rough climbing tips

Often, while searching for lost cities, you have to do a bit of climbing. This can sometimes be in a cave, up a waterfall, down a canyon or simply up a rockface. Naturally it helps to have some rock climbing gear and expertise and here are a few tips to get you started. Climbing walls make a good place to have a go at safe climbing. You'll learn how to move your body from side to side so that your weight is on your feet when you move not your hands: climbing is all about not burning out your energy too soon. Tree climbing is also a great place to learn pretty safe climbing skills. It will also teach you about climbing on rubbish surfaces. Most of the world's rock is not clean and dry- usually it's dirty and wet and being able to climb in such surfaces without falling or slipping is a useful skill. One good rule is that if you can get down something- assuming you don't jump- you can get back up it. The reverse isn't always true though- quite a few people have ascended to an interesting cave only to be stuck on the rock face! In such circumstances it helps to have a handy rope for lowering self and others. Learn how to abseil in the traditional way which involves wrapping the rope between the legs, under your right thigh, across your chest and over your left shoulder and down to be controlled by your right hand- your left hand hanging on to the rope as it arrives. Though this method tends to buckle the body up a bit and can burn if you go too fast- it does work and is especially good with thick hairy ropes- and it's a load safer than sliding down the rope using just your hands.

One rule I have for 'rough climbing' ie. climbing when you have no gear, is to continue to wear my rucksack and carry a stick. When it gets too tough for this I know I am in dangerous territory and a rope is probably needed. Every climber has their own danger level they are comfortable with- find yours early on before you have an accident. I didn't and fell 35 feet off a Scottish crag to spend 3 months with a cracked vertebra in hospital.

Boots- it's amazing what you can climb in despite all the hype about special gear. For dry rock proper climbing shoes work best but vibram soled boots with stiffeners are also pretty good on tiny holds and they are much better for a long walk in. Trainers with squidgy soles that flare out often slip, though some thinner soled trainers are pretty good especially on loose surfaces. Climbing on shale and sand you can increase your sense of security by using an ice axe or a pointed walking stick to dig in and get grip.

When climbing in caves and up waterfalls look for ways to brace your body against an opposing wall or face - this way you can surmount things that look really steep. Practise 'mantleshelfing'- this is a key skill in climbing and involves climbing onto a flat surface- usually a ledge or the end of the climb- where there are no holds except the surface itself. You learn to boost yourself up, turn slightly sideways to minimise your weight overhang and then get a foot next to your hands. Then smoothly stand up. You can practise on any wall around where you live and also on ground floor windowsills so that if you fail you can drop to the ground easily.