Rock climbing is a specialized sport, but it wasn't always considered a valid pursuit of its own. There was a time when crag climbing was considered a method of training for the big walls or for the great epics in mountaineering. Today, some of the most difficult and most popular climbs in the world are less than 40 feet long. Climbers often focus their energies on pure power, with the intensity of Olympic athletics.
Rock climbing has been around for a long time, but the activity has only recently been described as a "sport." Past and pioneer climbers were interested above all in the adventure of climbing or the art and spirituality of it, and did not consider their activity as sport. Would an astronaut consider a mission to the moon sport? Seriously, mountaineering, like space travel, is an adventure of the greatest magnitude. The mountaineer's competition is within himself and against the elements. His objective: to reach the summit and return alive.
Pushing the Envelope
Pure difficulty became the objective of those with a more localized focus. Nationalism spurred competitiveness as countries subtly pitted themselves against one another in an attempt to reach the ultimate level of difficulty in the mountains. The glory won by success fueled the competition. Climbers have always tried to outdo each other, usually in a friendly way.
Where are you going?
What do you want to do?
