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Climbing is a recreational activity and can be described as the act of going up a mountain, hill, any steep terrain, or artificial wall, using a combination of balance and power.
Climbing comes in many types, each having its own features and methods. There are several ways to categorize the different Climbing types. For instance, Climbing can vary based on the Climbing area or where you are climbing. Using this category, the types of Climbing include: Mountaineering or Mountain Climbing, Ice Climbing, Bouldering, Indoor Climbing, and Rock Climbing.
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There are two techniques for climbing particularly steep hills.
The first is top-rope climbing, which involves fastening a rope to the top of a hill face and pulling oneself up using this rope. This type of climbing is designed for small hill faces.
For larger cliffs or hill faces, a technique called lead climbing is used, which involves placing strong anchors into the hillside as one ascends up the cliff.
Hills that ascend at an angle of less than 45 usually do not require either of these two methods, but will still require further energy exertion than flat or descending terrain.
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This section gives an overview of the different Styles of Climbing.
Traditional Climbing
Also called Trad climbing, this is a form of free climbing that only uses pieces of passive protection such as nuts and hexes. These artificial tools, however, only give protection, and do not aid the climber in his ascent
Sport Climbing
Sport climbing is one of the safest types of rock climbing that entails going up a route that has permanent bolts and anchors securely fixed on the rock wall. Sport climbers are attached to a rope that's held by a belayer.
Bouldering
Bouldering involves climbing short routes commonly called a problem without the aid of harness and ropes. High strength moves, proper body positioning, and highly-developed footwork are therefore needed to ace a climb.
Solo Climbing
Solo climbing poses the highest possible risk among the different types of rock climbing though it gives absolute freedom. Some of the types of solo climbing include roped soloing, deep water soloing, and free soloing.
Mountaineering
Known as alpinism in Europe, mountaineering, as the name suggests, is the act of going up mountains. Mountaineering is considered as a more challenging form of hiking, since this requires climbing on high-altitude locations.
Ice Climbing
Ice Climbing entails climbing ice formations, which are either frozen flowing water or steep mountain routes covered with snow and ice. Ice axes and crampons are the main pieces of climbing equipment used in this sport.
Indoor Climbing
Indoor Climbing entails scaling man-made climbing walls in a controlled environment. One of the advantages of this sport is that it provides enthusiasts to try out artificial climbing walls first rather than real rocks outdoors.
Rock Climbing Gym
Rock climbing gyms are perfect for those enthusiasts who want to try climbing all year round. Beginners, moreover, are provided with a safe and convenient indoor environment that would help them improve their skills.
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In climbing, the basic team is composed of two people – the leader and the second. To enhance communication between the leader and the second during a climbing session, climbing calls have evolved. What follows are calls that must always be clarified between the leader and the second before the start of a climb. It is important that these are called out loudly and clearly, and without modification unless earlier agreed upon between the climber and the second. When climbing on a busy route, the leader and the second should always make sure to use his or her climbing partner's name.
Taking in
A call from the leader that he is pulling up, hand over hand, with all of the slack rope between him and his second.
That's me
A call from the second to indicate that all of the slack rope between him and the leader has been pulled up
Climb when you are ready
Call from leader that comes only after he has put on his belay device, checked all knots, gates shut and done up, tight on belay, in line with belay, and is able to brake correctly
Climbing
Call from the second, before starting to climb, after this call, the second does not climb until the leader calls out "ok" or "climb on"
OK or Climb on
Call from the leader to affirm he heard that the second is about to climb
Take in
If the rope has not been taken in for some time, or slack rope has been introduced due to unclipping a runner etc.
Slack
Indicates slack rope is needed, maybe to reverse a move or unclip a runner.
Tight
This is called by the second, either when making an awkward move or when expecting to fall off.
Safe
A call from the leader to indicate that there is no possibility of him coming to harm. The second will normally say 'safe' at the top of a route to the belayer out of courtesy.
You're off or Off belay
Call from the second in response to the "safe" call from the leader
Runner on
Call from the leader, to indicate that the first runner has been placed and the second must now be ready to hold a fall from a different direction.
Below
This is a call from anyone who has accidentally dislodge a stone (e.g. from a crag or a route). This call must be shouted in full volume. Once this call is given, those below should not look up to avoid receiving an injury.
Rope below
This is a courtesy call when lowering or throwing out a rope, or when abseiling, top roping etc.
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