One of the most important safety procedures that one can do before climbing is tying into the rope and anchor system properly. The knot that is most commonly used for tying into a harness is the Figure 8 Follow-through (or rewoven Figure 8). The Figure 8 Follow-through has a variety of advantages over other knots, as it is easy to tie, strong enough to hold the forces generated by a fall, and is relatively easy to untie after it has been loaded by a fall.
To tie into a harness with a Figure 8 Follow-through, tie a Figure 8 knot in the rope approximately 3 - 3.5 feet (1 - 1.5 meters) from the end of the rope (Figures 1 - 4)
Feed the running end of the rope through both the crotch loop on the harness (the one joining the two leg loops) and the waist loop of the harness.
Feed the end of the rope back through the existing Figure 8 knot (follow the Figure 8 back through), starting at the end closest to the harness and finishing up with the live end of the rope (Figures 5 -8). Make sure the knot be properly "dressed;" the Follow-through should always maintain the same relative position to the original Figure 8. (in other words the original and the Follow-through eights do not overlap or cross.)
Make sure that there is at least 3 inches of tail leaving the knot. Tie off the extra tail of rope to the live end of the rope using several overhand knots or a double fisherman's knot.
Setting up an ATC for Belaying and Belaying
Clip a locking carabiner through both the groin loop and the waist loops of your harness (the same loops you tie into).
Take a loop (bight) of rope from the end which the climber is not tied into and pass it through one of the two slots in the ATC (both slots are identical).
Clip both the wire cable on the ATC and the bight of rope into the locking carabiner, and screw the gate of the carabiner shut.
Clip a second carabiner into your harness at the waist and groin loops on the side opposite your braking hand. Clip this carabiner into one of the pre-tied loops on the anchor ropes attached to the floor at a point which offers the least slack in the anchor rope. This prevents the belayer (you) from being pulled off the floor in the event the climber takes a fall (or if the climber weighs more than you do).
How to Belay
Belaying itself is relatively simple provided one is always paying attention to your climbing partner. The end of the rope which passes through the top-rope anchor and goes back down to the climber is called the "live" end of the rope. The "live" end is handled by the "guide" hand. The other end of the rope is the "brake" end which is handled by the "brake" hand. You must always have at least one hand on the brake end of the rope at all times. If you don't, and the climber begins to fall, you will not be able to regain control of the rope, and the climber may be injured. As the climber proceeds up the wall, it is the belayer's job to take up the rope and make sure there is no slack in the system. This limits the distance the climber can fall. Make sure both hands never leave the rope!
With both hands firmly on the rope, the guide hand pulls the rope towards the ATC as the brake hand pulls rope out and away from the ATC (Figure 1).
When the guide hand reaches the ATC, hold the rope fast with the brake hand, while sliding the guide hand up the live end of the rope until it is above the brake hand (Figure 2).
The guide hand now grasps both ends of the rope and pinches both off with the thumb while the brake hand slides back down the rope to the ATC. The hands are now back in position to repeat step 1 (Figure 3). The brake hand never leaves the rope!
Letting Rope Out (when the climber needs slack)
With both hands firmly on the rope, the guide hand shuffles the rope away from the ATC (Figure 4 - 5).
