Climbing area

Under a climbing area is defined as a region with opportunities to practice of climbing. In addition to the geographical proximity of the climbing opportunities especially characteristics of the climbing technical requirements and the development will be used for the delimitation of climbing areas.

Demarcation

Climbing areas are often not clearly separable, so that in the literature different competing classifications can be found according to different criteria. In addition, may be further divided into individual subgroups hierarchically climbing areas, climbing rocks, climbing areas or sectors and have very different size. In many cases, the definition and delimitation area, including the division into sub-areas handled by the relevant climbing guide authors. In other cases, however, there are also generally recognized organizations that may be laid down as well as by government regulations with respect to environmental protection. In Germany, the layout of the rock information system of the German Alpine Club is often used.

Climbing areas are maintained by most local organized groups. This includes the planning of new and the maintenance and rehabilitation of old climbing routes heard. In addition, climbing guides are produced and updated.

History

One reason for the development of independent and mutually definable climbing areas can be found in different geological and naturgeografischen circumstances. For example, since different rock heights and various rocks such as limestone, sandstone or granite different climbing techniques and styles, and adapted to the particular circumstances assurance techniques require, it came in the 19th century to very independent developments of climbing about in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, in the Lake District or in Forest of Fontainebleau. The isolation of these widely separated areas solidified the emergence of independent climbing crops with specific customs, difficulty scales and techniques.

In the course of increasing mobility, the distance lost as a criterion in importance and there was a greater flow of regional peculiarities. The confrontation of different cultures was carried out climbing sometimes quite controversial. For example, was the popular sport climbing in France with good protection through bolts as controversial as the question of technical climbing, climbing areas and single attached great importance to a conscious distinction from other areas with a competing climbing ethics. Today there are areas with different characteristics often almost side by side. It is among climbers than usual to respect the prevailing practices.

Today, the interests of environmental protection is an integral motor for a harmonized collection, zoning, development and regulation of climbing areas. The conflicting interests of climbers and conservationists, including the development of arrangements for the care of climbing areas have taken a variety of regional interest groups (IG climbing ) and some Alpine clubs. Dealing with the climbing is not uniform. From complete, controversial rock closures towards consensual rules and self- regulation, the practical implementation is sufficient The Austrian Tyrol promotes the Climbers Paradise project the climbing sport in many areas, for example, while on Ifen in Vorarlberg climbing is limited.

Classification criteria

Climbing areas differ in terms of their properties:

  • Rock ( sandstone, granite, limestone, etc. )
  • Development history
  • Climbing style (sport climbing area, Alpine climbing area, Boulder area )
  • Character of the climb ( overhangs, cracks, dihedrals, slabs )
  • Securing possibilities of routes: for example, Bolts or Clean, quality and spacing of the protection points, seriousness
  • Length of routes ( Boulder, short sport routes, multi-pitch routes )
  • Difficulty of routes ( Plaisiergebiet, Hard Mover Area)
  • Difficulty scales used and peculiarities in the rating in climbing guides
  • Rules and customs: usually informal agreements, but eg in the climbing area Saxon Switzerland recording the climbing rules in agency regulation
  • Infrastructure (accessibility, frequenting, limitations, child friendliness )

List of climbing areas (selection)

Germany

Important sport climbing areas in Germany:

  • Altmühltal
  • Battert near Baden -Baden
  • Upper Danube Valley in Sigmaringen
  • Resin
  • Ith in Lower Saxony
  • Konstein
  • Königshainer mountains near Görlitz
  • Crags Northern Frankenjura
  • Climbing area Saxon Switzerland
  • Stone forest in the Fichtelgebirge
  • Climbing area Suedpfalz
  • Climbing area Zittau Mountains

Switzerland

  • Basler Jura
  • Lehnfluh
  • Ponte Brolla
  • Saint Loup
  • Handegg
  • Avers (Magic Wood)
  • Cresciano

Austria

  • Peilstein, Wienerwald, Lower Austria
  • Flatzer wall, Lower Austria
  • Schleier Waterfall, Going am Wilden Kaiser, Tirol
  • Martin Wall, Tirol
  • Bürser gorge, Vorarlberg

Rest of Europe

Important sport climbing areas in Europe:

  • Freÿr, Belgium
  • Calanques, France
  • Céüse, France
  • Dentelles de Montmirail, France
  • Fontainebleau, France
  • Gorges du Verdon, France
  • Crag Massone in Arco, Italy
  • Finale Ligure, Italy
  • El Chorro, Spain
  • Siurana, Spain
  • Adersbach - Teplice Rocks, Czech Republic
  • Velebit, Croatia
  • Kalymnos, Greece
  • Meteora, Greece

Non-European areas

Important non-European sports climbing areas:

  • Yosemite National Park (USA)
  • Arapiles (Australia)
  • Red River Gorge ( USA)
  • Rocklands (South Africa)
  • Smith Rock State Park (United States )
  • Squamish (Canada)
  • Krabi ( Thailand), where especially the Railay peninsula.

Bibliography for climbing area leaders

  • Available literature sorted by country
479993
de