Free climbing

Free climbing has differing definitions in the USA and in Europe. In the majority of the world free climbing is a form of rock climbing without any equipment or ropes, a style that in the USA is called Free Soloing. In the USA free climbing is specifically contrasted with aid climbing. Like aid climbing, it may use ropes and other means of climbing protection, but only to protect against injury during falls, and not to assist progress. The term free climbing originally meant "free from aid". The American definition of free climbing includes solo climbing, traditional climbing, sport climbing and bouldering whereas in the majority of the world it refers solely to Free Soloing. In contrast to these, climbing equipment is used in aid climbing to assist the climber in ascending the climb, and sometimes includes a means for pulling the climber upward or providing points where the climber can stand on equipment to assist in the climb.

Methods and techniques

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, he either places traditional protection such as cams and stoppers, or clips his 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 himself ready to catch the leader in case of a fall. The leader climbs until the top is reached, and he can then belay the following climber from above.