Multi Pitch Climbing
Multi-pitch climbing can mean anything from a local crag with a two-pitch climb to epic days out in the mountains to sea cliff adventures. This diversity is what makes it exciting and, like single-pitch climbing, how you approach it will depend on what type of climb you are about to do.
For multi-pitch routes a lot of what is covered when discussing single-pitch climbing can be used. Especially for short 2-3 pitch routes. As these are likely to take a little longer, ensuring you have a blood sugar monitor/phone and a snack with you is key. For bigger routes in more extreme environments things change a little.
Firstly, the walk in is likely to be longer and harder and so more likely to bring your blood sugars down before you start the climb. Getting this bit right is important, as getting it wrong here can negatively impact your day. The last thing you want is to be hypo before you even reach the climb and feel like you are playing catch up all day.
Secondly, you are likely to be carrying a backpack with you. Depending on the climb and who you are with, it might be that everyone carries their own bag up the climb or that you take one bag between you with food, water, layers etc. If you are leading and not carrying the shared bag, it is worth thinking about how you are going to be carrying your food, blood sugar meter and phone with you on the climb. As mentioned in the single-pitch section, either deep pockets or a small running backpack work best for this.
On bigger routes, especially those in the mountains, the weather and how you are going to descend from the climb must also be considered. Is it a walk off or an abseil? How far is the walk back and what type of terrain will you be covering? An abseil will obviously use less energy than a walk off would and so will have a smaller impact on blood sugars. When it comes to walking off at the end of a big day it is important to make sure blood sugars don’t drop too low (for extra help on this see the hill walking section).
Another important thing to mention is that going low part way up a long multi pitch route is best avoided! Anything below 5mmol/l we would recommend treating as a hypo to ensure a true hypo doesn’t happen. Also making sure you have a mix of food options with you will mean you can eat the most appropriate thing based on your blood sugars and avoid needing to take corrections, which when active are likely to increase the likelihood of lows.