Free climbing

Free climbing is a way of doing rock climbing. In free climbing, climbers use special gear to stay safe, but they do not use machines or tools to help them move up the rock. They climb using only their own skills and strength. This style changed rock climbing a lot, especially when people first climbed a route without any extra help — this is called a first free ascent.

There are different kinds of free climbing. Some people do it while being held by a rope from above, called lead climbing. Others might climb short, tough sections without any rope at all, which is called bouldering.

History

The free climbing movement changed the history of rock climbing. In 1911, an Austrian climber named Paul Preuss talked about "free climbing." He said climbers should only use special tools to stay safe, not to help them climb. In 1913, a German climber named Rudolf Fehrmann made rules to protect the rocks. These rules said climbers could only use natural holds, and they are still used today.

In 1975, a German climber named Kurt Albert marked a climb with a red dot to show he had free climbed it. This idea became important in climbing history.

First free ascent

The first time someone climbs a route without help is called the first free ascent, or FFA. People write about these climbs in journals and guide books. They note if the climb was done on the first try or after several tries.

French free climbing

There is a style called French free climbing. This means climbers use protection gear attached to the rock, but it is not the same as true free climbing. Climbers using this style cannot say they have made a "first free ascent" of a new route.

Types

Free climbing means climbing without any tools to help you go up. It can be done in a few ways:

• Traditional climbing, where the climber puts up safety gear as they climb, but this gear doesn’t help them move up.
• Sport climbing, where fixed bolts are used for safety, but not to help move up.
• Bouldering, where no tools are used at all, even for safety.
• Free solo climbing, where no tools are used, just like bouldering.

Misunderstandings

Free climbing is often misunderstood. Some people think it means climbing alone without any help. But in free climbing, a climber still has a partner called a belayer for safety.

Others believe free climbing means no safety gear at all. But climbers do use safety equipment to protect themselves. They just don’t use it to help them move up the rock.

Free climbing is also different from clean climbing. Clean climbing has its own rules about where climbers can place their gear. It also doesn’t include using certain types of routes for first ascents.