Rock climbing is a sport, which involves
climbing steep rocks. This sport originated in the
nineteenth century in Saxony, Lake District of
England. After Walter Parry Haskett Smith climbed
Napes Needle alone for the first time, many people
were attracted and it later converted to sports in
England, in 1880s and by 1930s some two hundred
climbing resorts opened in the Elbsandstein region.
As the sport evolved grading system was introduced
to analyze different levels of difficulties while
climbing. Both the safety equipments and climbing
techniques have been evolved with the passage of
time.
A climber should be mentally and physically be
strong to overcome difficulties and having extensive
knowledge can make the task easier. Initially the
climbers can learn in pairs, while one learns to
climb the other can belay or feed the rope from
either end of the rock structure. Incase the climber
falls, the belayer can lock off the rope. When
multiple climbers climb, the leader can connect a
rope with carabiners or quick draws as a protection
measure. A more risky method, simul-climbing,
involves the leader and the team members to move at
the same time, giving less time to belay the rope.
There are many variations to the traditional rock
climbing. They can be broadly classified into free
climbing and aid climbing. Climbers do not use any
kind of equipment in free climbing and in aid
climbing; equipments are used to support the weight
of the body against the rocks, which have less
natural formation.
In lead climbing, the leader of the group of climber
ties the rope to his body and starts to climb the
rock structure first, followed by his other team
members who have the same rope tied to their
individual bodies. In traditional lead climbing, the
leader places bolts into the rock to ascend and the
followers use the same bolts. The cleaner is
responsible to remove the bolts so that no trace is
left of the path taken. If any of the climbers'
slips or falls, they will lower themselves on to the
ground to start over again, instead on resting on
the rope.
In sport lead climbing, bolts are already laid into
the rocks so the leader doesn't have to carry extra
equipment with him. But in this case, there is a
risk of bolts rusting as they are laid before hand,
and if precaution isn't taken it can be dangerous.
If any of the climbers falls, he will rest on the
rope and will try to climb again.
When a rope is suspended from an anchor, which is
placed on the top of the rock structure, this
technique of climbing is known as top rope climbing.
This involves a solo climber who is belayed from
either the top or the bottom of the hill.
Short climbs on tough boulders is known as
bouldering. Some climbers use safety ropes, which
are dropped above them and some, find bouldering mat
more useful. In case a climber falls, spotting from
the ground level by other climbers can break his
fall.
Solo climbing involves a single climber who uses
rope and protection devices to get to the top of the
stone structure. Free solo climbing involves a
single climber who uses nothing but natural features
of the rock formation to ascend.
Since rock climbing has become more of a lifestyle
now, indoor climbing has been on the rise. It is
also a good way to get started. An environment is
created indoor with the help of wood, plastic and
fiberglass.
Rock climbing can be hazardous from environment
point of view. Because bolts are driven into the
rocks, this can be really harmful if done on a large
scale. Other than this, soil erosion, garbage, human
excretion, damage to native plants by introduction
of foreign plant which grow from the seeds brought
by clothing and shoes, etc. are other possible
harmful effects. To reduce these effects, it is
recommended to practice clean climbing.
