Climbing Merit Badge
Upper Limits Climbing Gym

1.  Hazards / First Aid

Do the following:

(a) Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in climbing and rappelling activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.

(b) Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could ocur during climbing activities, including heat and cold reactions, dehydration, stopped breathing, sprains, abrasions, fractures, rope burns, blisters, snakebite, concussions, and insect bites or stings.

(c) Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person.

2.  Leave No Trace

Learn the Leave No Trace principles and Outdoor Code and explain what they mean.

3.  Proper Attire

Present yourself properly dressed for belaying, climbing, and rappelling (i.e., appropriate clothing, footwear, and a helmet; rappelers can also wear gloves).

4.  Assess Climbing Area

Do the following:

(a) Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing skills.

(b) Explain the following: top-rope climbing, lead climbing, and bouldering.

(c) Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and any other environmental hazards.

(d) Determine how to summon aid to the climbing area in case of an emergency.

6.  Climbing Rope

Rope. Do the following:

(a) Describe the kinds of rope acceptable for use in climbing and rappelling.

(b) Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.

(c) Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.

(d) Explain when and how a rope should be retired.

(e) Properly coil a rope.

7.  Knots

Knots. Do the following:

(a) Figure eight on a bight

(b) Figure eight follow-through

(c) Water knot

(d) Double fisherman's knot (grapevine knot)

(e) Safety knot

12.  Caring for Gear

5.  Verbal Signals

Demonstrate proper use of verbal signals when climbing and rappelling.

8.  Harness

Correctly put on a commercially made climbing harness.

9.  Belaying

Explain the importance of belaying climbers and rappellers. Belay three different climbers ascending a rock wall and three rappellers descending a rock wall, while using proper belaying techniques.

10.  Climbing

Correctly tie into a belay rope as a climber and climb at least 3 routes.

11.  Rappelling