Dogs at the trailhead, belayers in lawn chairs, long lines queued up at the classics in Eldorado Canyon - the crags seem more crowded and more crazy than ever. In fact, according to the Outdoor Industry association, in the United States more than 3.6 million people participated in climbing in 2011.
Many of these new climbers are entering outdoor climbing solely through rock gyms, without having the opportunity to apprentice with an experienced friend or mentor - resulting in climbing accidents and conflicts. How do you become a responsible crag citizen?
Crag Survival Handbook: The Unspoken Rules of Climbing is longtime climber Matt Samet's personal handbook to becoming a member of the climbing community. While Samet discusses key skills like movement, dealing with fear, gear management, and how to fall, he also delves into crag culture: ethics, access, dealing with conflict, dogs and kids at the crags, and Leave No trace practices.
Samet lays out the unspoken rules you need to know.
