Reddit reviews Self-Rescue (How To Climb Series)
We found 5 Reddit comments about Self-Rescue (How To Climb Series). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Author: David FasuloISBN: 9780934641975
Both of these are good.
https://www.amazon.com/Self-Rescue-How-Climb-David-Fasulo/dp/0762755334
https://www.amazon.com/Climbing-Self-Rescue-Improvising-Mountaineers/dp/089886772X
Escaping the belay from any type of belay is an essential skill to have. (Here's a famous example where the belayer had to escape the belay to rescue a fallen leader due to rock fall two pitches up.)
But as a leader you may have to escape the belay, fix ropes and rescue a follower. Of course it's easier to escape the belay when the belay is on the anchor but it's good to know what to do when you're belaying off your harness either from above or below. Here are a couple resources that may be helpful.
> I still need to state that I may shit my pants if I had to do a couple of these in a real-life scenario
Glad you can recognize this. Think of self-rescue as an integral part of being prepared to get on a multipitch route. Without having self-rescue skills you exponentially increase the risk of not being able to be rescued at all.
Good luck and have fun!
Edit: This book definitely helped me start to think about belays and rope management not as a series of steps to follow but as systems and how to adapt in all sorts of scenarios.
I'd suggest Fasulo's Self-Rescue, but the Tyson and Loomis book is also good.
Key things are regular practice and having the basic elements (knot passing, rigging a hauling system, load transfers, etc.) down cold. That way if something does go wrong you can focus on the plan to get the person down (or up) rather than trying to remember how to tie a load-releasable hitch.
I forgot to add, there are some great books out there that are super inspiring and useful.
Climbing Anchors, 2nd Edition, by John Long
Self-Rescue, by David Fasulo, Mike Clelland
Big Walls, Paul Piana
For $9 there is no reason at all for anyone doing multipitch not to read this.
To be proficient at getting yourself out of trouble you have to practice it but at least having an idea of what you could do is better than having no clue at all.