Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Know How Rock Climbing Started

By Leslie Moore

The history of climbing rocks, unlike many sports, is recent. According to history, people used to climb steep mountain faces and dangerous cliffs since they had to, but today people do it as a sporting activity. Rock climbing was mainly used as a means to rescue people stranded in the Alps.

It took until the late 19th century when climbing emerged as a sporting activity from three marked areas of Europe. Close to the Czech border in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in South-eastern part of Germany, was the first place. By year 1903, there were near 500 people actively engaged in climbing and climbing clubs were gradually getting formed.

Around the same time, rock climbing was being viewed as a sport in England. Many early climbers became the cynosure of all eyes as they attempted to climb extremely steep cliffs alone. It is here that allocating various difficulty ratings started which followed the various types of cliff formations. Climbers would meet up and share and discuss their climbing experiences, while the climbing clubs were slowly getting formed.

The third hot venue for European rock climbing came about when a 17 year old student from Munich Germany managed to perform a solo climb in the Dolomite Mountains located in northern Italy. In the United States, rock climbing and mountain climbing were viewed as similar activities, and it was not until the 1950's that it began to emerge as a separate sport. Still much of the techniques used in were developed as a part of mountain climbing.

In recent times, rock climbing has evolved drastically with new and improved styles and equipment being introduced every day. Many rock climbers are starting to consider the hobby as almost more of a lifestyle than a sport. Another noticeable trend is the setting up of indoor climbing in urban zones. Here many actual rock formations are duplicated in design with artificial rock faces. The safety equipment used in the indoor arenas have made it possible to practice and experience much of the thrill and demanding nature of rock climbing without the risk.

Rock climbing requires a lot of effort, strength and determination and can never be a risk-free experience despite the plethora of safety equipment and new techniques in place. In recent times, mankind had enough to go through to survive without inventing challenges. Climbing rocks was done by force and not otherwise. The growing popularity of rock climbing speaks volumes about the modern society. One of the primary drivers of human spirit is to seek fresh challenges and it is perhaps due to his fact that this sport exists today.

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