Skills

People like to be liked and noticed. But this guy took it way too far.

Pro climber Heather Weidner discusses the pros and cons of two tie-in knots.

Your fingers are strong, but what about your brain? Can you solve this week's mind twister?

This guy had his partner lower him but she wasn't anchored. Luckily a guide was nearby to intervene.

Michaela Kiersch discusses the importance of running, weight lifting, and injury prevention exercises to her training regimen.

Slopers may be the most feared hold in climbing. But with the proper technique and training you needn't worry anymore.

Climbing is a skill sport and resting is a skill. Better learn it.

Escape summer’s heat and smoke by ice climbing in a “glacial pothole.”

Progressing from weekend cragging to long alpine routes can be intimidating for anyone, even strong and competent traditional climbers.

The tougher you are mentally, the easier tough things will feel and the quicker you can recalibrate in the face of adversity.

Eight tips for climbing safely in loose terrain.

Crack climbing wizard JP “Peewee” Ouellet shares how to use rubber, tape, and glue to climb off-size splitters without destroying your skin.

The guide was right about the loose boulder, but wrong to jiggle it.

Restricting the times you eat is trendy, and evidence points to potential benefits in sleep, weight management, and generating a faster metabolism, as well as better liver health and a reduction in inflammatory and metabolic disorders. But is it for you?

It's easy to dismiss pinches as a grip you seldom use, but in fact you use your thumb in pinch mode more than you think. Train pinches and your overall skill and performance will improve.

Core exercises⁠—you love to hate them! But your climbing will thank you.

Rappelling is one of climbing's most dangerous acts. Mark Synnott, through decades of experience, has figured out various techniques he learned the hard way so you don't have to.

There are better ways to develop body awareness than mumbling expletives in Downward Dog.

High-gravity days aren't sourceless malignancies; they have causes, which means they have solutions.

The belay had three bolts yet he only clipped one, and didn't use a single locking carabiner.

So your buddy tells you that he took a Factor 2 over the weekend, eh? That sounds bad. Or is it? What does that even mean? Read on for everything you need to know about falling, but were afraid to ask.

Like most climbers you probably train by developing your lats, pulling down rather than squeezing or pushing, but climbing often demands a variety of techniques including using "non holds" such as opposing slopers.

Check out David Flanagan's author page.

This six-week program will hone you to climb the classics, whether it's a mountain, wall or long free route.

Researchers asked 605 climbers about their attitude toward eating and food using an Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), which measures the risk of eating disorders.

Always thread the rope through the anchor, not around it.

A directional is a piece of gear, be it a bolt or a cam or a nut, that places your climbing rope in the most appropriate location for zigs and zags on a climb.

Professional climber and coach Neil Gresham's advice for training yourself to grip holds just enough, and not so much you waste power.

When the wall kicks back past vertical, the pump clock starts ticking. It’s all about getting to the chains before that alarm goes off.

Here we have two tales of not paying enough attention to climbing's most critical tasks: tying in and belaying.

One of the easiest ways to improve as a climber is to get comfortable falling. It just takes some incremental practice.

How Jonathan Siegrist, possibly the most prolific sport climber in the United States, trained his anti-style and went from a vertical crimp specialist to a steep cave crusher.

This simple rig can eliminate one of climbing's causes of fatalities.

We tapped eight professional pullers from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds to compile a list of the best training advice for all of us regular folks.

How to enjoy the process and send more quickly

A climbing gym isn't your home, so exactly what is cool and not cool to do there?

We all want to rock climb into our old age. To do that, we need to stay healthy. Movement mechanics, myofascial tissue mobility, nutrition, and hydration can all play crucial roles in maximizing joint health.

Getting pumped on a grade that within your limits? Then you lack Local Endurance. The good news is this simple training plan will address that weakness and have you hanging on virtually forever.

Climbing takes power, endurance and technique. Here's a simple step-by-step program that's concise, easy to follow and will have you climbing your best practically today.

They figured they knew enough about climbing to wing it, but took a dangerous risk that could have cost them.

From knots to selecting your first rock shoes, to training and safety, you'll find it here in our climbing 101 compilation.

Big-toe strength isn’t just handy for occasional slab climbing—we need it, and calf strength, for everything, from knee bars to molding or wrapping our feet around holds.

Here are our six keys to master-class slab climbing.

Should climbers grunt? Is it even helpful, or is it just plain rude to others at the crag and gym? Here's what studies show.

A triple package of climbing blunders, near misses and outright stupidity.

Feel like you're losing strength? It could be that you're low on this critical macronutrient.

Use these methods for better rappelling—and rap backups.

Climbers find it hard not to compare ourselves with others, whether in a gym, at the crag, or on Instagram. Learn how to can it. You'll climb better for it.

There are small, basic steps you can take toward epic avoidance, especially on long alpine routes. Here are seven tips.

Check out Paul Tusting's author page.

How To Prepare For Climbing Emergency Rescue Precautions Safety Tips

Whether you need to chill out or psych up, you can do it by learning the Zone of Optimal Functioning.

A lifelong climber lays out her advice for avoiding accidents.

Everyone has a grade ceiling. Here’s how to estimate—and reach—yours.

Your habits, or lack of, can influence your climbing grade potential. An honest evaluation can point to areas of improvement.

Bottom line, climbing is an athletic activity and you need to treat yourself like an athlete.

Nothing beats the feeling of piecing together a redpoint ascent. Here's a basic strategy for effectively working—and sending—your dream rig!

An effective program demands time off the wall. If you can make this time short but effective, you gain hours to get outdoors or rest.

I took Six Weeks To Stronger Fingers And ... It Worked. Check it out.

Keep one-hanging your project? Or feeling stuck? Here are eight easy tips for finally clipping the chains.

Ian Welsted, a Piolets d’Or recipient and alpinist based in the Canadian Rockies, shares the lessons he’s learned from a life in the mountains.

Nothing is more frustrating than falling because your foot slipped. Here's how to avoid it.

Not many will argue that hitting the fingerboard will improve your climbing grade, but perhaps simply going climbing is just as effective ... and it's sure a lot more fun.

When swinging leads on a multi-pitch route, the belay transitions are often the biggest time suck. But they don't have to be.

During my seven-year return to the sport, I’ve used four basic concepts—constant flow, economy of movement, finding my center, and using my entire body—to refine and redefine the way I move.

Learn about the Recency Effect to remember beta, improve efficiency, and expand your abilities.

“Road-Trip-Itus” is a well-known condition caused by spending too much time in close proximity to the same person. Here's how to prevent it.

With public land managers clued in to the existence of us Pad People, it’s time to start bouldering smart and reducing impact.

This high-fat low-carbohydrate diet will deplete your energy and can lead to health issues.

A tossed rock and a lost belay would have killed this leader if not for a miraculous landing among the boulders.

Knowing the tricks and training techniques for toe hooking can be a game changer.

A few tips and tricks for your first day at the crag, from someone who learned all these lessons the hard way.

Everything's here, from fingerboarding to power, endurance and strength training. Includes expert advice on getting stronger fingers, shoulders, abs, you name it and if you want to train it up, this soup-to-nuts compendium has it.

Falling off of hold? You might not be gripping them at their full potential.

Few feelings trump that glorious moment when, with an outstretched hand clutching a bite of rope, you clip the chains of a climb you have put serious effort and thought into...

A doctor answers questions on climbers' elbow injuries, and gives advice on how to understand, address, and prevent them.

Or ... should your fingers be soft for the best stickage?

The why, when, and how to shaking off the pump.

A true story that could have ended any number of ways.

Pull-ups are a great way to stay fit at home, on the road, or in the gym. When the movement gets repetitive, try these variations.