Reviews - Book Review: How to Climb Harder

How to Climb Harder
Mark Reeves (Pesda Press, 2010)
RRP: £15.99

The front cover of How to Climb Harder boasts “essential knowledge for rock climbers of all abilities” and that is just what you get. The author Mark Reeves, a rock climbing instructor of more than 13 years experience with an MSc in Applied Sports Science, has covered everything from safety to what you should eat, taking the reader through preparation, technique and training.

The book is aimed at different abilities of climbers from complete beginners to improvers who have been climbing for a while but want to progress onto harder stuff and, as an instructional guide, the structured exercises in the book can be carried out down at the climbing wall or at the crag. It's also a great reference tool – I'm studying a degree in Outdoor Adventure Management and I have quoted some of the theory in the book on several occasions in my assignments.

Starting with the basics of safety and ending with nutrition and some excellent training techniques, how to warm up and much more, there is plenty to go at whatever stage of your climbing life you are at. From my own experience, I have recently had a fall while practicing lead climbing and the advice in this book could have helped me avoid this.  

Reeves takes the reader from the basics of ropework and safety – including practical exercises showing you how to practice tying in using your stair banisters – through to a progressive set of exercises for movement technique on rock and, finally, a training section to target your weaknesses and advice on nutrition. There's also a useful section for parents and coaches on training young people.

The book is extremely user-friendly with plenty of helpful pictures and diagrams to help the reader understand what is being said in the text, while the glossary at the back is brilliant for new climbers who are unsure of all the terminology and jargon being used.

There's already plenty of literature out there, in books, magazines and the web on this subject, but Reeves' book is a worthwhile addition, packed with loads of useful and practical advice, and if you are new to climbing or just want to improve your skills then How to Climb Harder is a great place to start.

More Info: www.pesdapress.com

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