9. Not Tying In Properly

Whether fixing a belay or preparing to climb, getting your knots right is perhaps the most fundamental responsibility and yet most frequently-cited error among climbing newbies. Two habits can help you avoid this risk. First, practice your knots and tying-in at home until tying into your rope has become as natural as tying your shoelaces. Secondly, always do a buddy-check, no matter how ‘uncool’ it may seem – if would be far less cool for either you or you partner to suffer a serious fall because you hadn’t taken a moment to double-check each other’s knots.

As you can see, the potential to make mistakes while climbing and mountaineering are numerous and varied. Understanding the risks, common mistakes and skills required are essential for any newbie, veteran alike and will leave you to enjoy many safe, happy days in the mountains or on the crags for a long time to come.