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What
is Rock Climbing?
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Rock
climbing is very interesting and adventurous
sport which provides a large platform
to perform. Learning rock climb is very
easy and interesting. There is no need
of big muscles as shown in Hindi movies-
rather it needs well balanced mind and
slight physical fitness. A rock is climbed
by mind & body both. Here ,we will
go slight in detail about this sport.
Many people have misunderstandings and
unnecessary phobias about this sport.
TYPE
OF ROCK CLIMBING: A rock is climbed
by two method only.
1.
Free hand rock climbing
2. Aided climb or Artificial rock climbing.
Free
Hand rock climb: Free hand rock climbing
is done on a type and angle of rock where
security for caliber is not needed. A
rock which provides ample holds for climber
to go ahead. Usually such type of rocks
are sand stone or volcanic in nature.
Long lengths ( Long and huge rocks ) are
not climbed by this way .This method is
only for short distance climbing which
may go up to 40-50 feet maximum.
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Artificial
or Aided Climb: This is what one sees on
'Discovery' and other channels. As the name
indicates,it means 'with the help of some aid'.
Some technical equipment is needed for this
type of rock climbing and proper knowledge and
training is there to use the same. Rock pitons
are used to climb a pitch ,carabineers,jhumars,climbing
ropes ,seat harness, bolts & slings are
used to climb this way.This is not necessary
that one should go through courses only, a good
instructor can provide you basics of rock climbing
and if you 'fall'n love' with the sport -you
can join real climbings where you will get exposure
according to your experience and stamina to
perform. Please note that as we said earlier
-NO BIG MUSCLES ARE NEEDED FOR THIS SPORT.
With
the passage of time a third type of rock climbing
has come up. It is called 'wall climbing'. A wall
of certain height is created with artificial holds
in it and then different-2 routes are created
and climbed. In European countries there are national
level competitions of this sport being organized
. India have yet to come at that level as only
certified wall is in IMF Building ,Delhi -as for
as North India is concerned.
MOST
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
The
Hazards/Dangers in Climbing
The desire to go climbing defies many people's
concept of logic. It brings in the bread for less
than 0.1% of the climbing community. You might
hear all kinds of neat beautiful experiences about
climbing, but you'll have time for that later.
You can't blame anyone but yourself. Because from
this point on, you are about to engage in one
of the more hazardous avocations in modern society.
Climbing is relatively safe, but only because
we have instilled a degree of paranoia in all
climbers to take precautions. Modern climbing
makes implicit assumptions that the worst (not
quite) will happen and it trains (techniques like
belaying and self-arrest) to deal with these situations.
Climbers are not oblivious to heights. Most have
a health respect for heights, but as a climber,
you cannot afford vertigo or a lapse of judgment.
Climbing hazards necessitate sometimes regimented
behaviors. Consider bungee jumping instead.
Safety
If we want to be safe, the logical conclusion
is to stop climbing. And if you want to be safe
you should stop reading right now, and carry on
with your life as if nothing happened. The usual
climbing response is that safety taken to it's
logical extreme means living inside in a padded
cell. Which is okay for some people. To experienced
climbers, climbing is "safe enough."
The issue is not adrenaline. Most climbers are
not adrenaline junkies. They don't have time to
be AJs, and climbing is too much effort.
Specialist
equipment such as ropes is often used to aid progress
and protect climbers from falls from height."
This rather dry description tells only half the
story. It says nothing of the buzz that success
on a challenging climb gives, or of the pleasures
gained from exploring wild and unspoiled places.
Indoor
climbing gyms
There are numerous indoor climbing gyms in western
countries providing good opportunity to build
strength and develop climbing fitness. It is important
however to realize there are many more skills
required in outdoor climbing than can be learned
in a gym. Just as regular gyms provide training
for outdoor sports without providing specific
instruction in those sports, so too do climbing
gyms provide training for rock climbing. Unfortunately,
indoor climbing gyms do not yet prevail in India.
Classification
of rock surface according to Their Gradient
Glacis
:- A rock surface with a
slope of less than 30 degrees is 'Glacis'. One
can easily walk up or down such a rock.
Slab
:- A rock surface with a slope between
30 to 75 degrees is called as Slab.
Wall
:- A rock surface with a slope between 75
to 90 degrees is called as Wall.
Overhang
:- A rock portion projecting overhead and
having an angle of more than 90 degrees is called
as Overhang.
Roof
:- A rock portion projecting outwards like
a roof at nearly 180* is called a Roof.
Classification
of rocks according to Faults
Cracks
:- Vertical, horizontal or slanting cracks
can be used for climbing. Depending on their width
one can use an appropriate technique for climbing.
Chimney
:- A wider crack in which a climber can enter
is called as chimney.
Gully
:- If the crack is wider than a chimney then
it is called as a gully.
Corner
:- A corner is formed where two rock walls
meet each other at about 90 degrees.
Groove
:- A groove is formed by two narrow rock walls
meeting each other at an angle.If the angle is
more than 90 degrees then it is called as Shallow
groove and it is less then it is called as Vee
groove.
Rib
:- A small blunt and narrow ridge protruding
out of the rock is called as Rib.
Barrette
:- A much sharper projection than the rib
called as barrette.
Stance
:- A position on the rock wall where a
climber can comfortably stand or sit is called
a stance.
Ledge
:- A ledge is comparatively a wider stance
where a group of 2-3 climbers can sit or stand
during a climbing activity.
Types
of rock climbing
Sport
climbing
You may be very good climbing face. Let's say
you can climb 5.10 face. But if you are only a
5.6 crack climber, then you are over all a 5.6
climber. Experience on artificial climbing wall
might be fine for practicing technique but it
fails to prepare you for "easy low angled
friction" or "cracks" or "bad
weather" or any one of a number of other
hazards. One problem with walls is that they are
easily mastered. They provide sometimes useful
conditioning.
BASIC
PRINCIPLES OF ROCK CLIMBING
1.
Rock Climbing is a sport having rules and principles
like any other game. Ignoring or over show results
in injury -otherwise it is not a dangerous at
all.
2.Known
cases of Hyper Tension (HT) ,Vertigo should not
climb rocks.
3.
Always start learning under guidance of some one
who knows about this sport. Prefer someone atleast
have done 'Advance Mountaineering Course ' OR
Any certified course of Army,ITBP or rock climbing
school of Jaipur.
4.Do
not over show/try to prove something/Egoistic
while on a rock. Remember! rock is a rock and
even by climbing it-NO body proves anything at
all !! Its sport having some rules and principles.
Follow them and you can shape yourself in a brilliant
rock climber. |