The desire to go climbing defies many people's concept of logic. It brings in the bread for less than 0.1% of the climbing community. You might hear all kinds of neat beautiful experiences about climbing, but you'll have time for that later. You can't blame anyone but yourself. Because from this point on, you are about to engage in one of the more hazardous avocations in modern society. Climbing is relatively safe, but only because we have instilled a degree of paranoia in all climbers to take precautions. Modern climbing makes implicit assumptions that the worst (not quite) will happen and it trains (techniques like belaying and self-arrest) to deal with these situations. Climbers are not oblivious to heights. Most have a health respect for heights, but as a climber, you cannot afford vertigo or a lapse of judgment. Climbing hazards necessitate sometimes regimented behaviors. Consider bungee jumping instead.

If we want to be safe, the logical conclusion is to stop climbing. And if you want to be safe you should stop reading right now, and carry on with your life as if nothing happened. The usual climbing response is that safety taken to it's logical extreme means living inside in a padded cell. Which is okay for some people. To experienced climbers, climbing is "safe enough." The issue is not adrenaline. Most climbers are not adrenaline junkies. They don't have time to be AJs, and climbing is too much effort.

Specialist equipment such as ropes is often used to aid progress and protect climbers from falls from height." This rather dry description tells only half the story. It says nothing of the buzz that success on a challenging climb gives, or of the pleasures gained from exploring wild and unspoiled places.

There are numerous indoor climbing gyms in western countries providing good opportunity to build strength and develop climbing fitness. It is important however to realize there are many more skills required in outdoor climbing than can be learned in a gym. Just as regular gyms provide training for outdoor sports without providing specific instruction in those sports, so too do climbing gyms provide training for rock climbing. Unfortunately, indoor climbing gyms do not yet prevail in India.

Classification of rock surface according to Their Gradient

Glacis
A rock surface with a slope of less than 30 degress is 'Glacis'. One can easily walk up or down such a rock.

Slab
A rock surface with a slope between 30 to 75 degrees is called as Slab.

Wall
A rock surface with a slope between 75 to 90 degrees is called as Wall.

Overhang
A rock portion projecting overhead and having an angle of more than 90 degrees is called as Overhang.

Roof
A rock portion projecting outwards like a roof at nearly 180* is called a Roof.

Classification of rocks according to FaultsCracks
Vertical, horizontal or slanting cracks can be used for climbing. Depending on their width one can use an appropriate technique for climbing.

Chimney
A wider crack in which a climber can enter is called as chimney.

Gully
If the crack is wider than a chimney then it is called as a gully.

Corner
A corner is formed where two rock walls meet each other at about 90 degrees.

Groove
A groove is formed by two narrow rock walls meeting each other at an angle. If the angle is more than 90 degrees then it is called as Shallow groove and it is less then it is called as Vee groove.

Rib
A small blunt and narrow ridge protruding out of the rock is called as Rib.

Arête
A much sharper projection than the rib called as arete.

Stance
A position on the rock wall where a climber can comfortably stand or sit is called a stance.

Ledge
A ledge is comparatively a wider stance where a group of 2-3 climbers can sit or stand during a climbing activity.