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Rock climbers on Valkyrie at The

Roaches in Staf fordshire,

England.

A competitor in a rope climbing

event, at Lyon's Part-Dieu

shopping centre.

ClimbingFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet (or indeed any

other part of the body) to ascend a steep object. It is done both for

recreation (to reach an inaccessible place, or for its own enjoyment)

and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a

structure, or military operations. Climbing can be done in the outside

world or inside via man-made structures.

Climbing activities include:

Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small outcrops, often withclimbing shoes and a chalk bag or bucket. Usually, instead of 

using a safety rope from above, injury is avoided using a crashpad and a human spotter (to direct a falling climber on to thepad).

Buildering: Climbing urban structures - usually withoutequipment - avoiding normal means of ascent, like stairs,escalators, and elevators. Aspects of buildering can be seen inthe art of movement known as Parkour.Canyoning: Climbing along canyons for sport or recreation.

Chalk climbing: cliff s of chalk may (with difficulty) be climbedusing some of the same techniques as ice climbing [1](http://www.firstascent.co.uk/b_person8.html).

Competition Climbing: A formal, competitive sport of recentorigins, normally practiced on artif icial walls that resemble

natural rock formations. The International Federation of SportClimbing (IFSC) is the official organization governing

competition climbing worldwide and is recognized by the IOCand GAISF and is a member of the International World GamesAssociation (IWGA). Competition Climbing has three ma jordisciplines: Lead, Bouldering and Speed.

Ice climbing: Ascending ice or hard snow formations usingspecial equipment designed for the purpose, usually ice axesand crampons. Techniques of protecting the climber are similar

to those of rock climbing, although the protective devices

themselves are different (ice screws, snow wedges).Lead climbing: An important form of recreational climbing inwhich the climber starts at the base of a route, then climbs

upwards pulling a rope behind him for protection (i.e. withoutthe benefit of a rope from above). From time to time the rope ispassed through a karabiner attached to the rock via some kindof anchor (known as a running belay, or runner), thus affording

the climber some degree of protection should he/she fall. Thedegree of safety depends crucially on the quality of the anchorsavailable, and the distance between them. A fallling climber

will typically fall over twice the distance between him/her and the last runner.

Mountain climbing (Mountaineering): Ascending mountains for sport or recreation. It often involvesrock and/or ice climbing.Net climbing: Climbing net structures. The climbing structures consist of multiple interconnected

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An ice climber using ice axes and

crampons.

steel reinforced ropes attached to the ground and steel poles. Climbing nets are usually installed on

playgrounds to assist children in developing their balancing and climbing skills.Pole climbing (gymnastic): Climbing poles and masts without equipment.Lumberjack tree-trimming and competitive tree-trunk or pole climbing for speed using spikes andbelts.

Rock climbing: Ascending rock formations, often usingclimbing shoes and a chalk bag. Equipment such as ropes,bolts, nuts, hexes and camming devices are normallyemployed, either as a safeguard or for artificial aid.

Rope access: Industrial climbing, usually abseiling, as analternative to scaffolding for short works on exposed structures.Rope climbing: Climbing a short, thick rope for speed. Not to

be confused with roped climbing, as in rock or ice climbing.Scrambling which includes easy rock climbing, and isconsidered part of hillwalking.Sport climbing is a form of rock climbing that relies on

permanent anchors fixed to the rock, and possibly bolts, forprotection, (in contrast with traditional climbing, where the

rock is typically devoid of fixed anchors and bolts, and whereclimbers must place removable protection as they climb).

Tree climbing: Ascending trees without the intention of harming them, using ropes and other equipment. This is a lesscompetitive activity than rock climbing.

Rock, ice and tree climbing all usually use ropes for safety or aid. Pole climbing and rope climbing were

among the first exercises to be included in the origins of modern gymnastics in the late 18th century and

early 19th century.

See also

Fall factorArboreal locomotionClimbing clubsClimbing equipment

Climbing organisationsList of climbers - Notable rock and ice climbersList of climbing areasList of climbing topics

Glossary of climbing termsGlossary of knots common in climbingOutdoor education

Outdoor activityRock climbingParkourScrambling

References

External links

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Climbing (http://www.dmoz.org/Recreation/Climbing/) at the Open Directory Project

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Climbing&oldid=559411334"

Categories: Climbing Mixed sports Locomotion (biological)

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