A climber with the anchor she’s built. Courtesy/LAMLAM News:
The Los Alamos Mountaineers announce a specialty course for rock climbers on building anchors, the protection that prevents gravity from making a climber’s day a nightmare.
Zack Baker will lead the 2014 “REALLY Understanding Rock Climbing Anchors” class, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.
The class is free to all graduates of the 2014 Climbing School and costs $20 for all other LAM members. If you are not already an LAM member, annual LAM dues are $15 for an individual and $20 for a family.
“The techniques of proper movement and well-built rock anchors are the two ways climbers stay attached to the cliff and enjoy a long, happy life,” Baker said. “Technique you learn in the climbing course and by assiduous practice and experience. Anchors are the subject of this specialty course. In the Friday session we will learn the subtleties of placing ‘passive’ gear – wire stoppers, hexes, tricams etc. – with special attention paid to characteristics of cracks and the forces coming upon such gear in stopping falls. We will also learn the techniques of placing ‘active’ gear, specifically spring-loaded cams. In the Saturday session we take up the subject of building belay and top rope anchors. These involve redundant, equalized, non-extending, multidirectional anchor points. This course is a lot of fun and very much worthwhile for anyone serious about climbing safety.”
Interested climbers can register for the course at the LA Mountaineers website lamountaineers.org by following the links “Climbing” and “Speciality Climbing Courses.” The website uses PayPal to collect registration fees.
