CLIMBING
- Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that may occur
during climbing activities, including hypothermia, blisters, sprains,
snakebite, abrasions, fractures, and insect bites or stings.
- Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a
person. Demonstrate proper technique in performing CPR using a training
device approved by your counselor.
- Present yourself properly dressed for belaying, climbing, and
rappelling (i.e., appropriate clothing, footwear, and a helmet; rappellers
must wear gloves).
- Location. Do the following:
- Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply
classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate
your climbing skills.
- Explain the following: top-rope climbing, lead climbing, and
bouldering.
- Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider
weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and any
other environmental hazards.
- Determine how to summon aid to the climbing area in case of an
emergency.
- Verbal signals. Explain the importance of using verbal signals during
every climb and rappel, and while bouldering. With the help of the merit
badge counselor or another Scout, demonstrate the verbal signals used by
each of the following:
- Climbers
- Rappellers
- Belayers
- Boulderers and their spotters
- Rope. Do the following:
- Describe the kinds of rope acceptable for use in climbing and
rappelling.
- Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.
- Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.
- Explain when and how a rope should be retired.
- Properly coil a rope.
- Knots. Demonstrate the ability to tie each of the following knots. Give
at least one example of how each knot is used in belaying, climbing, or
rappelling.
- Figure eight on a bight
- Figure eight follow-through
- Water knot
- Double fisherman's knot (Grapevine knot)
- Harnesses. Correctly put on at least ONE of the following:
- Commercially made climbing harness
- Tied harness
- Belaying. Do the following:
- Explain the importance of belaying every climber and rappeller.
- Belay three different climbers ascending a rock face or climbing
wall.
- Belay three different rappellers descending a rock face or climbing
wall.
- Climbing. Do the following:
- Show the correct way to tie into a belay rope.
- Climb at least three different routes on a rock face or climbing
wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with be layer.
- Rappelling. Do the following:
- Using carabiners and a rappel device, secure your climbing harness
or tied harness to a rappel rope.
- Tie in to a belay rope set up to protect rappellers.
- Rappel down three different rock faces or three rappel routes on a
climbing wall. Use verbal signals to communicate with a belayer, and
demonstrate good rappelling technique.
- Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for
climbing, rappelling, and belaying.
BSA Advancement ID#: 133
Source: Boy Scout Requirements, #33215E, revised 2002
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