| There are many types of climbing, namely: trad rock | | | | It provides a great opportunity to learn to climb in a |
| climbing, bouldering, ice climbing, sport climbing and | | | | very controlled environment. Perhaps this is where |
| solo climbing. Which one do you like? Brief | | | | any climber can start to develop your own climbing |
| descriptions of each climbing will be covered. | | | | style and philosophy. |
| Meanwhile bear with it for a while. :) | | | | Bouldering (My Favourite of All) |
| Traditional Rock Climbing | | | | This is my personal favourite. Bouldering is a very |
| Traditional climbing, or Trad climbing, is a style of | | | | explosive type of climbing. |
| climbing that emphasizes the skills necessary for | | | | Bouldering is climbing performed with no rope or |
| establishing routes in an exploratory fashion. Before | | | | belay at the base of a cliff, on large rocks at a |
| the introduction of sport climbing, the normal style of | | | | boulder field, or in a climbing gym. I love it since it is |
| unaided rock climbing was what is now referred to as | | | | hassle-free. And when bouldering, climbers usually |
| "traditional". | | | | never get more than a few feet off the ground. A |
| A traditional rock climber, often called a "trad climber," | | | | mix of spotters and crash pads are used to ensure |
| is a roped climber who climbs placing protection, like | | | | safe landings. This style requires the least amount of |
| nuts and hexes, to ensure his safety. Trad climbing | | | | gear - you only need your shoes, chalk, and crash |
| usually involves the leader ascending a section of | | | | pad. Problems known as 'routes' are series of moves, |
| rock while placing their own protective devices as he | | | | which you can doover and over again until you |
| she climbs. Route finding, effective gear placements, | | | | master them. Addition of moves will increase the |
| self control, and good down-climbing skills are | | | | challenge. Lastly you shouldn't try this type of |
| essential. | | | | climbing at a high height. |
| Sport Climbing | | | | *Remember Every Climb Matters and please take |
| Sport climbing is a style of rock climbing that relies on | | | | note your safety* |
| permanent anchors fixed to the rock, especially bolts, | | | | Ice Climbing |
| for protection. Sport climbing places an emphasis on | | | | Ice Climbing, as the term indicates, is the activity of |
| gymnastic ability, strength and endurance. And safety | | | | ascending inclined ice formations. Climber will use ice |
| is not compromised. In short sport climbing is very | | | | tools efficiently; a climber will be able to climb vertical |
| similar to traditional rock climbing, except for the | | | | ice, such as frozen waterfalls. Ice axes and crampons |
| difference in the gear. Instead of using "nuts" and | | | | are the main tools the ice climber uses. Usually, |
| "friends", you have quickdraws which is a short sling | | | | though, ice climbing refers to roped and protected |
| with a carabiner on each end. | | | | climbing of features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls, |
| Sport Climbing Sport climbing is any indoor or outdoor | | | | and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice refrozen |
| climbing using quickdraws and a rope on bolt | | | | from flows of water. However disadvantage of ice |
| protected routes. Indoor sport climbing was borne | | | | climbing is that the ice is incredibly variable under |
| out of the desire of climbers to train year round, | | | | different conditions. The ice can be soft, hard, brittle |
| even during adverse weather conditions. Climbers | | | | or tough. |
| wear a harness and use a belayer to control the | | | | Solo Climbing |
| rope. This is known as Top roping which involves any | | | | Solo climbing or soloing is a style of climbing in which |
| indoor or outdoor climbing that uses a fixed anchor | | | | the climber climbs alone, without somebody belaying |
| for the rope at the top of a climbing route. Top | | | | him. |
| roping can be done on sport routes once a climber | | | | Soloing is the freest form of climbing. Falling and |
| 'leads' the route and establishes an anchor at the top | | | | getting up is hardly possible... |
| of the route for other climbers. Climbers clip | | | | Instead of focusing on your moves, the solo climber |
| quickdraws into bolts that are fixed to the rock and | | | | is totally committed to reach the summit. You don't |
| then clip the rope to the other end of quickdraws as | | | | have any protection gear. This is a very high level of |
| they ascend the rock. | | | | climbing and involves great risk. If you are a beginner, |
| Next my favourite will be lead climbing which refers | | | | this is highly discouraged. |
| to climbing a sport route, without a fixed anchor at | | | | Phew guess this is a long one. Hope you do enjoy |
| the top of a route for the rope. Also now climbing | | | | and realize there are more about climbing other than |
| competitions are done on indoor climbing walls or | | | | rock climbing we usually know by itself. |
| even the walls are even sometimes moved outside. | | | | |