Rock Climbing in Sri Lanka

The large craggy rocks and mountains are immovable. They stand tall through time, only changing a little with the weather and ages, and represent a challenge to mankind. Scaling the heights and climbing them has proved a thrill immeasurable, as it allows a climber to establish his dominance over the elements. Rock climbing is an established extreme sport that involves climbing, upward, downward or across, natural rock formations or artificial rock walls.

What you need to know before you try Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing is mentally and physically demanding. It tests strength, endurance, balance, skill and mental control, so be ready for it. The sport can be very dangerous without the necessary equipment, route guidance, and knowledge of proper climbing techniques. Always check your equipment twice before going for a climb. It is safer on the whole to climb as a group than alone. You should include a spotter in your group. A spotter is a guide who assists from the base by offering advice and warnings on the route.

Rock Climbing types:

Rock climbing has several types or styles of climbing:

Aid Climbing: Aid climbing involves climbing assisted with devices that aid upward progress and descent. It concentrates on the safety of the climber. As such aid climbing is the most popular form of climbing for large walls currently and is also called class 6 climbing. It has its own ranking from A0 through A5.

Free Climbing: This is the most commonly used method to ascend climbs and refers to climbs where the climbers own physical strength and skill are used with some form of device backup for protection. Free climbing involves the following climbing methods:

Bouldering:This often involves short low routes (often with boulders) and the climber does not use any protection except maybe cushioned bouldering pads at the base away from the spotter.

Solo climbing:This means climbing alone with no one to belay a climber for protection and is very dangerous especially for beginners. It has the categories deepwater soloing (unprotected and without a rope, but potential falls will be into deep water), free soloing (single person climb with no rope or protection, this is a lethal method where falls are likely to kills or cause heavy injury) and roped solo climbing (climbing with a rope secured at the beginning and the climber self belays).

Lead climbing: This involves the climber passing the safety rope through anchors below them instead of as in top rope climbing. The partner feeds the rope (belays) from below without unnecessary slack and the climber clips the rope into anchors along the way. It is also slightly more dangerous than top rope. This is because; if a climber falls the distance is greater as the rope is attached below. Lead climbing has the categories multi pitch climbing (with a fixed length of rope and the routes broken into several ‘pitches’ or segments), sport climbing (where the wall has protection in the form of bolts or permanent anchors attached) and traditional climbing (placing anchors and protection as the climber ascends, hence though the gear is used for protection it does not aid the ascent) Beginner's crag grade 5a to 5c. Experienced climbers crag grade 6a to 7b+

Bottom Rope climbing and Top Rope climbing

• Bottom rope climbing (Top roping) is where the belayer is on the ground and the rope passes as in a pulley system through an anchor at the top of the route. The climber has the other end and the belayer tightens the stretch of rope with the ascent so that if the climber falls it will not be far, a meter at most depending on the weight of the climber and the length and stretch of the rope.
• Top Rope climbing (Seconding) involves the belayer being at the top of the route, where the belayer can be the lead climber who set the anchors at the top of the route (in which case this person may also be vulnerable to the forces involved in the case of a fall) or it can be through anchors and a mechanical belay device.

Rock climbing techniques to read more on:

Rock climbing has various techniques a climber should have some knowledge of before attempting a climb; crack climbing, face climbing, slab climbing and simul climbing. There is also the method of climbing via ferreta which is dependent heavily on permanent protection. It is a great idea to read more on these subjects.

Top 8 Reasons Sri Lanka is a great place spend your holiday Rock Climbing

1. Sri Lanka is filled with and has loads of natural rock formations
2. You get to boast about having rock climbed in a tropical paradise island.
3. There are various established climbing routes around the country. Some are sport climbing routes while most are traditional.
4. Whether you are an experienced professional climber, a beginner or somewhere in between, Sri Lanka has something for everyone.
5. There are various natural waterfalls which are very challenging to climb, with their slippery rocks and near invisibility for those that wish to try waterfall climbing.
6. There are many varied options and rock types to try out. Sri Lanka has many rock formations around the central highlands in places like Sigiriya, Dambulla, the Knuckles mountain range, Adam’s Peak, Nuwara Eliya, and Bambarakanda waterfalls.
7. If you are just trying out rock climbing for the first time Sri Lanka is a great place to start. It has many simple and safe climbing routes with guides who are ready to help you on your first climbs. And if you have a change of mind, that’s fine too because Sri Lanka has lot’s more to enjoy your holiday on. Your pleasure is guaranteed, so go ahead and make some awesome memories.
8. Those who wish to try a thrilling and challenging holiday will find Sri Lanka ideal. This is because finding some of the routes are almost like treasure hunting and climbing is challenging enough to require an experienced guide.

Why should you choose Lakpura when you try Rock Climbing in Sri Lanka?

Though a vacation in Sri Lanka is exciting for rock climbers both experienced and inexperienced, it is not easy to find a good and reliable guide in Sri Lanka without the right contacts. This is why Lakpura offers you our exclusive rock climbing package, The Rocky Road!!!

Sounds delicious right? That’s because it is! The Rocky Road is a tour package to make even professional climbers drool with its great options and benefits.

• You get to see all the greatest, most challenging and sometimes even secretive climbing routes and select the one most suited to your experience.
• If you don’t have experience that’s fine too, because we provide you the most experienced and professional climbing instructors and guides who know the routes like the back of their hands.
• You can learn from the best; start from the beginning and advance to the more complex grades of climbing.
• We are also very concerned for your safety and do pre-site safety inspections and arrangements.
• We also provide you with the required safety equipment such as climbing rope, harnesses, safety helmets and etc.
• Climbing chalk and a pouch is also included in your package.
• Transportation to the sites and extra meals and beverages are not included in your package, but you can request to arrange them.

Accessories such as climbing gloves and climbing shoes are of course your own responsibility as a climber, since they should be a perfect fit to avoid accidents. All in all, whether you are a professional rock climber or just thrill seeker, Lakpura’s Rocky Road is a thrilling tour package you do not want to miss on your rock climbing holiday to Sri Lanka. Check out the details of the itinerary in the link below: