Whois & Analysis for rockandice.com

Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed without the use of ropes or harnesses.

While it can be done without any equipment whatsoever, most climbers use climbing shoes to help secure footholds, chalk to keep their hands dry, and bouldering mats to prevent injuries from falls.

Unlike free solo climbing, which is also performed without ropes, bouldering problems (the path that a climber takes in order to complete the climb) are usually less than 6 meters (20 ft) tall.

Artificial climbing walls allow boulderers to train indoors in areas without natural boulders.

Bouldering competitions, which employ a variety of formats, take place in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep object.

It is done recreationally, competitively, in trades that rely on it, and in emergency rescue and military operations.

It is done indoors and out, on natural and manmade structures.

Traditional climbing, or trad climbing, is a style of rock climbing in which a climber or group of climbers place all gear required to protect against falls, and removes it when a passage is complete.

Traditional bolted face climbing means the bolts were placed on lead and/or with hand drills.

The bolts tend to be much farther apart than sport climbs.

For example, a trad bolted routes may have bolts from 15–75 feet apart.

A sport route may have bolts from 3–10 feet apart, similar to a rock climbing gym.

The term seems to be coined by Tom Higgins in the piece "Tricksters and Traditionalists" in 1984.

A trad climber is called a traditionalist.

Sport (UK) or sports (US) are all usually forms of competitive physical activity or games which, through casual or organized participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants, and in some cases, entertainment for spectators.

Usually the contest or game is between two sides, each attempting to exceed the other.

Some sports allow a tie game; others provide tie-breaking methods, to ensure one winner and one loser.

A number of such two-sided contests may be arranged in a tournament producing a champion.

Many sports leagues make an annual champion by arranging games in a regular sports season, followed in some cases by playoffs.

Hundreds of sports exist, from those between single contestants, through to those with hundreds of simultaneous participants, either in teams or competing as individuals.

In certain sports such as racing, many contestants may compete, each against each other, with one winner.

The Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

The mountains were formed over tens of millions of years as the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided.

Extreme shortening caused by the event resulted in marine sedimentary rocks rising by thrusting and folding into high mountain peaks such as Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

Mont Blanc spans the French–Italian border, and at is the highest mountain in the Alps.

The Alpine region area contains about a hundred peaks higher than 4000 metres (just over 13,000 feet).