🧗zero to outdoor lead, in the order that kept me safe

steps in the order i actually did them, not the order i wish i had. skip one at your own risk

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Get top-rope belay certified at your gym

read this before your first lead class so you're not confused about clipping direction like i was

6 months of steady top-rope mileage, flashing 5.10b

How to Rock Climb by John Long and Bob Gaines

crammed two sessions of reading into one night. skip the trad chapters for now

Gym Lead Climbing & Belay course

two classes. first is clipping and rope management, second is taking and catching real falls

climb like you're leading and pretend to clip. cheap way to fail at something before you fall on it for real

Pass the gym's lead test

flash 5.10b clean and catch a fall on request, mine also checked how i handled slack

half day. you build and clean an anchor for the first time here, not at the crag

First outdoor lead on a well-bolted 5.8, two letters below your gym max

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