WINNER: Murray Walker

Wild Country’s ‘Learning to Lead’ Series has been designed to give some useful advice for those climbers who want to make their way onto the ‘sharp-end’ of the rope. 

Designed for people breaking out from wall climbing or who are tired of their friends having to set everything up, Wild Country sponsored climber and MIA Katherine Schirrmacher takes us through the process of starting to lead your first climbs.

Episode 2: Setting up a belay - A key part of leading is that when you get to the top you can secure yourself and bring up your partner. Katherine shows you how.

The series includes:

1. Gear – This covers the basic gear you will need and some tips on placements.

2. Setting up Belays – Setting up safe belays when you get to the top of a climb or for a top rope.

3. Top Rope Leading – This covers how to set up a top rope and and great trick for getting leading experience without the danger. 

4. Lead belaying – Where to stand and what to do as your partner leads.

5. First Lead – Tips and techniques for your first lead. From choosing your routes to topping out.

Please note this series is not exhaustive and does not cover everything but we hope to give you an insight and tips and techniques that you can use at each point in the process of ‘Learning to Lead’.

Katherine Schirrmacher has been a Wild Country athlete for 10 years, she is a very talented climber and is one of a few women who have climbed 8a sport and E7 trad routes. Katherine is an M.I.A and runs her own company where she can be contacted for personalised courses, training and much more at: LoveToClimb.co.uk

Win a Wild Country Fusion Helmet worth £55 each 

Each week of this video series we’ll be giving the chance to win a new Wild Country Fusion helmet:

This burly all-rounder is perfect for first steps in the vertical. Robust, comfortable and well ventilated this is a great choice for mountaineering and rock climbing. 

See more HERE