ROCK CLIMBING
Reinhold Messner, considered the greatest climber in the history, once said “…I often think that we mountaineers get nearest to it, this paradise on earth. Or, to put it another way: the truly free climber is one who obeys no rules. He is no high flyer, keeping up with the Joneses; no slave of others or of the summit fall line, like the directtissima men. I am sorry for them all, but especially for those who do not realize at all that rules force their way between them and the mountains.” He is someone who lives for climbing, not fearing the risks or threats involved. He was the first to ascent on Everest without an oxygen supplement. Such is a true and passionate rock climber!
Rock climbing is a sport which is demanding at a mental as well as physical level. It requires immense amount of courage, therefore, it is not for everyone. It tests your strength, skills and agility. But strength may not always matter, if you don’t have enough balance and concentration. Now rock climbing is done both indoors as well as outdoors. Outdoors is familiar to everyone but indoor rock climbing is something which has recently come into picture. An artificial wall is built with a rocky terrain and this sport can be tried by all age groups as it is done under a supervised environment with the appropriate facilities and gears. But as it is believed if you don’t have enough risks up your sleeves, you are not having enough fun! That is why for real adventure, we would suggest you try the outdoor rock climbing.
As simple as the definition of rock climbing may sound, climbing from bottom to top, it is most certainly not that easy. It involves danger and risks like slipping, if you don’t have the right gear, therefore it becomes essential for you to make a check list which should include:
1. Shoes : Whenever you go for an adventure, shoes become an important part of your gear because of the amount of physical activity involved. For rock climbing, you first need to decide your goal and type of climbing. But grip is what is essential while selecting your shoes. If the grip on your shoes is not good, then chances are that you may slip and hurt yourself. Your shoes should be such that they suit the purpose of running as well as climbing. The rubber sole should have a good grip, should be thick and the tip should just touch till the end of your longest toe.
2. Harness and Carabiners : Harness is used while climbing in order to provide safety. It is used to secure a person to a piece of rope or an anchor point. Harnesses are mainly of three types, sit string harness, chest harness and full body harness. Sit string are the ones which are most commonly used. Apart from giving you with the safety you require, they also prevent the climber from any pain in the upper thigh area. In chest harness, an extra support is provided with the loops around shoulders, this comes handy if carrying a heavy back pack, as it will provide with an appropriate balance. Full body harness is mostly used when it comes to safety for small children. Carabiners are basically connecters which are used while climbing. The ones used for sports such as rock climbing are lighter in weight. Carabiners facilitate easier rope clipping.
3. Climbing Ropes : Length and strength are two things which matter while choosing a rope for your need. Length will depend on the height or the kind of rock climbing you will be pursuing. But strength of the rope should be such, that iot does not break but at the same time should be able to stretch under load and absorb shock required for a free fall of a person. Usually the thickness of the rope varies between 9mm to 11 mm. Even though immense precautions are taken, there are still many accidents every year. Therefore, you must choose your ropes wisely.
4. Helmet: Skull might be the toughest bone but if the head receives a shock after being hit, it can cause maximum damage. Because you will be using a rope for climbing, a pendulum movement is bound to happen and you may end up hitting your head. Therefore, it is important to carry a helmet with yourself. For outdoors, we would suggest ALWAYS carry a helmet, you might skip it if you are indoors.
It’s fun to be at risk whenever we are on an adventurous expedition, but it’s rather foolish to be careless and ignore the risks involved, which is why we suggest you to go ahead and explore the wondrous and bounteous world of rock climbing but SAFETY FIRST!
