| Many beginner climbers hire
guides to teach them the rudiments of climbing and get them started
correctly with solid climbing technique as well as proven technical
systems and skills. This is an excellent way to learn accepted
modern techniques of climbing and to begin to competently manage the
risks of some components of your personal climbing. Additionally,
climbing with a guide can help you quickly gain enough knowledge to
evaluate the climbing systems of other more experienced climbers that you depend on
for your safety as you start climbing. |
Intermediate
climbers have usually begun to build natural or artificial anchors and/or
have begun lead climbing. With the increased technical
demands of anchor construction and lead climbing come greater problems of risk
management but also greater opportunities for proper application of
relevant and timely systems. Working with a professional on anchor
construction is a wise idea, and seminars on leading psychology,
zipper analysis, directional rope systems, double rope technique, single
point anchor analysis, and/or mock leads are often helpful. |
Arguably advanced and more
experienced climbers have more to gain from climbing with a guide than
other individuals. Advanced climbers are often the lead climbers
in small groups of climbers, or on multi-pitch group
climbs. As a leader taking others on multi-pitch terrain,
a competent guide can help you further develop or fine-tune your decision making, anchor building,
climbing psychology, anchor placement
and design, and rope/station management skills. Finally, all climbers--and
certainly all intermediate and advanced climbers-- should be well versed
in self-rescue. Multi-pitch terrain requires a much more thorough
understanding and application of rescue techniques. At the
intermediate and advanced level, you should be able to raise or lower a
second climber, rescue a leader, quickly perform knot passes, 3,
5, and 7:1 raises, counterbalance rappels and tandem 'pick-off'
rappels. A competent guide can help you quickly develop your
rescue skills by providing instruction in a controlled environment. |
