Rock climbing usually indicates climbing steep rock formations. A climber may or may not choose to use gear and safety equipment used in rock climbing. However, certain crucial gear and equipment is essential and generally used. Rock climbing requires great amount of physical strength, mental control and endurance, along with the knowledge of climbing techniques. Rock climbing is, in general, a dangerous activity and accidents can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities.
Originally an outdoor sport, many cities around the world have artificially created, indoor rock climbing venues popularly known as rock climbing gymnasiums. They can be modified to match the skill level needed for outdoor climbing and are increasingly gaining popularity among people. They are introducing new people to this sport, as it is seen safer than the outdoor version.
If the rock climber decides to use climbing gear, it would usually consist of a rope system, tying, belaying and lowering. Alternatively, some climbers use nothing but chalk powder on their hands, to avoid slipping due to perspiration. But for amateur climbers, it is essential to use climbing gear and also to use professional help to learn the tricks and techniques involved in rock climbing. This is required to avoid injuries and fatalities.
It is a common trend for climbers to work in pairs, with one person climbing and the other belaying. Belaying is the technique of controlling the rope such that if a climber falls, he does not fall very far. The belayers job is to feed the rope to the lead climber through a belaying device. The leader is one who climbs up and places protection in a continuous process. At this time, the belayer is ready to arrest the rope, in case the lead climber falls.
Rock climbing is broadly categorized as free climbing, and aid climbing. In free climbing, the climber uses only natural features of rock formation. In aid climbing, artificial device placed in the rocks are used, which support either complete or a part of weightof the climber. Aid climbing is usually practiced on those rock formations, where natural features required for free climbing are not available.
Free climbing is further divided into various categories according to the technique used. Some of them are:
. Traditional Lead Climbing mostly uses removable protection, but fixed protection may also be used at times. The team ascends, with the leader leading them and placing protective devices along the way. The climber, on falling, does not rest on the rope, but begins all over again. Many, as the cleanest style, see this style as the climber following the leader removes the protective devices and thus, hardly leaving any traces along the attempted path.
. Sport Lead Climbing uses pre-placed permanent bolts for protection. So, the leader does not have to carry additional devices and only carries some quick-draws to clip onto the already placed bolts. But this style carries its own risk, as the permanent bolts are likely to get dislodged or decay over a period of time. In case of a fall, the climber usually rests on the rope before beginning again.
In Top Rope Climbing the rope is suspended form the anchor located at the top of a short climb.
Rock climbing is an exceptional sport because when you are hanging off the face of a cliff, there really is not any other way to define it. Once you get the hang of it, then it is a fantastic experience. If nothing else, there is usually a great view!
Late 19th century marks the initiation of rock climbing. The earliest home for the rock climbers was Colorado and the place became famous for climbing at the turn of the 20th century.
During the initial stages, rock climbing was considered a part of mountaineering and mountaineers indulged in rock climbing as preparation for climbing expeditions. Initial climbers of Germany and Great Britain were crazy about this sport and set remarkable standards in climbing. Rock climbing gained popularity in the year 1920, in United States.
There are basically two main types of rock climbing techniques, aid climbing and free climbing. One of the most basic forms, a free climb is a climb without support. In a free climb, the climbers use their fingers to grasp the cracks, edges and flakes and they also use shoes made of sticky rubber soles for additional support. To prevent serous falls the climbers use ropes or other forms of protection. Free climbing was the only method during the early days. Earlier climbers used equipment only when they were unable to advance beyond a difficult move.
In aid climbing, the climbers use equipment and to support their body weight while they ascend on pitches they use ropes and hardware. Aid climbers also use pulleys and tools to move gear up the rock wall and slings or etires to rest in.
American climbers discovered that the piton, which they used in aid climbing considerably, damaged the rocks. This then led to the invention of slinging machine nuts, the alternative to the piton in the mid 1960s. During the early 1980s, they began combining the aid and free methods in France. This combination reduces the difficulty in climbing, thus making climbing styles much better.
Throughout the 60s and 70s, the United States was considered as the pioneers in rock climbing, and many dedicated climbers worked towards improving rock-climbing techniques. It was only recently that climbing was declared a sport. Nowadays, this sport now uses the most advanced climbing equipment, as compared to the older climbing techniques. As this sport is growing in popularity, climbers chose harder individual moves and harder routes. In the 1980s, a new safety gear was invented to ensure the safety of the climbers as the new trend was to undertake short ascents. Due to the introduction of indoor walls, rock-climbing techniques now this sport can be practiced without risking the hostile terrain outside.
During the recent years, due to success and tragedies associated with mountaineering activities, there have been tremendous improvements in climbing equipment. The sports popularity has resulted in some countries introducing climbing permits. The Access Fund is the national organization that helps climbers gain access to the climbing areas and also assists in handling the environmental problems associated with cliffs in the United States.
Thinking of enrolling for a rock-climbing event this vacation? Well if you are new to rock climbing, you need to access a lot of information on rock climbing, including the equipment required, the place to go for rock climbing and first aid manuals. You will also find yourself learning a new lingo!
That is right a new lingo, which is used by the rock climbing community. Most of the amateur rock climbers ignore this very important aspect and think that they will learn as they take the training and go for their first rock-climbing expedition. However, this is a very big mistake because if you are not accustomed to rock-climbing lingo, you may find yourself standing against more insurmountable objects than the physical ones.
Like many other sports, rock climbing has also evolved a language unique to the sport that the climbers must learn if they want to communicate with fellow rock climbers. What makes the terminology more interesting is that they do not have an obvious meaning. There are many rock climbing specific words and listing all of them here would be impossible, but given below are few terms that are more popularly used than the others:
Anchor-Not the one that is found on a boat, but it is equipment that is part of the climbing gear. It is equipment that supports the belay when climbing.
Belay-It is perhaps the most important equipment within the climbing gear. It is a rope anchor system that is used to provide support for the climber. The first climber often carries the belay and as he makes progress, he keeps on feeding out the rope to the succeeding climbers. Belay is run with the help of the friction system and it also has a mechanical break, which helps the climber from plunging to ground in case he falls.
Bouldering-This is the only term that means what it sounds. It means to find large size boulders and to practice climbing on them. Bouldering is the best way to learn climbing and it is also an excellent way to build up strength for the muscles for the advanced climbers. The climber can probably throw some pads around the boulder to cushion the fall.
Crimp-It is actually an art of trying to find a finger hold where there is not any.
Elvis-This is a physical condition, where the climbers legs begin to shake because of being tired or scared or even if the climber is listening to good music. The phenomenon is also known as sewing machine.
Face Climbing-This means to climb vertically, face up and towards the rock-using finger holds and edges to work ones way up.
Harness-This is a nylon device that is worn around the waist and legs and also tied off to the supporting ropes, to support the climber. It is advised to always put on the harness while climbing for safety.
Leading-The term is used for the first climber who is also responsible for determining the route, placing anchors and solving any problems. Clearly not meant for the amateur climbers.
Pitch-A pitch does not essentially means a vertical angle of rocks, but it is the distance between two belay points.
