….A CLIMBING WALL
FOR EAGLES
BIG SKY HIGH SCHOOL
ROCK WALL CURRICULUM
Health Enhancement
“Curriculum to climb”
Climbing Instruction Staff
Indoor Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is about stripping away the
complexities of the day-to-day and focusing on the
simple joy of movement against gravity. It’s pulling
with your arms. Pushing with your legs. It’s moving
fast and light, diving headlong into a challenge,
rather than backing away. It’s finesse and strength,
technique and skill. And when all the hoopla and
preconceptions are removed, it’s about having fun.
Pure and Simple!
Black Diamond Climbing Equipment
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is rock climbing dangerous?
*By its nature, indoor climbing is dangerous and there are risks.
However, if all safety precautions and guidelines are followed risk is
drastically reduced. Climbing has fewer injuries than sports like
basketball and soccer.
2. Do I need big muscles to climb?
*No! It is more about movement and balance, than muscles.
3. Can I climb in other places?
*Yes. Each year indoor climbing becomes more popular. Besides
climbing here, the YMCA, the University of Montana and the Missoula
Rock Garden all have great climbing walls.
WARNING
• Indoor rock climbing is a demanding and
exciting activity but, by its very nature, is
inherently risky.
• Risks include, but are not limited to: illness,
injury, and/or death.
• It is imperative to use equipment safely,
follow all established safety guidelines and
procedures to reduce the chance of injury.
• HAVE FUN by CLIMBING SAFE!!
GOAL:
This course is designed to
introduce you to the basic
fundamentals of indoor rock
climbing, and teach you how
to effectively and safely use
the BIG SKY ROCKS
climbing gym and equipment.
This course is designed to train you
for indoor climbing, NOT outdoor
climbing.
•SAFETY
•FUN
•LEARNING
Course Objectives




Know the potential hazards and safety
guidelines specific to BIG SKY ROCKS.
Learn the basics of movement and how to
apply them to rock climbing.
Learn about the types and uses of basic
rock climbing equipment.
Be able to confidently and correctly belay
using a grigri.
MOVEMENTS
Inspire to learn
more!
Guided discovery through
practical application.
5 Points To
Remember For
Better
Movement
1)Slow and steady wins the race!
Dynamic (Big Jumps) Inefficient
Static (Smooth) is more efficient
2)Your body has four hands!
Use all appendages
Maintain a 3 point contact
3) Climb with your feet and legs
Pay attention to where your feet are
placed.
Stand in balance over your feet.
Try to climb on your toes or insides of your
shoes.
Push more with your legs than pull with
your arms.
Quiet feet. You should not be able to hear
your feet move.
4) Climb with your eyes
 Always look where your
feet are stepping
 Look ahead and plan
your next move
 Don’t flail aimlessly in
and attempt to find
handholds and footholds
 Plan ahead and look at
the route before you even
start to climb
5) Resting
 Rest with your arms
straight, not bent.
This uses large
muscle groups.
 Shake hands out one
at a time to relieve
muscle fatigue.
Bouldering:
• Climbing without a rope and below
the line.
SIMPLE GUIDELINES
• No hands above the line unless you are on
belay.
• Don’t climb above or beneath other
climbers.
• Make sure the mats are in place below the
wall, before you start.
STICKING TO THE
WALL
1. Hand Grips:
- Hang (pull down) ↓
- Side pull ←
- Under cling ↑
- Pinch →←
- Wedge
- Crossover (one arm crossed over body)
* Get as much surface area of hand
hold.
on
STICKING TO THE WALL (CONT.)
2. Foot Holds
- Edges (toes and balls of feet)
- Drop knee (knee to inside increases
reach to same side)
- Rockover (transfer of weight to one foot)
- Push
- Pull
* Keep body balanced on feet.
STICKING TO THE WALL (CONT.)
3. Combo (feet and/or hands)
- Smear (pushing on a flat wall)
- Flagging (also known as stemming, is the
posting or balancing of stopped action)
Bouldering Activities
“Find the Letters” – unscramble letters to find out
message.
“A Thousand and One Traverses” – traverse the
wall according to different instructions.
“Wrong Way” – climbing the wall by positioning
body in different ways.
“The Contract” – using capacity to see ahead.
“The Guided Pathway” – following defined
pathway.
And many more!!! (see activity book)
END TO SECTION 1
Remember the movement basics.
Have fun learning to climb.
Please do a quick review of materials
and get out to the wall to climb!
Learning / Safety / Fun
EQUIPMENT
WALL
HOLDS
HARNESS
ROPE
GRI GRI
CARABINER
DAISY CHAIN
ACCESSORIES
WALL
Walls come in a variety of heights and
widths with differing outcrops and
overhangs. Big Sky Rocks wall is 25 feet
high by 24 feet wide with two outcrops and
one overhang. This wall can be used for
bouldering or top-rope climbing.
Bouldering is done below the 10 foot line
which is marked in red. Our wall is
capable of having six climbers belayed on
the wall at one time.
• Pictures of walls
Msla. Rock Garden
Big Sky Rocks
HOLDS
Holds are the
attachments that are
screwed on to the wall.
These attachments come
in a variety of shapes,
sizes, and positive
gripping surfaces. Rocks
(boulders) can be moved
about on a wall to create
different routes and
degrees of difficulty.
• Pictures of different
holds and surfaces.
HARNESS
The climbing harnesses which we use at Big Sky
are made of polyamide fibres. These harnesses
are part of the safety system that we demand.
The use of this equipment is for top-rope
climbing above the bouldering line. Proper
positioning of the harness is required for
optimum safety. The inside of the harness must
fit snug against the body. The adjustment
buckles on the adjustable straps must be closed
and tightened until the right fit has been
achieved.
• Pictures of how
to properly wear
harness
Harness must
fit snug to the
waist and to
the legs.
Check for cuts or fraying
on the harness before
putting it on.
Waist strap must be
at or a little above the
hip bones.
Harness must be fit to
the waist first and the
legs second.
ROPE
The rope used
for climbing is
the
indispensable
lifeline for the
climber. If not
properly chosen,
cared for, or
used, a rope will
fail in it’s ability to
reduce risks for
the climber.
Ropes
**Proper care
for ropes
is very
important.
**Rope can be
bought in
specific lengths
or in spool form
and cut to the
proper length.
**Ropes hanging
from the wall
at Big Sky
Rocks
climbing gym.
GRI GRI
The gri gri is a self-braking
safety device recommended
for use by
many
professional
climbing facilities.
This device will
stop a climber from
falling as a back up to the
human element.
Loading a grigri
BRAKING
Braking is
Braking is
done by
done by
pulling down
pulling down
firmly on the
firmly on the
free end of
free end of
the rope with
the rope.
the brake
hand.
CARABINER
A screw-gate carabiner is the type of attachment
device we use at Big Sky Rocks. The carabiner is
what is used to attach the grigri to the climbing
harness, and attach the daisy-chain to the floor
anchors.
Two main uses of a carabiner for
indoor climbing.
• Picture of
carabiner from
harness to
grigri and from
daisy chain to
floor anchor.
DAISY CHAIN
The daisy chain is the device that
attaches the climbing harness to the
floor anchors. The importance of this
is to hold a belayer down when
belaying a heavier climber.
• Picture of attachment
to harness and floor
anchor.
• Doubled back through
loop with attachment
to harness.
(girth hitch)
• Clipped in to floor
anchors with some
slack.
ACCESSORIES
SHOES
CHALK BAG / CHALK
OTHER CLOTHING
Pictures of shoes.
Style
Fit
Grip
Figure 8 (step by step)
“Choke ‘em and Poke ‘em”
Tying in to the harness
**Follow rope back through
Safety knot
SAFETY CHECK
CLIMBER: (check
of belayer)
1. Harness
2. Grigri attached
correctly
3. Grigri threaded
correctly
4. Both carabiners
locked
BELAYER: (check
of climber)
1. Harness
2. Knot correct
(2,2,2,2)
3. Rope attached
correctly
Belay Loop
PULL – PINCH - SLIDE
BELAY COMMANDS
CLIMBER:
On belay?
Climbing.
Take.
Lower.
Belay off?
BELAYER:
Belay on.
Climb on.
Got ya.
Lowering.
Off belay.
Lowering through the floor anchor
(Belayer)
End of Part II
Remember the climbing basics.
Have fun climbing.
Get out to the Wall and climb.
Learning / Safety / Fun
CREDITS:


Powerpoint design and creation:
Ed Norman
Dave Morrison
Information:
Joel Stinton (Missoula Rock Garden)
P’nut Thomas (Climbing Handbook)
Passe Montagne Team
(Climbing Activities)
Health Enhancement staff of Big Sky HS
Copyright: 5/24/04 NORMOR Productions