Unlike many other sports, history of climbing is relatively new. What was once a necessity to climb rocks and steep cliffs, today is a favorite pastime for many. There was some rock climbing down as a part of Alpine mountaineering but this was done most for rescue type operations. It was not until the latter part of the 19th century that it was first seen as a sporting activity which seems to have emerged in three distinct European areas around this time. The first location was Elbe Sandstone Mountains in the South-eastern part of Germany which is near the Czech border. By year 1903, there were near 500 people actively engaged in climbing and climbing clubs were gradually getting formed.

In England at this time rock climbing was looked at as a sporting activity. Some of the early climbers attracted a lot of attention with solo climbs of very difficult cliff formations. Depending of the varying types of cliff formations, it is here that marking the various difficulty ratings first started. Climbers would meet up and share and discuss their climbing experiences, while the climbing clubs were slowly getting formed.

What turned the area into the third hotspot for European rock climbing was a 17 year old student from Munich Germany to do a solo climb in the Dolomite Mountains located in northern Italy. While the United States, rock climbing was treated similarly, it was only from the ’50s that it had a separate sports identity. Even to date, many techniques used were initially developed for mountain climbing.

In recent times, rock climbing has evolved drastically with new and improved styles and equipment being introduced every day. Ardent climbing fans would now like to turn this hobby into a lifestyle than a sport. Another new trend is the establishment of indoor climbing in the urban belt. Here many actual rock formations are duplicated in design with artificial rock faces. The safety equipment used in the indoor arenas have made it possible to practice and experience much of the thrill and demanding nature of rock climbing without the risk.

Though there are plenty of safety equipment and new technologies which have come into force, rock climbing can never be with out its usual risks and requires a lot of strength and stamina. In recent history mankind had enough challenges for his strength and stamina to face in just day-to-day living. Rocks were climbed only when people had a good reason to do so. It says much about our modern society that rock climbing is becoming a popular activity. There is nothing which makes a man happier than finding a fresh challenge or a new territory to conquer everyday and perhaps this is the basic drive which makes the existence of this activity a reality.