3 Tips for Better Communication While Climbing
Communication is one of the most important aspects of being a climber and is one of the keys to longevity in your climbing career. Communication is a great way to mitigate risks, and this helps to avoid injury. Here are 3 tips for better communication:
Have a plan before you leave the ground with concise instructions
In a single pitch setting, this plan will begin with my belayer checking my knot is tied correctly. I’m double checking my belayer has me on belay, loaded the ATC or belay device correctly and that the locker where this device is connected to is locked to their belay loop. After this double check, I’ll discuss plan for how I’m getting back to the ground after building my anchor. Am I rappelling to the ground or is my belayer lowering me? This will depend on some other aspects of the climb such as are there sharp edges my rope will be going over? Does my belayer know how to lower me safely and slowly? Do I need to leave directionals for the climber so they’re on the correct line?
2. Clarify with my belayer if I’m being lowered or rappelling
If I want to rappel, I will tell my belayer before I leave the ground. If I want my belayer to lower me, I will tell them they will lower me after I build my anchor. This line of communication is to avoid the potential of injury because if I don’t clarify, it would be catastrophic if my belayer were to say take me off belay and I think they’re lowering me off the climb. For this reason, I will double and triple check that my belayer and I are on the same page!
3. Get on the same page on how to clean the route after the climb
After each climb, it’s important to again be on the same page on how to clean the route which means getting your anchor back and getting back to the ground so none of your gear is left on the climb. This can look differently depending on the route and the area. Sometimes there’s walk-offs, sometimes there's rappelling, and sometimes there's the belayer lowering me off the fixed anchor. This all depends on the climb. If I’m with a beginner, I might opt to rappel to be in control of getting back to the ground and it will likely be faster. If I’m with someone with experience, I will ask them to lower me off the fixed anchor. Either way, this discussion begins while I’m on the ground!!
Communication is key to climbing whether it be rock, ice, mountaineering, etc. When we climb, we are in agreement with our partners and we’re constantly working together to stay safe and mitigate risks together.
Hope everyone enjoys their weekend and happy climbing y’all! As always thanks for reading and email or DM us if you have any questions :)
