| For those people who love the outdoors and love a | | | | have 3 points touching the wall. This can be both |
| challenge even more, rock climbing can prove to be | | | | feet and a hand or both hands and a foot. However, |
| the best sport of your life. Rock climbing is extremely | | | | it is much easier to balance on 3 points than it is on 2. |
| challenging but the rewards are unimaginable. Imagine | | | | This will keep you safer and allow you to climb for a |
| yourself strong, fit and confident, viewing the | | | | longer period of time before fatigue sets in. |
| scenery from hundreds of feet off the ground. The | | | | Once you head outdoors, there are three main types |
| views are breathtaking and the feeling of | | | | of climbing. You should be familiar with all of these |
| accomplishment is absolutely amazing. | | | | before you begin. These include Top Roping, Lead |
| Rock climbing can be done indoors or outdoors. For | | | | Climbing and Bouldering, all of which should be done |
| the beginner, it is a good idea to learn your skills and | | | | with a partner. The most popular type is lead climbing. |
| build your confidence indoors. This is a safer way to | | | | This involves a rope which is secured to the top of |
| climb and gyms the provide this require you to | | | | the rock or mountain, then fed through a pulley |
| undergo a quick lesson before heading to the wall. | | | | system and attached to the climbers harness. A |
| They will teach you how to properly tie and secure | | | | belayer will hold the bottom of the rope and feed |
| your harness, rope and other equipment and will also | | | | the climber slack as he or she needs it. The next |
| show you the necessary skills to be a good climber | | | | type, Lead Climbing requires a more advanced climber |
| or belayer (the partner on the ground). Once you | | | | to scout out the route and clip the rope into place as |
| head to the wall, you will truly understand how | | | | they go. This is more difficult for the first climber. |
| challenging this sport is. You will realize it even further | | | | Both of these types allow the climber to rest by |
| as you take the next few days to recover from the | | | | putting their weight into the harness and relying on |
| muscle soreness. But it is totally worth it. | | | | the rope for support. The third type of climbing, |
| While to watch a rock climber scaling the side of a | | | | Bouldering, does not allow for this. Bouldering is |
| mountain, it appears that they use their arms to | | | | climbing on a much smaller rock formation and does |
| propel them upwards, this is not true. In actuality, the | | | | not utilize and equipment (save for a helmet). Since |
| sport of rock climbing is approximately 75% legs and | | | | the distance to the ground is much less then during a |
| only 25% arms. Your arms are there mostly to hold | | | | normal climb, the only safety precaution may be a |
| you steady and close to the rock face. Your legs will | | | | bouldering mat which is kept on the ground in case |
| be the main source of strength and will push you | | | | of falls. The partner will guide the climber along their |
| upwards. This should be great news for those of us | | | | route (which is more sideways then straight up) and |
| who have limited upper body strength, but are quite | | | | will move the mat accordingly. |
| powerful below the waist. You don't have to be a | | | | Whatever type of climbing you choose to do, it is an |
| body builder in order to climb, in fact the leaner your | | | | exhilarating sport and allows you to challenge your |
| muscle, the easier a time you will have. The most | | | | body and mind. |
| important rule or skill of rock climbing, is to always | | | | |