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Requirements January 1996 until January 2000

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illness that may occur during climbing activities, including hypothermia, blisters, sprains, abrasions, and fractures.

2. Present yourself properly dresses for belaying, climbing, and rappelling (i.e., appropriate clothing, footwear, and a helment; rappellers must also wear gloves).

3. Do the following:

(a) Explain the mountaineers (free climbers) climbing classification and apply the classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing and rappelling skills.
(b) Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and any environmental hazards.

4. Verbal Signals. Explain the importance of using verbal signals during every climb and rappel. With the help of the merit badge counselor or another Scout, demonstrate the verbal signals used by each of the following:

(a) Climbers
(b) Rappellers
(c) Belayers

5. Rope. Do the following:

(a) Describe the kind of rope acceptable for use in climbing and rappelling.
(b) Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.
(c) Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.
(d) Explain when and how a rope should be retired.
(e) Properly coil a rope.

6. 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.

(a) Figure eight on a bight
(b) Figure eight follow-through
(c) Water knot
(d) Grapevine knot
(e) Bowline on a coil

7. Harnesses. Correctly put on at least ONE of the following:

(a) Commercially made climbing harness
(b) Knotted leg-loop seat sling
(c) Swiss seat sling
(d) Diaper sling

8. Belaying. Do the following:

(a) Explain the importance of belaying every climber and rappeller.
(b) Belay three different climbers ascending a rock face or climbing wall.
(c) Belay three different rappellers descending a rock face or rappel wall.

9. Climbing. Do the following:

(a) Show the correct way to tie into a belay rope.
(b) Climb at least three different routes on a rock face or climbing wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with a belayer.

10. Rappelling. Do the following:

(a) Using carabiners and a rappelling device, secure your climbing harness or seat sling to a rappel rope.
(b) Tie in to a belay rope set up to protect rappellers.
(c) 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.

11. Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for climbing, rappelling, and belaying.

Requirements January 2000 until January 2007

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illness that may occur during climbing activities, including hypothermia, blisters, sprains, snakebite, abrasions, fractures, and insect bites and sting.

2. 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.

3. Present yourself properly dresses for belaying, climbing, and rappelling (i.e., appropriate clothing, footwear, and a helment; rappellers must also wear gloves).

4. Do the following:

(a) Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified and apply the classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing and rappelling skills.
(b) Explain the following: top-rope climbing, lead climbing, and bouldering.
(c) Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and any environmental hazards.
(d) Determine how to summon aid to the climbing area in case of an emergency.

5. 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:

(a) Climbers
(b) Rappellers
(c) Belayers
(d) Boulderers and their spotters

6. Rope. Do the following:

(a) Describe the kind of rope acceptable for use in climbing and rappelling.
(b) Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.
(c) Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.
(d) Explain when and how a rope should be retired.
(e) Properly coil a rope.

7. 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.

(a) Figure eight on a bight
(b) Figure eight follow-through
(c) Water knot
(d) Double fisherman’s knot (Grapevine knot)

8. Harnesses. Correctly put on at least ONE of the following:

(a) Commercially made climbing harness
(b) Tied harness

9. Belaying. Do the following:

(a) Explain the importance of belaying every climber and rappeller.
(b) Belay three different climbers ascending a rock face or climbing wall.
(c) Belay three different rappellers descending a rock face or rappel wall.

10. Climbing. Do the following:

(a) Show the correct way to tie into a belay rope.
(b) Climb at least three different routes on a rock face or climbing wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with a belayer.

11. Rappelling. Do the following:

(a) Using carabiners and a rappel device, secure your climbing harness rappel rope.
(b) Tie in to a belay rope set up to protect rappellers.
(c) 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.

12. Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for climbing, rappelling, and belaying.