Climbing

Climbing is going up, or, depending on context, also down. It may refer to aircraft, a land vehicle, and humans and other animals. On land, in particular it refers to steep climbs, e.g. on a hill, mountain or stairs, in a pole or tree, etc. This article covers climbing without a vehicle.

Types of climbing

By terrain:

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• Rock climbing is climbing on steep rocky terrain.
• Mountaineering is climbing on mountains.
• Ice climbing is climbing on frozen water features.
• Mixed climbing is climbing on both frozen water features, as in ice climbing, as well as rocky terrain.
• Bouldering is solo climbing on boulders.
• Stack climbing is climbing sea stacks: near vertical columns of rock in the sea, near coasts.
• Buildering (pun on bouldering) is climbing on the outside of buildings.
• Indoor climbing is climbing on artificial climbing walls.
• Recreational tree climbing is climbing on trees.
• Professional tree climbing is climbing on trees for the purpose of hardware installation, pruning, or removal.

By method of ascent:

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• In aid climbing, all means of ascent are used, from pulling on gear to climbing rope ladders attached to drilled bolts.
• In free climbing, climbers use only their hands, feet and other body parts to make progress. Ropes and other gear are only used for protection.

By type of protection:

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• In traditional climbing (commonly referred to as "trad climbing") the leader places all protection. The climbing system is used to protect the climber against the consequences of a fall.
• Sport climbing is climbing on routes that are protected mostly or entirely by bolts drilled into the rock.
• Top-rope climbing uses a rope attached to an anchor at the top.
• Solo climbing is climbing without a partner. It can be done with a rope for protection ("roped solo") or without any form of protection at all ("free-soloing"). Deep-water soloing relies on water at the base of the climb to protect against injury.
• Bouldering relies on a partner (a "spotter"), a bouldering mat, or shortness of falling distance to avoid injury.