Climbing: belaying, knots and disciplines

The belay chain, the figure-of-eight, the partner check, knots and their uses, and the three Olympic disciplines.

The outline, topic by topic

Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.

Figure-of-eight: what is it?
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The tie-in knot, threaded through both harness tie-in points.
It is checked by counting its five pairs of parallel strands.
Setting off safely on top rope: which step comes after "Tie in with a figure-of-eight"?
- Load the rope into the belay device
- Lock the carabiner
- Partner check
- Call the start
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Load the rope into the belay device
Never climb without the partner check.
Partner check: what is it?
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Each partner checking the climber's knot and the belayer's device before leaving.
It catches the most serious slips: an unfinished knot, a rope wrongly loaded into the device.
A pupil has threaded the rope through only one tie-in point. What does the teacher do?
- Lets them go on top rope
- Stops them and has the knot redone
- Adds a carabiner
- Adds a second belayer
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Stops them and has the knot redone
The rope always goes through both points.
Lead belaying: what is it?
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The climber clips the rope into quickdraws on the way up.
A fall is longer than on top rope.