Climbing, also called rock climbing, is the sport of ascending steep rock surfaces. The sport developed during the 1800’s from mountain climbing. Rock climbing close to the ground is called bouldering. A higher and more difficult route is called technical rock climbing. Both activities can be dangerous and require instruction and specialized equipment. Many climbers also enjoy year-round climbing at indoor climbing gyms. Many schools and universities offer climbing instruction and sponsor climbing clubs.
Technical climbing.
Technical climbers usually work in teams of two. One member of the team is the lead climber, and the other is the belayer. The climbers wear special shoes with smooth rubber soles and often wear protective helmets. Opposite ends of a rope manufactured for climbing, usually 150 or 165 feet (45 or 50 meters) long, are attached with a special knot to a harness worn by each climber.
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The lead climber ascends first, placing aluminum or brass protection pieces in the rock as needed. Climbers carry dozens of protection pieces in various sizes to fit different-sized cracks in the rock. Climbers attach small aluminum oval or D-shaped devices, called carabiners (also spelled karabiners) to the protection pieces and string the rope through the carabiner. This technique is designed for safety rather than assisting in the ascent. It is intended to limit the length of any fall and guarantee that a climber never falls to the ground.
The belayer provides safety for the lead climber by arranging the rope through a belay device, a small aluminum apparatus that provides mechanical friction. The belayer remains in a secure position and feeds the rope out as the leader makes upward progress. When the belayer ascends, he or she removes the protection pieces placed by the leader.
A climb consists of one or more pitches. A pitch is a portion of the total route defined by the length of the rope. After reaching the end of a pitch, lead climbers secure themselves to the rock by placing and then tying directly into protection pieces. Once the belayer is no longer necessary for the lead climber’s safety, the leader pulls up any slack in the rope. As the belayer moves up, the rope is kept tight for the safety of the climber.
If the climb involves more than one pitch, the leader and belayer can reverse roles. This process is repeated until they reach the top of the rock. Climbers descend either by finding an easy way to hike back or by rappelling, a controlled slide down the rope using special equipment and technique.
One new style of technical climbing is called sport climbing. Sport climbers rely on expansion bolts placed in the rock for protection. The bolts enable them to climb smooth, steep sections of rock that may have been impossible with traditional methods.
Indoor climbing.
Traditional climbers rely on natural rock to train, but climbers can also learn in indoor climbing gyms. Most gyms provide artificial climbing surfaces of several levels of difficulty. Instructions and equipment rentals are often available. Indoor climbing has become so popular that national and international competitions involving difficulty and speed are regularly held.
