What is Rock climbing?

1) Rock climbing can be divided into three main categories or styles a. Traditional (Trad) b. Sport c. Bouldering. Write a page on each, describing the skills and equipment used in each style, use pictures and examples where you can (some examples should be from personal experience) 2) Describe what is meant by top roping? Top-rope climbing (or Top-roping) is a style in climbing in which a rope, used for the climber's safety, 3) Describe what is meant by multi pitch? Multi-pitch climbing is the ascent of climbing routes with one or more stops at a belay station. Each section of actual climbing between stops at the belay stations is called a pitch. The leader ascends the pitch, placing gear and stopping to anchor themselves to the belay station.

4) Describe what is meant by ice climbing? Ice climbing is the activity of ascending inclined ice formations. Usually, ice climbing refers to roped and protected climbing of features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice refrozen from flows of water. 5) When talking about climbing moves, handholds and footholds, we can use the following terminology: a. Hand Jam b. Mantleshelfing c. Bridging Write a paragraph on each describing how you do each one

Hand Jam
Hand jams are when you put your hands into a crack so that they fit inside with the palms facing one wall of the crack and the back of your hand facing the other. Hand cracks are usually the most secure cracks to climb as well as the easiest. Hand jams often use little strength because you are usually hanging on your arm bones rather than your muscles. Your feet are also wedged securely into a hand crack. Jamming a hand crack is like climbing a ladder without the rungs. To jam a hand crack, you need to wedge your hand in the crack with the side of your hand with the thumb on top or what climbers call thumbs up. Then tuck your thumb into the palm of your hand and expand the hand so it exerts opposing pressure on the opposite sidewalls of the crack. Then hang your weight off your wedged handthats a hand jam. If its under 10cm wide you will Jam the crack by sliding in your hands and camming your fingers into the crack. You may also wish to jam your feet into the crack for purchase.

Mantleshelfing
To mantle or mantel in rock climbing is to perform a specific move, typically to get a climber up onto a ledge. Reaching up, the climber puts one or both hands on the ledge and raises his body gradually. At some point the climber will be high enough to change the force being exerted, from pulling on the ledge, into pushing downwards with the hands (when the midpoint of the body is approximately at the level of the ledge). The climber then puts one foot on the ledge and transfers body weight to it before standing up without the use of holds on the wall behind the ledge. The move can be made without using any hold except the ledge itself though a foothold or smearing below the ledge will make the move easier. This move is usually performed when good handholds above the ledge either do not exist or are not reachable. The use of knees or other body parts is thought of as poor technique as it requires a subsequent, and often awkward, move to return the climber to the standing position.

Bridging
Bridging climbing is climbing a corner of a rock. To do this you spread your legs wide apart and relying on friction or very small holds for ascent. The technique of using just friction for climbing is known as smearing and dyno is a form of jumping, used to reach holds that are out of static reach. You can climb corners and large cracks by bridging the gap with your feet, pushing with your hands and feet across the sides. Any holds you can use will make this feel more secure as it relies on opposing pressure and friction off the rock.

Traditional Rock Climbing

Traditional Climbing, or Trad Climbing, is a form of Free Climbing wherein the routes are climbed without using artificial tools to help the climbers in their ascent. Only the climbers hands and feet and some pieces of Passive Protection like Nuts and Hexes are used. Tools used in Trad Climbing are employed as a means of assisting climbers by means of protection, rather than aiding them upwards. What separates Trad Climbing from other styles is that the safety of the climber relies on the tools used as well as the suitable area to place such tools on the mountain wall. This makes Trad Climbing, otherwise known as Adventure Climbing in Australia, a pretty gearintensive form of Climbing. Trad climbers even have a rack to carry pieces of protection, or Pros, Slings of different lengths, as well as spare Carabiners for emergency use. This rack is usually carried on a sling around the shoulders or clipped to the gear loops on the harness. The pieces of equipment used are retrieved either by a belayer or by the climber himself during his descent. Traditional Climbing, or Trad Climbing, is a form of Free Climbing wherein the routes are climbed without using artificial tools to help the climbers in their ascent. Only the climbers hands and feet and some pieces of Passive Protection like Nuts and Hexes are used.

Traditional rock climbing involves two people, yourself and your partner as well as the use of rope. One climber ascends a piece of rock, placing protection such as nuts and hexes into the rock's weaknesses such as cracks or rock spurs. The rope that this climber is carrying is attached to him or her via a sit harness that is worn. The other end of the rope is attached to a climbing partner and while one climbs up, the other partner feeds out the rope as is needed through a belay device. Equipment (Traditional) Rope, cord and webbing Carabiners Quickdraws Harness Belay device

Ropes (Traditional) Figure 8 is commonly used to tie in the climbers at both ends Clove hitch is used when building an anchor using the rope and sometimes to make a climber safe quickly at a belay ledge Alpine butterfly can be used to tie a climber into the middle of the rope Munter hitch is commonly used to belay without a belay device Slip knot or running knot, can be used during a climb to sling a protrusion of rock know as a chickenhead or any trees that may be on the route Larks foot or girth hitch, is used to attach slings to trees or spikes and also to a climber harness Nuts Everyone who traditional climbs should have 1-2 sets of nuts (aka stoppers), which are shaped metal wedges that you place in a crack where it gets narrower. If placed properly, nuts are bomber and will hold big falls. Camming devices, or just cams, work well in cracks with parallel sides and are the perfect complement to nuts. When you place a cam you pull the trigger, making the 3 or 4 metal lobes narrower. Once the cam is in the crack far enough, release the trigger and the lobes will expand. Any force that attempts to pull the cam will make the lobes wider, keeping the unit secure. Before you lead a traditional climb, make sure to learn from an expert how to properly place all your gear, build anchors, and other required safety techniques.

Examples were you go Traditional climbing. North Wales Scotland Spain Snowdonia Portugal France Italy Turkey Romania Belgium Greece Hungary

Sport
Sport climbing is a form of rock climbing that relies on permanent anchors fixed to the rock, and possibly bolts, for protection, (in contrast with traditional climbing, where the rock is typically devoid of fixed anchors and bolts, and where climbers must place removable protection as they climb). Since the need to place protection is virtually eliminated, sport climbing places an emphasis on gymnastic-like ability, strength, and endurance - as opposed to the adventure, risk and self-sufficiency which characterize traditional climbing. Since artificial means are used primarily for safety rather than to make upward progress, sport climbing is considered a form of free climbing.

Sport, climbing allows you to fully experience the great outdoors by giving you eagle-eye views from lofty summits, pushing both your physical fitness and mental health, and offering you a way to confront and control a couple of our greatest human fearsthat of falling and that of heights. Climbing is a risky sport that requires both skill and nerve for success. Climbing tools and equipment such as ropes, harnesses, carabiners, cams, and helmets are all used to lessen the risks of climbing and gravity. Climbing a well-bolted route allows you to focus on the moves and simply climb as hard as possible without the hassle of placing protection. Routes that youd hesitate to lead on traditional gear become more accessible. After all, if youre finding a particular move tricky you can just have a go or take a rest so you can figure it out. Thats not to say sport climbing is 100% safe, like any type of climbing you need to look after yourself and whoever youre belaying.

Equipment
Rope A good rope is your most important piece of equipment. Its best to get either a 10.5mm or 11mm cord. The thinner ones wear out faster and unless youre an elite climber cranking hard routes, youll never feel the weight difference. Buy a 200-foot (60-meter) rope since so many sport routes now are as long as 100 feet from base to anchors. Dont buy a dry rope; they cost more and theyre made for mountaineering routes so they keep dry on ice and snow. Quickdraws The quickdraw, simply a piece of sewn webbing attached to two carabiners, is essential for sport climbing protection. Each quickdraw is made from webbing between four and six inches long. The two carabiners should have two different gatesthe biner at the end that clips into a bolt should have a straight gate while the opposite end, which the rope clips into, should have either a bent gate for easy clipping or a wire gate. Belay Device A good belay device that youre familiar with is very important. Climbers consider this the ultimate belay device, since, with use and experience; its easy to hold a hangdogging climber who is working hard moves or to catch a fall.

Harness A lightweight harness is fine for sport climbing. You dont need a beefy big wall harness with a wide waist belt and thick leg loops since youll only be hanging in your harness after you fall, when youre working tough moves, or lowering back to the ground. Try to get a harness with four gear loops; each loop holds seven quickdraws. Rock Shoes Rock shoes are essential to your performance. Lots of specialty sport climbing shoes are out there, but if youre just starting out then buy a good all-around shoe. Theyll be comfortable. Theyll last a long time. Chalk/Chalk Bag When you climb a lot your hands get sweaty. Chalk helps dry them and allows you to grip those tiny handholds better. A chalk bag on a nylon strap around your waist allows you to pull the bag to either your right or left side for better hand entry. Example of where you can go sport climbing France Scotland Yorkshire South wales Lake district Spain

Bouldering Bouldering is a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs over a crash pad called a bouldering mat so that a fall will not result in serious injury. It is typically practiced on large natural boulders or artificial boulders in gyms and outdoor urban areas. However, it may also be practiced at the base of larger rock faces, or even on buildings or public architecture.

Bouldering is a form of low level climbing typically limited to a height of 4-5m to ensure safety and practised above thick foam matting to help prevent injury from falling. Bouldering is suitable for all age groups and all abilities and offers an alternative all weather sporting activity that is exhilarating, challenging and motivating. Requiring very little specialist equipment and as physical as you want it to be, bouldering is the perfect antidote to the monotony of gyms.

No specialist equipment is required other climbing shoes which allow a much higher level of grip and precision to be achieved than regular training shoes. You will also need flexible and comfortable clothes Examples of where you can go Bouldering You can do Bouldering at any climbing Centre in the world. Most people do it daily just by climbing on rocks. Bouldering is a basic understanding of how climbing works. Before you are allowed to go onto the higher levels, you must be able to do bouldering as it is a very easy.