Climbing 101 - Types of Climbing

Everyone knows that the world of rock climbing is both beautiful and dangerous, but what most people don't know is that there is more than one way to do it.

To begin with, there's traditional rock climbing as we know it. Climbers come in pairs, and are connected by a tether. It is typically a completely vertical climb and many safety measures are taken to keep climbers from plummeting to the earth. A form of this is sport climbing, in which the holds are permanently bolted into the rock, creating a faster and safer way of climbing.

Indoor climbing is another commonly recognizable form, in which climbers use stationary or mechanically-driven structures to feed their climbing cravings. The stationary walls are usually very large and elaborate, while the mechanical walls provide a never-ending climb as the conveyer rotates. Other subcategories thereof include free solo climbing, in which no rope is used and therefore if you fall, you're dead; ice climbing, in which a frozen structure is scaled in lieu of a rock; and bouldering in which there are no ropes because boulders are not quite as tall as cliffs.

Now that we know the basics, we can further discuss everything you'll need
to know about rock climbing.