| The extreme sport of climbing has grown and is | | | | a helmet, chalk bag, stoppers, hexes, nut key and a |
| gaining popularity as people become obsessed with | | | | camming device. Trad climbing requires a number of |
| completing harder and harder routes. The main types | | | | knots for climbers to tie in to. To tie in the climbers |
| of climbing are Bouldering, Alpine, Sport and Trad | | | | at both ends of the rope a Figure 8 knot is used. |
| (Traditional). | | | | Trad climbing focuses on adventure, risk and |
| Bouldering is where a climber ascends a boulder with | | | | self-sufficiency. |
| a friend (spotter) directing them to a crash mat, | | | | Sport climbing relies on permanent anchors that are |
| should they fall as usually no rope is used. The | | | | fixed to the rock for protection unlike in Trad |
| equipment needed is minimal usually just climbing | | | | climbing. Sport climbing requires gymnastic ability, |
| shoes, a chalk bag and a crash mat. When Rock | | | | strength and endurance. Pre-placed bolts form a |
| climbing, a climber would use a lot more equipment | | | | route up a rock face creating a sport climb. Sport |
| for safety purposes such as ropes, nuts, camming | | | | climbing requires the following equipment: a dynamic |
| devices along with climbing shoes, a helmet and a | | | | rope, a climbing harness (for both climber and |
| chalk bag to ascend rock formations. | | | | belayer), a helmet, quickdraws, karabiners, a belay |
| Alpine or Ice climbing is probably the most extreme | | | | device, climbing shoes, a chalk bag and slings. Sport |
| form of climbing. Climbers use special equipment | | | | climbs enable climbers to concentrate on the difficulty |
| including Ice Axes and Crampons to ascend ice or | | | | of the moves as they don't need to place protection |
| hard snow formations. Ice screws would be used in | | | | along the route. Sport climbs are rated on how |
| situations where ice obstructions prevent a normal ice | | | | difficult they are. The UK uses the French rating |
| screw from rotating. | | | | system which considers the overall difficulty of the |
| Trad climbing or Traditional climbing is a type of | | | | climb. Grades start at 1 (very easy) and the system |
| climbing where the focus is to leave nature as it was | | | | is open ended. Each grade can be subdivided by a |
| found. Climbers use gear that is non permanent for | | | | letter (a, b or c). |
| protection. Gear is placed and removed at the end of | | | | Climbing is fun but can be dangerous; it requires |
| a climb once a route is completed. Equipment used | | | | athletic ability and technical knowledge, make sure |
| for Trad climbing includes a rope, climbing shoes, | | | | you have the right gear and knowledge to keep you |
| belay device, karabiners, quickdraws, slings, a harness, | | | | safe. |