Indoor & Outdoor Wall Rock Climbing
The sport of wall rock climbing (or some would say it's an ‘adventure activity’) is one which has the benefit of being an indoor activity as well as outdoor. The work done on the indoor wall rock gym facility which offer the climber different routes and challenges, can prove vital and is a great way of getting to improve and strengthen those finger and toe muscles which are vital for grip. Its seen as one of the more dangerous sports when out in the cold sea based rocks of Europe, but as an indoor activity it meets all the health and safety regulations.
The organisations which run this sort of facility will be the local government gyms and sports halls or the private fitness gyms. There is always going to be a difference in the cost of using the facilities but a good low cost example is the Ridge in Swindon, England. The climb is 9 metres high ( approximately 29 feet) and offers over 200 different climbs. Its suitable for beginners or experienced climbers, and its noticeable how many climbers post on the website asking for climb partners. The centre is called The Link and this is typical of the kind of good facility found across the UK, America and Australia.
America in particular is absolutely stacked with great indoor climbing walls, and in the Rockies they have the origins of the sport where the Colorado sandstone cliffs make for ideal rock climb locations. When the sport moves out of the indoor arena and into the outdoor activity then the situation changes dramatically. There are no safety officers on hand and probably no first aid for miles. So safety is a big issue which has to be addressed by the individual. Scenes which show a climber standing on tip toes, 300 foot up on the side of a vertical cliff look great, but can only be practiced by someone who is experienced and very good. The strength needed to get from one point to another is considerable and all the training in technique has to be done in the wall rock climb indoors before contemplating a real cliff face. Roping, and getting strong holding points are all aspects which the beginner can learn under the supervision of a team leader who knows what they are about. Its not the kind of thing you can ‘have a go at’ since the repercussions can be drastic if not fatal.
In contrast to that that austere view, it is a sport enjoyed by thousands across the world, and like mountaineering there is a kindred spirit amongst wall rock climbers. The toughest of the climbers have done some amazing climbs such as The Old Man of Hoy off the Orkney Island coast in Scotland. This vertical single pillar of rock is 137 metres (450 foot) high and has been the symbol of rock climbing for decades. Climbing it is an achievement since it is detached from the land, and to say the sea below is cold and rough would be something of an understatement.