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 is a style in climbing in which a rope, used for the climber's safety, runs from a belayer at the foot of a route through one or more carabiners connected to an anchor system at the top of the route and back down to the climber, usually attaching to the climber by means of a harness. 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, as the term indicates, 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.[1] For the purposes of climbing, ice can be broadly divided into two spheres, alpine ice and water ice. 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 Jamming Jamming, also called crack climbing, is a climbing technique used for ascending cracks or fissures on rock faces by the technique of wedging or "jamming" a climbers fingers, hands, arms, feet, and knees into a crack or fissure. The friction obtained from wedging allows the climber to move upward. Jams are referred to by the body part used: finger jam; hand jam; fist jam; arm bar; knee jam; foot jam; toe jam. Jamming is a difficult technique to learn but once a climber learns it offers a generally secure way to climb a crack as well as find a rest. Mantel Climbing To mantle or mantel in rock climbing is to perform a specific move, typically to get a climber up onto a ledge. The term is derived from the phrase mantel shelf and derives from the shelf above a fireplace. Imagine an old house with high cellings and an open fireplace with a shelf above it at chest height or slightly higher with a blank wall behind. The climber starts standing in the middle of the fireplace and ends standing on the mantel shelf and uses no hold except the mantel shelf. The motion is similar to that used in getting out of a swimming pool without using a ladder or steps Reaching up, the climber puts one or both hands on the ledge and raises his body gradually. Bridging Bridging is a climbing technique where the climber uses their legs to support the body by spanning across a gap, one foot on each wall. Although a little intimidating to new climbers, bridging often offers more balance and support. Those looking at developing a good bridging technique should take a look at indoor routes set in or near to the corners. Corner routes often incorporate bridging and good setters often set routes with bridges for this very reason.

Traditional climbing, or trad climbing, is a style of rock climbing in which a climber or group of climbers places all gear required to protect against falls (pitons, etc.), and removes it when a passage is complete. Characterising climbing as "traditional" distinguishes it from sport climbing in which all protection and anchor points are permanently installed prior to the climb typically while rappelling, and "free solo climbing" (a.k.a. "free soloing"), which does not use ropes or gear of any kind. However, protection bolts installed while lead climbing are also considered "traditional" as they were placed during the act of climbing from the ground-up rather than on rappel, especially in the context of granite slab climbing. The term "gear" in climbing generally refers to equipment used during climbs (except harness, shoes, chalk bags, and chalk). Gear or "protection" are mechanical devices that provide safety, either by allowing greater stability in making a move (as in the case of aid climbing) or by dampening force and reducing the distance of a fall. The suitability of individual types of gear depends on the surface and formation of the rock face. "Placing gear" denotes the act of setting a piece of gear into the rock face and then attaching the rope (via carabineer) before ascending higher. In the event of a fall, the gear acts as a catch-point for the rope, thus preventing the climber from hurtling to the ground. Being "run out" refers to the situation where the distance from the climber's position to the last piece of gear is far enough that the climber will receive little, if any, protection from a fall. Trad Gear Aluminium, steel or brass nuts Hexagonal-shaped chocks Slings Spring-loaded camming device Tricams

Commonly used knots A number of knots are required for traditional climbing, to create anchors, to tie in the climbers and even to be used during the climb. Figure of 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 a 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 known as a chickenhead or any trees that may be on the route. Lark's foot or girth hitch, is used to attach slings to trees or spikes and also to a climbers harness.

Typical sequence Leader places gear on harness Leader ties into the rope using a Figure 8 knot. Second climber ties into the other end of the rope. Second puts the leader on belay using a belay device or munter hitch. Leader climbs up and places the first piece of protection. The first piece of protection should be multi-directional. This means that it should not be able to be pulled out if it moves up or down. Leader uses a quick draw or extended draw to connect the first piece to the rope. Leader climbs upwards and places the second piece of protection and repeats until the top of the climb. Leader creates an anchor and clips into using a screw gate carabineer to become safe. Seconder takes leader off belay Leader pulls up all the rope until there is no slack between the leader and seconder. Leader puts second on belay Second climbs up and removes the protection the leader has placed on the way up. Types of rock A number of types of rock are climbed on each with a varying degree of suitability for traditional climbing. Some examples are Sandstone, Granite and Limestone.

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. On a sport climbing route, pre-placed bolts follow a 'line' up a rock face. Sport climbs can vary in length from a few metres to a full 60 metre rope length for multi-pitch climbs. The climbs might be equipped with just a few bolts or many. Sport climbing can be undertaken with relatively little equipment. Equipment used in sport climbing includes: A dynamic rope Quickdraw Belay devices Climbing harness Climbing shoe

To lead a sport climb means to ascend a route with a rope tied to the climber's harness, and with the loose end of the rope handled by a belayed. As each bolt is reached along the route, the climber attaches a Quickdraw to the bolt, and then clips the rope through the hanging end of the Quickdraw. This bolt is now protecting the climber in the event of a fall. At the top of sport routes, there is typically a two-bolt anchor that can be used to return the climber to the ground or previous rappel point. Because sport routes do not require placing protection, the climber can concentrate on the difficulty of the moves rather than placing protection or the consequences of a fall. Sport climbing differs from traditional climbing with respect to the type and placement of protection. Traditional climbing uses mostly removable protection (such as cams or nuts), and tends to minimize the usage of preplaced protection. Sport climbing typically involves single pitch routes but can have multi-pitch routes. El Potrero Chico is a well known multi-pitch sport climbing area. Long multi-pitch routes may lack pre-placed anchors due to economical, logistical or ethical reasons. Rock types that produce good sport climbs include limestone, granite and quartzite, though sport climbs can be found on almost all rock types.

In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route. Different aspects of climbing each have their own grading system, and many different nationalities developed their own, distinctive grading systems. There are a number of factors that contribute to the difficulty of a climb including the technical difficulty of the moves, the strength and stamina required, the level of commitment, and the difficulty of protecting the climber. Different grading systems consider these factors in different ways, so no two grading systems have an exact one-to-one correspondence.

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 see buildering. Bouldering is a style of climbing emphasizing power, strength, and dynamics. Its focus is on individual moves or short sequences of moves, unlike traditional climbing or sport climbing, which generally demand more endurance over longer stretches of rock where the difficulty of individual moves is not as great. Boulder routes are commonly referred to as problems (a British appellation) because the nature of the climb is often short, curious, and much likes problem solving. Sometimes these problems are eliminates, meaning certain artificial restrictions are imposed. Bouldering is more focused on the technique of climbing instead of undertaking a full bodied climb. To reduce the risk of injury from a fall, climbers rarely go higher than 35 meters above the ground. Anything over 7 meters is generally considered to be free-soloing or simply 'soloing', although such climbs might also be termed high-ball bouldering problems. For further protection, climbers typically put a bouldering mat crash pad on the ground to break their fall. Last, climbers often have one or more spotters, who work to direct the climber's body toward the crash pad during a fall, while protecting the climber's head from hazards. Equipment One of the major appeals of bouldering is its relatively scant equipment requirements. Nothing is actually required - beyond suitable comfortable and flexible clothing - and it is not uncommon to see people bouldering with just climbing shoes, a chalk bag, and a crash mat. Bouldering equipment may include: Close-fitting rubber climbing shoes, for better traction and edging capabilities. Loose, powdered chalk may be used as a hand drying agent while climbing. Alternatively, liquid chalk is sometimes used. A mattress-like object called a crash pad. These are generally thick, rectangular foam pads with a heavy-duty fabric shell.

They are opened and placed at the base of a boulder to cover irregularities in the landing and provide some cushion if the climber falls. A brush, or several brushes of differing sizes, is used to clean holds. Brushes are typically made with nylon bristles, but sometimes use coarse animal hair, and may be mounted on a telescopic pole to allow greater reach. Sports tape is useful for covering cuts or blisters, as well as providing support for joints that may have been strained.

Locations by Country Fontainebleau, France - The region around Fontainebleau in France is particularly famous for its beautiful and concentrated bouldering areas. French alpine climbers practiced bouldering there since the 19th century. It remains today a prime climbing location. It is the biggest and most

developed bouldering area in the world. Squamish, Canada - Climb On is a rock climbing store located in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. We carry climbing gear for trad climbing, sport climbing, bouldering, and alpine

climbing. We also rent out climbing shoes, harnesses, crash pads, helmets, and chalk bags during the summer; ice crampons (trekking & technical), ice axes, helmets, and avalanche packages (probe, shovel, and beacon) during the winter. Other services include shoe resole, cam repair, and information about the climbing, accommodation, news, and events in Squamish, as well as the Vancouver, Whistler, and Pemberton area.