Types of Climbing Using a Rope

Rock-climbing is a newcomer on the sports scene, developing into a common sport only in the mid-2oth century. There are several kinds of rock-climbing that are practiced with a rope, and these styles can be done either outside on natural rock or inside at a climbing gym.

  1. Top-roping

    • Top-roping is a style of rock-climbing in which a specialized climbing rope is attached at the top of a route prior to the climber attempting the climb. Inside, at the rock gym, this may be done by staff with the help of a ladder. Outside, on natural rock, ropes are attached either by someone at the top of the route beforehand--for instance, someone who has hiked up by another route--or by a climber herself, who climbs the route first and sets the rope. In this style, falls are shorter, since the rope is already in place and the spotter--or "belayer"--can take up slack to catch the climber.

    Lead Climbing

    • In lead climbing, no rope is attached to the top of the route. Instead, the climber takes the rope up the route with himself and "clips in" as he goes. Every several feet or few meters, depending on the climber, he attaches a bolt to the rock--or uses one already present--and clips the rope in with the use of a carabiner. In this style, falls tend to be longer since if the climber falls he will fall the distance to the last point at which he has clipped in.

    Free Climbing

    • In free climbing the rope is used only for safety and not for assistance. In other forms such as lead climbing or top-roping, the climber can actually use the rope for support--her belayer can "take up slack" in the rope and let her hang in the air while she recovers or thinks about her next move. In free climbing, the rope is attached only as an emergency safety device, as there the belayer does not take up slack if a climber falls.

    Rope Soloing

    • Rope soloing is similar to free climbing, although in rope soloing there is no separate belayer at all--the climber belays himself. Soloists attach a rope at the top of their route, then climb it alone, taking up slack on their own as they go. Much like lead climbing, soloists will clip into the rock to protect themselves against long falls. Still, if the climber falls, he may fall a considerable distance, depending on the location of the last point at which he clipped in.