What is “rock climbing”?
A: Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down
natural rock formations or artificial rock walls.
What is the goal?
A: To reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually
pre-defined route without falling.
Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding
sport, one that often tests a climber's what?
A: Strength, endurance, agility and balance along with mental control.
Knowledge of proper climbing techniques and the use of
specialized climbing equipment is crucial for what?
A: The safe completion of routes.
Because of the wide range and variety of rock
formations around the world, rock climbing has been separated into what?
A: Several different styles and sub-disciplines.
Rock climbing competitions have the objectives of
either completing the route in the least number of attempts or what?
A: Attaining the farthest point on an increasingly difficult route.
Indoor rock climbing is typically split into what three
disciplines?
A: Bouldering, lead climbing, and top roping.
Paintings dating from 200 BC show what?
A: Chinese men rock climbing.
In early America, the cliff-dwelling Anasazi in the
12th century are thought to have been what?
A: Excellent climbers.
Early European climbers used rock climbing techniques
as a what?
A: A skill required to reach the summit in their
mountaineering exploits.
In the 1880s, European rock climbing became an
independent pursuit outside of what?
A: Mountain climbing.
Although rock climbing was an important component of
Victorian mountaineering in the Alps, it is generally thought that the sport
of rock climbing began when?
A: In the last quarter of the nineteenth century in various parts of Europe.
Rock climbing evolved gradually from an alpine
necessity to a what?
A: A distinct athletic activity.
From the middle of the 19th century, the founder of the
Alpine Club, John Ball, researched and made known what?
A: The Dolomites.
He was followed there by many other climbers such as
who?
A: Paul Grohmann, Edward R. Whitwell, Michael Innerkofler, Angelo Dibona and
Tita Piaz with many first ascents.
Just before the First World War, there was a so-called
"Mauerhakenstreit" (German: the Great Piton Debate of 1911) in Central
Europe regarding the use of what?
A: Aids in climbing and mountaineering.
Aid climbing, climbing using equipment that acts as
artificial handhold or footholds, became popular during what period?
A: 1920–1960, leading to ascents in the Alps and in Yosemite Valley that
were considered impossible without such means.
Today, free climbing, climbing using holds made
entirely of natural rock while using gear solely for protection and not for
upward movement, is what?
A: The most popular form of the sport.
On August 3, 2016, the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) formally announced what?
A: That sport climbing would be a medal sport in the 2020
Summer Olympics.
The event debut was postponed to 2021, due to what?
A: COVID-19.
On-sighting a route requires that the climber do what?
A: Ascend cleanly (without any falls or rest with the assistance of
artificial equipment) on their first attempt without any foreknowledge.
Flashing also requires a clean ascent on the first try,
though the climber has what?
A: Previous information about the route (often called beta).
Redpointing means to make a successful free ascent of
the route after what?
A: Having previously tried it.
This may include multiple days or even years of what?
A: "Working" the route to learn the specific sequence required.
Pinkpointing means what?
A: To make a successful free ascent of the route after having previously
tried it, with protection such as quickdraws or trad equipment pre-placed on
the route.