone
Along with granite and quartzite, limestone is widely regarded by sport climbing experts such as Andrew Bisharat to be one of the best surfaces for sport climbing. Its natural proclivity to chip and erode produces natural footholds and handholds; its relative density makes it an excellent surface for scaling and staking anchors. Climbing on limestone requires as much pre-climb consideration of the surface as it does raw skill.
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Instructions
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Acquire the appropriate gear, including a harness, carabiners, ropes, anchors, a hammer and chisel. Specialty climbing shops will measure and weigh you to determine what size harness you should use as well as the strength of the carabiners, ropes and anchors. They might also suggest specific anchors, depending on their familiarity with the limestone surface you wish to scale.
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Identify a goal position or height and read the route to that point. If you are planning to climb an entire formation, you may not be able to read the entire route. Route reading involves planning the course, including the identification of handholds and footholds, as well as potentially tricky elements of the rock face.
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Keep a loose grip. Over-gripping, particularly at difficult moments of the climb, can wear out your hands, forearms and shoulders. Keeping a loose grip on handholds will allow the power of gravity and the strength of your fingers to hold you in place without overexerting your arms.
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Maintain a solid center of balance. The lighter you are, the wider your stance should be. The heavier you are, the narrower your stance should be.
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Stay close to the surface. Do not lean back to spy handholds or move out to look down and spot a foothold. Your holds should be pre-identified during your route reading.
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Use static movements rather than momentum movements. Only shift your body's weight when all four of your extremities are positioned on the wall, as opposed to shifting your weight as you reach for a handhold. This means every subsequent handhold and foothold must be within reach of your hand or foot as they are in their current position.
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Anchor, coil and attach your rope to your carbiner at intervals that are reasonably safe to fall from, typically every 10 to 15 feet.
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Stop often and rest, even when you are not overly tired. Resting while you still have energy gives your limbs an opportunity to recharge, while resting when you're tired does not.
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Develop a good fall technique. All climbers fall. Good climbers fall well. Practice falling in a controlled manner without flailing, pushing off or attempting to brace yourself. All of these actions can loosen your anchors and lead to a much more dangerous and potentially life-threatening fall.
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References
- Photo Credit rock climbing image by cherie from Fotolia.com
