Rock Climbing Anchors: A Comprehensive Guide

CLICK HERE to download the chapter called, "Anchor Basics" from Rock Climbing Anchors
(Provide us with a little information and we'll send your download directly to your inbox)

"Climbing anchors allow climbers to safely defy gravity. Solid anchors and proper rope techniques can prevent a fall from turning into a catastrophe, while bad anchors are an accident waiting to happen," says certified guide Craig Luebben, who invented his own type of climbing protection, the Big Bro. Since then, he taught rock climbing to hundreds of clients and has conducted self-rescue clinics across the United States. He distills more than twenty-five years of experience into Rock Climbing Anchors.

This entry in the Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series, for intermediate-to-advanced climbers, presents modern anchoring ideas and techniques for top-roping, rappelling, sport climbing, traditional rock climbing, and mountaineering-all in one comprehensive guide. Luebben covers the finer points of all types of commonly used anchors: removable anchors including hexes, wired nuts, tri-cams, expanding wedges, expandable tubes, and cams; natural anchors such as trees and boulders; and fixed anchors like bolts and pitons. Photos show a variety of gear placements, accompanied by discussion of the pros and cons of each.

CRAIG LUEBBEN guided professionally for more than twenty-five years. The author of Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills and additional climbing titles, Craig also worked as a climbing guide and freelance climbing writer; writing pieces for magazines such as Climbing and Rock & Ice.

Craig died in a tragic climbing accident in August of 2009 while climbing the Torment-Forbidden Traverse route, a mile-long Grade III rock and ice route that connects Mount Torment and Forbidden Peak. As a well respected member of the climbing community -- via his writing and instruction -- he is missed deeply by all who knew him.