Rock climbing

Although many climbers adhere to "minimal impact" and "" practices, rock climbing is sometimes damaging to the environment. Common environmental damages include: soil , litter, abandoned bolts and ropes, human excrement, introduction of foreign plants through seeds on shoes and clothing, and damage to native plant species, especially those growing in cracks and on ledges as these are often intentionally removed during new route development through a process commonly referred to as cleaning.

Climbing activities can sometimes encroach on sites created by various Native American cultures & early European explorers & settlers. The potential threat to these resources has led to climbing restrictions & closures in places like , & , .

Some areas that are popular for climbing are also sacred places for indigenous peoples. Many such indigenous people would prefer that climbers not climb these sacred places and have made this information well known to climbers. A well known example is the rock formation that Americans have named . Native American cultural concerns also led to a complete climbing closure at , .

Most of the climbing done in modern times is considered -- climbing using one's own physical strength with equipment used solely as protection and not as support -- as opposed to , the gear-dependent form of climbing that was dominant in the sport's earlier days. Free climbing is typically divided into several styles that differ from one another depending on the equipment used and the configurations of their belay, rope, and anchor systems (or the lack thereof).

Climbs can occur either outdoors on varying types of rock or indoors on specialized . Outdoors, climbs usually take place on sunny days when the holds are dry and provide the best grip, but climbers can also attempt to climb at night or in adverse weather conditions if they have the proper training and equipment. Note that if a route over completely and can no longer be climbed bare-handed, it would be more properly considered an route instead.

Climbing communities in many countries and regions have developed their own . Ratings (or "grades") record and communicate the consensus or subjective difficulty of climbs. The ratings take into account multiple factors affecting a route, such as the slope of the ascent, the quantity and quality of available handholds, the distance between holds, and whether advanced technical maneuvers are required. Though (the fear of heights) may affect certain climbers, the height of a route is generally not considered a factor in its difficulty rating. Tall routes could be rated low on the difficulty scale if they are not severely sloped and they provide good handholds (in which case the experience would be comparable to climbing a ). Likewise, low bouldering routes barely off the ground could be considered difficult if they involve grasping poor holds or supporting one's own weight while dangling from an overhang.

Ropes and anchors can be configured differently to suit many styles of climbing, and roped climbing is thus divided into further sub-types that vary based on how their belay systems are set up. The different styles are described in more detail below, but generally speaking, beginners will start with or and work their way up to and beyond.

As routes get higher off the ground, the increased risk of life-threatening injuries necessitates additional safety measures. A variety of specialized and exists to provide that safety, and climbers will usually work in pairs and utilize a system of ropes and designed to catch falls. Once a safety system is properly set up, one person will proceed to climb while the other (manages and controls the safety rope attached to the climber). Upon completion of a route, the climber can either detach from the rope and walk back down (if an alternate descent path exists), be lowered by the belayer (in the case of ), or down the rope using a special device. The pair will then switch positions so the belayer can get a chance to climb.

At its most basic, rock climbing involves climbing a route with one's own hands and feet and little more than a cushioned in the way of protection. This style of climbing is referred to as , since the relevant routes are usually found on no more than 10 to 15 feet tall.

Over time, have also been created in order to more accurately compare the relative difficulties of climbs.

(climbing using equipment that act as artificial hand- or footholds) became popular during the period - , leading to ascents in the and in that were considered impossible without such means. However, climbing techniques, equipment, and ethical considerations have evolved steadily, and today, (climbing on holds made entirely of natural rock, using gear solely for protection and not for support) is the most popular form of the sport. Free climbing has since been divided into several dependent on belay configuration (described below).

Although rock climbing was an important component of in the , it is generally thought that the sport of rock climbing began in the last quarter of the in various parts of Europe. Rock climbing evolved gradually from an alpine necessity to a distinct athletic activity.

Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport, one that often tests a climber's strength, endurance, agility, and balance along with his or her mental control. It can be a dangerous sport and knowledge of proper and usage of specialized is crucial for the safe completion of routes. The wide variety of rock formations around the world has led rock climbing to separate into several different styles

Rock climbing is a in which participants climb up or across natural formations or man-made with the goal of reaching the of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route. Rock climbing is similar to (another activity involving the scaling of hills and similar formations), but climbing is generally differentiated by its need for the use of the climber's hands to hold his or her own weight and not just provide balance.

Climbing is full of transitions and how you negociate them will determine how deliberate you climb. Transitions, however, are full of ambiguity and climbers tend to rush these transitions or stall out in them.

Rock Climbing,

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