Comments on How to Clip a Bolt in Rock Climbing

Holding the rope with your teeth is a bad habit and should be avoided, as it has been known to cause a loss of teeth in a fall or slip.

Holding the rope with your teeth is a bad habit and should be avoided, as it has been known to cause a loss of teeth in a fall or slip.

There are many hand techniques for clipping bolts and gear safely and efficiently. Learn as many as you can, but practice only a few so that they become second nature. Use the ones you are most familiar with, unless the situation absolutely demands otherwise. Don't fumble about looking for the most efficient movement. Clipping quickly and smoothly can mean the difference between pulling the crux, and hang-dogging or a taking big whipper.

There are many hand techniques for clipping bolts and gear safely and efficiently. Learn as many as you can, but practice only a few so that they become second nature. Use the ones you are most familiar with, unless the situation absolutely demands otherwise. Don't fumble about looking for the most efficient movement. Clipping quickly and smoothly can mean the difference between pulling the crux, and hang-dogging or a taking big whipper.

If you need to pull up more than an arm's length, do not hold the rope in your bare teeth! An unexpected fall may cause you to bite down in panic, and a whipping rope could rip those choppers right out of your head. Instead, cover your teeth with your lips, and then put the rope between them. Save that smile.

If you need to pull up more than an arm's length, do not hold the rope in your bare teeth! An unexpected fall may cause you to bite down in panic, and a whipping rope could rip those choppers right out of your head. Instead, cover your teeth with your lips, and then put the rope between them. Save that smile.

To avoid the rope unclipping itself during a fall, remember when properly clipped, the rope should go "from the rock, out of the carabineer, to you."