Rock climbing

A leader belays the second climber in Joshua Tree National Park, United States.

Rock climbing is a sport where someone uses their hands and feet to climb up a rock or an artificial climbing wall. Rock climbing is a difficult sport because you need to have a lot of strength. Rock climbers must know how to use ropes, carabiners and harnesses for their own safety.

Types of rock climbing

Because of many different kinds of rocks around the world, many different kinds of climbing started.

• Solo climbing is where the climber's own physical strength and skill are relied on to do the climb. Anchors, ropes and protection are used to back up the climber, but are only there in case of a fall and are not actively used to help the person do the climb.
• Bouldering is climbing on short, low walls (usually less than 5 meters tall) To boulder, one does not need to use safety equipment. Special mats are used to cushion the drop.
• Free solo climbing is when a climber climbs alone, without somebody belaying them. Free soloing is climbing alone without the use of any rope or protection system whatsoever.
• Lead climbing is used when the rope is not on top yet. The person must tie the rope to their harness and then climb up the wall. On the way the climber puts the rope through a carabiner every few metres. Here the person at the bottom must use a belay device, and feed rope up to the climber. This is unlike top roping, where the belayer instead takes up rope using a belay device.
• Top roping is when the rope is already anchored at the top of the route. Safety equipment is needed here but many people say this kind is the safest. The belayer must only keep the rope tight by using a knot or a belay device, like a Grigri or Atc.
• Auto belay climbing

Rock Climbing Media

• Rock Climbing

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  A rock climber approaches a roof while leading a multi-pitch, traditional route in Custer State Park, United States.

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  Climbing in Germany, circa 1965.

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  Man sport climbing under overhang

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  Bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park, United States

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  Top roping Balthazar (12), in the Morialta Conservation Park near Adelaide, South Australia. Top roping is the most accessible style of climbing for beginners.

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  Climber with climbing gear attached at his harness

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  Climbing grades simplified. There are many other grades but these are the most used.

Other websites

Media related to Rock climbing at Wikimedia Commons