Climbing Pictogram

Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders), to small boulders. Climbing is done for locomotion, sporting recreation, and for competition, and is also done in trades that rely on ascension; such as emergency rescue and military operations. Climbing is done indoors and outdoors and on natural (e.g. rock and ice) and artificial surfaces.

Professional mountain guides or rock climbing guides (e.g. the UIAGM), were a significant element in developing the popularity of the sport in the natural environment, and remain so today. Since the 1980s, the development of competition climbing and the availability of artificial climbing walls have dramatically increased the popularity of rock climbing as a sport and led to the emergence of professional rock climbers, such as Wolfgang Güllich, Chris Sharma, Lynn Hill and Catherine Destivelle.

Climbing became an Olympic sport for the first time in the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo (see Sport climbing at the 2020 Summer Olympics).

Rock-based

Rock climbing can trace its origins to the late 19th-century, and has since developed into a number of main sub-disciplines (single-pitch, multi-pitch/big wall, bouldering, and competition), which in themselves can be conducted in varying manners (aid, sport, traditional and free solo):

* Single pitch climbing means ascending climbs that are a single rope-length (up to 50-metres) while big wall climbing (or multi-pitch climbing) means ascending routes that are many rope-lengths (can be up to 1,000-metres). Either of these two rock climbing sub-disciplines can be conducted in one of four main ways:
** Aid climbing is a form of rock climbing that uses artificial aids such as ladders, pitons, and other mechanical devices to assist in ascending a route.
** Sport climbing is a form of rock climbing that uses no artificial aids (which is known as free climbing), but does rely on permanent fixed bolts (or other mechanical anchors), for use as protection while climbing (but not as aid).
** Traditional climbing is a form of rock climbing that uses no artificial aids (and is thus free climbing) but unlike sport climbing, the climbers place removable protection such as camming devices and nuts, while ascending the route, which is then removed by the second climber.
** Free soloing is a form of rock climbing that uses no artificial aids (and is thus free climbing) and where the climber uses no protection (either sport or traditional types); thus any fall while free soloing can therefore be fatal; deep-water soloing is a form of free soloing where a fall will result in landing into safe water.
* Bouldering: means ascending boulders or small outcrops with no artificial aids (and is thus free climbing) and due to the lower height, with no protection (i.e. bouldering is a form of free soloing); very tall boulders where a fall could be serious (i.e. up to 10-metres) are known as highball bouldering.
* Competition climbing: A formal, competitive sport of recent origins, normally practiced as indoor climbing on artificial climbing walls that resemble natural formations. The International Federation of Sport Climbing ( IFSC) is the official organization governing competition rock climbing worldwide and is recognized by the IOC and GAISF and is a member of the International World Games Association (IWGA). The UIAA is the official organization governing competition ice climbing worldwide. Competition climbing has three major disciplines: Lead climbing (as Sport climbing), Bouldering, and Speed climbing.

Other mountain-based

* Ice climbing: Ascending ice or hard snow formations using special equipment, usually ice axes and crampons, but also equipment from rock climbing such as ropes.
* Mixed climbing: Ascending routes that required a combination of ice climbing and rock climbing skills (often known as Alpine climbing).
* Mountaineering: Ascending mountains for sport or recreation, which can often involve rock or ice climbing (i.e. Alpine or Himalayan climbing).
* Scrambling: Climbing rocky faces and ridges, which can include basic rock climbing, but is considered part of hillwalking.
* Solo climbing: Ascending routes alone, without a belayer; it can still involve using ropes (self-belaying) and even artificial aid; where no protection or aid is used, it is called free soloing.

Other recreational-based

* Buildering: Ascending the exterior skeletons of buildings, typically without protective equipment (i.e. as free solo climbing).
* Canyoneering: Climbing along canyons for sport or recreation.
* Grass climbing: An older form of climbing when climbing steep but grassy mountain-sides, often requiring ropes, was undertaken.
* Mallakhamba: A traditional Indian sport that combines climbing a pole or rope with the performance of aerial yoga and gymnastics.
* Parkour: An sport based around smooth movement, including climbing, around urban landscapes.
* Pole climbing: Climbing poles and masts without equipment.
* Rope climbing: Climbing a short, thick rope for speed; not to be confused with ''roped climbing'', as used in rock or ice climbing.
* Stair climbing: ascending elevation via stairs.
* Tree climbing: Recreationally ascending trees using ropes and other protective equipment.

Commercial-based

* Rope access: Industrial climbing, usually abseiling, as an alternative to scaffolding for short works on exposed structures.
* A tower climber is a professional who climbs broadcasting or telecommunication towers or masts for maintenance or repair.

Film

Climbing has been the subject of both film and documentary film with notable examples being ''Touching the Void'', ''Everest'', ''Cliffhanger'' and ''Free Solo''.

See also

* Clean climbing
* Climbing clubs
* Climbing equipment
* Climbing organizations
* List of climbers
* List of climbing topics
* Glossary of climbing terms

References

External links

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