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Free climbing is a form of rock climbing in which the climber may use climbing equipment such as ropes and other means of climbing protection, but only to protect against injury during falls and not to assist progress.[1] The climber makes progress by using physical ability to move over the rock via handholds and footholds.[2] Free climbing more specifically may include traditional climbing, sport climbing, bouldering and most forms of solo climbing. Free climbing a multi-pitch route means free-climbing each of its pitches in a single session. At the end of each pitch, climbers anchor themselves to belay stations where they can rest.
The term free climbing is used in contrast to aid climbing, in which specific aid climbing equipment is used to assist the climber in ascending the climb or pitch. The term free climbing originally meant "free from direct aid".[3] Aid climbing may be used to study/experience the route or pitch before free-climbing it.
Free climbing varies, however, some principles apply universally. Smooth hand and feet coordination, balance, flexibility and agility are all important.[4] In lead climbing, a climber climbs a route from the ground up. For protection against a fall, the lead climber trails a rope which is managed by a belayer who remains on the ground or at an established anchor. As the leader climbs, they either place traditional protection such as cams and stoppers, or clip their rope through pre-placed bolted hangers or fixed anchors. The belayer feeds rope to the lead climber through a belay device, keeping a minimum amount of slack in the system, and keeping themself ready to catch the leader in case of a fall. The leader climbs until the top is reached, and they can then belay the following climber from above.
Both climber and belayer attach the rope to their climbing harnesses. The rope is tied into the climber's harness with a figure-of-eight loop or double bowline knot. The leader either places their own protection or clips into permanent protection already attached to the rock. In traditional climbing, the protection generally is removable. However, many significant first ascents in the U.S. done with a combination of crack gear and bolts placed on lead were termed "traditional" at the time (see below discussion). Usually nuts or spring-loaded camming devices (often referred to as "cams" or "friends") are set in cracks in the rock (although pitons are sometimes used). In sport climbing the protection is metal loops called hangers. Hangers are secured to the rock with either expanding masonry bolts taken from the construction industry, or by placing glue-in bolt systems. In ice climbing the protection is made-up of ice screws or similar devices hammered or screwed into the ice by the leader, and removed by the second climber.
The lead climber typically connects the rope to the protection with carabiners or quickdraws. If the lead climber falls, they will fall twice the length of the rope from the last protection point, plus rope stretch (typically 5% to 8% of the rope out), plus slack. If any of the gear breaks or pulls out of the rock or if the belayer fails to lock off the belay device immediately, the fall will be significantly longer. Thus if a climber is 2 meters above the last protection they will fall 2 meters to the protection, 2 meters below the protection, plus rope stretch (typ., 0.10–0.16 m) and slack, for a total fall of over 4 meters.
If the leader falls, the belayer must arrest the rope to stop the fall. To achieve this the rope is run through a belay device attached to the belayer's harness. The belay device runs the rope through a series of sharp curves that, when operated properly, greatly increases friction and stops the rope from running. Some of the more popular types of belay devices are the ATC Belay Device, the Figure 8 and various assisted-braking belay devices such as the Petzl Gri-Gri.
If the route being climbed is a multi-pitch route the leader sets up a secure anchor system at the top of the pitch, also called a belay, from where they can belay as their partner climbs. As the second climber climbs, they remove the gear from the rock in case of traditional climbing or remove the quickdraws from the bolts in the case of sport climbing. Both climbers are now at the top of the pitch with all their equipment. Note that the second climber is protected from above while climbing, but the lead climber is not, so being the lead climber is more challenging and dangerous. After completing the climb, and with both climbers at the top of the pitch, both climbers must rappel or descend the climb in order to return to their starting point, or top out and walk off. All climbs do not necessarily require the lead climber to belay the second climber from the top. The belayer could lower the lead climber down after they have completed a single pitch route. Basic equipment used in free climbing includes the use of rock shoes, chalk and helmets.[4]
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Main article: Climbing style |
There are no rules per se to free climbing, beyond showing respect for the rock and for other climbers. Free climbers gain upward progress physically by using holds such as cracks, edges and flakes.[4] Climbing can be beneficial to health. Studies show climbers have healthier bodies and less fat, in addition climbing is shown to enhance cognitive function.[citation needed] There are some hazards associated with climbing, most injuries occur within the fingers, wrists, shoulders, knees and elbows.[5]
Over the years, as climbing has become more popular and climbers more skilled, an entire generation of aficionados has been spawned from and with the ethics of climbing gyms and sport climbing. These climbers now share the rocks in some places with traditionally-trained adherents. Social benefits of climbing have been recognized, as many climbers choose to climb together providing opportunities to meet and interact with new people.[citation needed]
In the newer generation as in previous ones, certain new conventions have emerged as the state of the art changes. Conventions are not universal. Many older and/or more traditionally oriented climbers may ignore or actively disdain certain newer conventions, and the reverse is true as well. The more traditional values may be regarded as irrelevant, antique or "un-fun" by those who have different experience, goals and cultural identity.
Sport climbers are more likely than traditional climbers to repeatedly attempt complex ascents until successful. Both sport and traditional climber cultures value the following.
Across free climbing culture, the following styles are generally regarded as not being "good style" and to be avoided, though they are not actually wrong to do, and can be useful in some circumstances, especially to newer climbers.
While clear in its contrast to aid climbing, the term free climbing is nonetheless prone to misunderstanding and misuse.[citation needed]
The two most common errors are:
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Main articles: List of first ascents (sport climbing) and Traditional climbing § Notable ascents |
A list of notable ascents for sport climbing, bouldering, deep-water soloing and free soloing is kept here, and a list of the hardest traditional climbing ascents is kept here.
