1001 Climbing Tips: The essential climbers' guide: from rock, ice and big-wall climbing to diet, training and mountain survival

by Andy Kirkpatrick

Shortlisted: 2016 Banff Mountain Book Competition

‘1001 Climbing Tips had me laughing out loud in places, which I never thought possible for this genre of book. A tremendous resource that should be an essential addition to every climber’s loo-library’ – Ian Parnell, Climb magazine

Imagine an alien came down to Earth, stuck a probe into a climber’s brain – one who’d been climbing for over thirty years – and then transmogrified the contents into a big book of climbing tips. Well, 1001 Climbing Tips by Andy Kirkpatrick is just such a book.

This is no regular instruction manual – it’s much more useful than that. This is a massive collection of all those little tips that make a real difference when at the crag, in the mountains, or when you’re planning your next big trip. It’s for anyone who hangs off stuff, or just hangs around in the mountains. These tips are based on three decades of climbing obsession, as well as nineteen ascents of El Cap, numerous Alpine north faces, trips to the polar ice caps, and many other scary climbs and expeditions.

1001 Climbing Tips covers the following areas:

BASI [1–240]: From how best to rope up and the importance of climbing partnerships, to racking your gear correctly and how to sleep in a harness. This section is designed for both novice and experienced climbers.

SAFETY [241–327]: The name of the game in climbing is staying alive and coming home in one piece. This section covers loose rock, rescue, dealing with heat and what to do if you get caught out.

BIG WALL [328–434]: Knowledge on tackling large multi-pitch climbs, with advanced topi such as pegging, jumaring, hauling and speed climbing. These tips will be an aid both to those new to multi-pitch climbing, as well as more experienced climbers.

ICE [435–481]: Tips on all aspects of ice climbing, including movement, protection, looking after your gear, mental strength and – of course – not falling off.

MIXED [482–503]: With a focus on Scottish and Alpine winter skills, these essential tips focus on how to use your tools on snowed-up rock, leading, gear and footwork on mixed ground.

MOUNTAIN [504–802]: Essential reading for mountaineers, hill walkers and rock climbers, this section has almost 300 tips on living and staying alive in the mountains, be that in the UK, Alps or Greater Ranges.

TRAINING [803–876]: A range of tips on how to overcome fear, improve strength and endurance, as well as diet and nutrition advice for climbers.

STUFF [877–1001]: A mix of esoterica, such as how to rap off a fifi hook, what books to read, how to make your own kit, how to get sponsored, photo and video advice, and how to go to the toilet in tricky spots.

Genres: Climbing, Nonfiction, Mountaineering, Outdoors

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2013

About the author

Andrew Kirkpatrick is a British mountaineer, author, motivational speaker and monologist. He is best known as a big wall climber, having scaled Yosemite's El Capitan 30+ times, including five solo ascents, and two one day ascents, as well as climbing in Patagonia, Alaska, Antarctica and the Alps. He has also crossed Greenland by ski. In 2014 he guided Alex Jones up Moonlight Buttress, Zion National Park, raising £1.9 million for Sport Relief.

Kirkpatrick has worked in film and TV as a safety advisor and stunt rigger, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as in programs for CBBC, ITN, BBC and BBC Scotland.

Reviews

[Anne Sommer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book will not bring you anything new.
Everything is ordered in "tips", there are no evidence based ideas,... It's a great book for light-air reading, and if that is what you're looking for, enjoy!

[Gonzalo Cualo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I don't personally like the format of "1001 whatever..." it gives the book some structure when trying to find tips for some specific cases in the mountaineering field. Some tips are quite funny and I would say you need to be a rather experienced mountaineer/climber to understand where the author is coming from. However I found it quite funny (even though some tips were too advanced for my level of expertise) and also useful! I wouldn't recommend it to climbing beginners!

[Cody Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely informational from many years of experience. It's got everything from the practical things no one thinks about to the more obvious climbing skills that come naturally to those with more time on the wall.

[Tomek · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's some good stuff in here, but much of it is fairly well-estabilished elsewhere in the literature. It also leans very heavily towards mountaineering with limited applicability to other climbing subdisciplines.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does what it says on the tin. If you’re interesting in this kind of thing worth a read, if not then it’s not for you.

[Vaquero Desubicado · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mis favoritos los más locos

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously cool tips written in a very entertaining way. Unless you're a sport climber who will never venture further than the gym or single pitches at the crag, there's a lot in here that's worth learning.

[Paulius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good evening read

[Pau Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grans consells, simples i fàcils. L'Andy Patrick comparteix exactament els 1001 consells que ell ha anat adiquirint per a l'escalada. Bon llibre