| Rock climbing can be a very exciting and | | | | a partner with you who can guide you along your |
| challenging sport. While it can be dangerous, with | | | | climb and can adjust the position of a bouldering |
| the right safety precautions and training, you can | | | | mat below you in case of a fall. |
| minimize your risk of injury or death. There are | | | | Top Climbing involves a rope that is already |
| several different types of climbs, that you should | | | | attached to the top of the rock formation. You |
| be aware of before starting. | | | | will again work with a partner or belayer who will |
| The best way to start climbing is with Indoor | | | | hold the rope and control any give and take that |
| Rock Climbing. While you can use almost any of | | | | you may need. |
| the below styles while climbing indoors, it is the | | | | Lead Climbing also involves a partner who will |
| safest way to learn how to climb. You will be | | | | climb ahead of you and set up a belay system as |
| instructed on the proper use of safety gear and | | | | they go. This makes it easier for the second |
| the different skills needed to complete your climb. | | | | climber to ascend the rock, but also protects the |
| It is a controlled environment and therefore most | | | | lead climber in a fall. |
| conducive to the beginner. | | | | Free solo climbing is the most advanced and |
| When you head out into the wild for your first | | | | dangerous form of climbing. It involves no safety |
| climb, you will be faced with a large natural rock | | | | precautions such as ropes or harnesses. It |
| formation. You may choose to climb the entire | | | | requires an amazing amount of physical and even |
| formation and end up at the summit or top, or | | | | more importantly mental strength. In this type of |
| you may choose to only climb a portion of it. This | | | | climbing, you need to be especially cognizant of |
| is known as a pitch climb. If you climb several | | | | the weather. Even the slightest rain shower can |
| routes consecutively, it is known as a multi pitch | | | | prove deadly. Make sure that you only try this |
| climb. Free climbing is the most common type of | | | | during perfect weather. Because there is no |
| rock climbing today. The climber relies entirely on | | | | protection, if you fall during one of these climbs, |
| their own strength and ability, safety gear is just | | | | the fall will most likely be fatal. It goes without |
| there as a precaution, not as an aid. | | | | saying that this type of climbing is not |
| Aid Climbing is another type, and the safest of | | | | recommended for anyone but the most skilled |
| them all. It allows the climber to use equipment | | | | and experienced climber. |
| for hand and foot holds at every step of the | | | | Another version of this, Deep Water Soloing, |
| way. When rock climbing began, this allowed | | | | requires that you climb on a cliff face over a |
| participants to complete climbs previously thought | | | | body of water. While falling into water |
| impossible. | | | | unprotected is safer than falling onto a solid |
| Bouldering involves much smaller rock formations, | | | | surface, it is still rather unpleasant. |
| so small in fact that safety gear (except for a | | | | Whatever type of climbing you decide to do, |
| helmet) is not required as the distance a fall would | | | | make sure you have the required skills and |
| take you is very minimal. It is necessary to have | | | | equipment to keep you safe and having fun. |