| Rock Climbing is a sport in which climbers scale up | | | | close enough to the ground to jump off safely. |
| natural rock formations to reach the summit. Or | | | | Bouldering interest, especially in the nineties, have |
| they climb man-made rock walls with a | | | | caused many new areas to become available |
| predetermined route. Rock Climbing is both | | | | worldwide. |
| physically and mentally demanding. Strength, agility, | | | | Indoor climbing became very popular in the late |
| balance, and mental control are key assets for | | | | eighties. Indoor gyms are perfect places to learn |
| climbers. Climbing can be dangerous without | | | | technique without battling the outdoor elements. |
| proper knowledge of technique and usage of | | | | Although you can practice year round, most die |
| equipment. Due to the diverse rock formations in | | | | hard climbers prefer natural rock. |
| various parts of the world, Rock Climbing is | | | | Free climbing is climbing without using your |
| divided into several different styles. | | | | equipment to aid in movement. Your gear is for |
| Why start Rock Climbing? There are much easier | | | | your protection only, The climber leads the climb |
| ways to workout. You will scrape up your hands | | | | for the first time without watching other climbers, |
| and various other body parts, not to mention | | | | making it to the end without falling or pulling on |
| scaring yourself at some point in time. Climbing is | | | | their gear. If you do you must start over from |
| not about strength alone. Very strong men have | | | | the ground. |
| been outdone by women climbers. Climbing is a | | | | Trad climbers use their own gear for protection |
| combination of balance, knowing your body, and | | | | whereas sport climbers use predrilled bolts that |
| being able to reposition it. Be creative! Learn how | | | | are clipped with carabiners. Trad climbers use |
| to adapt to the rock face. Climbing works your | | | | cams, wedges, and nuts in different shapes and |
| whole body. Although your upper body gets quite | | | | sizes. These can be put into the rock with out |
| a work out, your legs and feet are crucial for | | | | damaging it. This is referred to as clean climbing |
| upward movement. Concentration is a must as | | | | and is the only acceptable way of climbing in |
| well as overcoming your fears. | | | | some areas. Because trad climbing is very |
| Who can climb? You do not have to be young or | | | | technical it is recommended for advanced |
| extremely fit to climb. Many people that start | | | | climbers. |
| later in life become excellent climbers.. Starting as | | | | Aid climbing has a different set of rules. This type |
| a child will give you a head start on the physical | | | | of climbing requires staying on the rock for |
| aspect of it and teach you discipline. You will | | | | several days. Climbers must have an extreme |
| discover many beautiful often out of the way | | | | level of technical expertise and sense of logistics. |
| places. You will have a new perspective of the | | | | Climbers must haul all of their gear up the rock. |
| world below you. Not only will you learn about | | | | They sleep in hammocks or portal edges. This |
| yourself but also the people you climb with. When | | | | type climbing is for the most adventurous |
| you are on the rock, you must rely on your skills | | | | climbers only! |
| and judgment to get to the top. You have to fully | | | | Solo climbing is absolutely the most dangerous and |
| trust your partner-he has your life in his hands if | | | | should be reserved for skilled climbers only. You |
| you fail. This commitment makes strong bonds | | | | climb without any kind of protection. A good |
| between partners. Learning to climb is similar to | | | | climber will know his own limits and trust his own |
| any other activity. You must conquer the basic | | | | judgment. Ice climbing involves the use of axes to |
| skills then practice to perfect them. | | | | climb frozen waterfalls. Mixed climbing and dry |
| Climbing styles come in many varieties. Some of | | | | tooling have gained popularity. You must excel in |
| the basics are: bouldering,, indoor climbing, sport | | | | traditional climbing as well as technical ice climbing |
| climbing, trad climbing, solo climbing, aid climbing, ice | | | | because you will be climbing faces of rock and ice. |
| climbing and alpine climbing. Always have proper | | | | Finally there is Alpine climbing. Climbers live on icy |
| instructions, learning from experienced climbers or | | | | slopes for several days depending on the |
| in a climbing school. | | | | weather, avalanches and other natural elements. |
| Boulder climbers take on short heaps of rock that | | | | Knowledge of the environment is crucial and |
| are only a few feet high. Bouldering problems tend | | | | technical skills are required, This is an extremely |
| to be intense and very technical because | | | | adventurous climbing style. |
| hundreds of feet of difficulty are compressed into | | | | As with any type climbing, proper instruction is |
| 5 to 10 moves. You will climb without a rope and | | | | fundamental. |