| The history of climbing is a recent history. Unlike | | | | were viewed as similar activities, and it was not until |
| many sports, climbing does not date back to ancient | | | | the 1950's that it began to emerge as a separate |
| times. People tended to climb the steep faces of | | | | sport. Still much of the techniques used in rock |
| rocky cliffs only when they had to and now they do | | | | climbing were developed as a part of mountain |
| it because they want to do it. | | | | climbing. |
| There was some rock climbing down as a part of | | | | In recent years, rock climbing has going through a |
| Alpine mountaineering. This was done most for | | | | period of rapid evolution. New styles and improved |
| rescue type operations. It was not until the latter | | | | equipment are constantly being introduced. Many rock |
| part of the 19th century that rock climbing was first | | | | climbers are starting to consider the hobby as almost |
| seen as a sporting activity. It seems to have | | | | more of a lifestyle than a sport. One trend has been |
| emerged in three distinct European areas around this | | | | the introduction of indoor rock climbing in urban areas. |
| time. The first was in Germany in the Elbe Sandstone | | | | These facilities have artificial rock faces that are |
| Mountains in the Southeastern part of the country | | | | designed to simulate actual formations. The safety |
| near the Czech border. By 1903, there were almost | | | | equipment used in the indoor arenas have made it |
| 500 climbers active in this region and climbing clubs | | | | possible to practice and experience much of the thrill |
| were being formed. | | | | and demanding nature of rock climbing without the |
| Around the same time, rock climbing was being | | | | risk. |
| viewed as a sport in England. Some of the early | | | | Despite the safety equipment and improved |
| climbers attracted a lot of attention with solo climbs | | | | techniques, rock climbing is not only a sport that |
| of very difficult cliff formations. It is here that the | | | | demands a great deal of physical strength and |
| practice of assigning difficulty ratings to various | | | | stamina, but is also hazardous. The history of rock |
| formations began. Although formal climbing clubs | | | | climbing is recent history because mankind had |
| were slow to form here, many climbers began to | | | | enough challenges to his strength and stamina in just |
| meet informally to discuss their climbs and share | | | | routine living in the past. Rocks were only climbing if |
| notes on techniques. | | | | there was some compelling reason to climb them. It |
| In the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy, a 17 | | | | says much about our modern society that rock |
| year old student from Munich, Germany, made a | | | | climbing is becoming a popular activity. There is |
| daring solo climb and this led to this area being the | | | | something in human nature that always seeks a |
| third great European hotbed of rock climbing. In the | | | | challenge. Rock climbing came into existence because |
| United States, rock climbing and mountain climbing | | | | of that basic drive. |