Akki.TK

Rock climbing is the act of scaling rock formations using natural hand and footholds.  This individual sport grew out of mountaineering in the 1800s.  During the 1950s, climbing accessories were greatly improved, and the sport's focus changed to scaling a specific rock wall rather than an entire mountain.  Rock climbing evolved into an organized sport in the 1970s, and during the 1980s indoor and outdoor climbing walls became a popular way of practicing the sport in a controlled environment.

Free climbing and aid climbing are two types of rock climbing.  Free climbing uses equipment only as a precaution, and mainly relies on the climber's fingers, hands, arms, legs, and feet to scale the cliff.  In aid climbing, ropes and hardware are used to support the climber's body weight.

Necessary equipment includes a climbing harness, rope, belay, and one or more carabiners.  Special shoes made of leather or synthetic materials with sticky rubber soles are recommended, as is a helmet for outdoor climbs.  Layers of lightweight clothes work best for outdoor climbs, where shorts and a t-shirt are usually sufficient for climbing indoors.