| There are several different kinds of rock | | | | pairs and the lead (or topmost climber) is |
| climbing that people engage in for sport. | | | | attached to the lower climber, or second, by |
| Rock climbing first began to be recognized as | | | | a length of rope. Whoever is lowest at the |
| a sport when it was independently developed | | | | moment is the second, and is in charge of |
| from the rock climbing techniques of | | | | belaying the rope, keeping the belaying |
| Victorian era mountaineering in the late | | | | system secured attached to the rock, and |
| eighteen hundreds. Over the years since then, | | | | stopping the rope to keep the other climber |
| a lot of specialized safety equipment and | | | | from harm in case of a fall. While lead |
| proven techniques for staying safe and making | | | | climbing, safety devices will usually be left |
| a secure, controlled ascent have been | | | | on the mountain at regular intervals. For |
| developed. However, the sport of rock | | | | traditional lead climbing, these safety |
| climbing can still be split into two major | | | | devices installed by the lead climber, will |
| divisions: free climbing and aid climbing. | | | | usually be removed by the second during the |
| Free climbing uses only the natural features | | | | ascent. This leaves the climbing surface |
| of the rock face being climbed, and is | | | | close to the way in which it was found, and |
| significantly more dangerous than climbing | | | | leaves the same level of challenge and |
| with the assistance of safety gear. | | | | enjoyment for future climbers. |
| | | | |
| Even when safety gear is being used, however, | | | | Top rope climbing is a variant on the two |
| many climbers try to follow the ethic that | | | | person climbing system where the one in |
| their climbing activities should not damage | | | | charge of belaying the rope and keeping the |
| or change the surface of the rock face any | | | | system secure is at the top. The person at |
| more than is absolutely necessary. For some | | | | the top will place an anchor and help to hold |
| kinds of short distance rock climbing, such | | | | the rope steady while the other climber makes |
| as bouldering, purists believe in free | | | | his or her way upwards. |
| climbing assisted by some kind of pad on the | | | | |
| ground to catch them if they fall. This | | | | Not all rock climbing takes place outdoors ' |
| allows them to climb without leaving marks in | | | | indoor rock climbing is increasingly popular |
| the rock. Cams are also a good way to climb | | | | and is the way that many people start to get |
| without leaving too much of a mark on the | | | | involved in the sport. Rock climbing walls |
| surface, while driving spikes into the rock | | | | with regular handholds can be built inside of |
| to use as handholds and places to tie rope | | | | a building to teach people climbing |
| lines is one of the more invasive ways of | | | | techniques and this style of climbing with |
| climbing. | | | | holds on a wall is also sometimes used in |
| | | | sporting competitions and is a lot of fun in |
| Lead climbing is one of the most common types | | | | its own right. |
| of rock climbing, where climbers go up in | | | | |