Sport climbing is an attractive sport discipline that began to develop in the mid eighties of the 20th century, and has developed from alpinism. Unlike traditional mountaineering, sport climbing equipment is used exclusively for the provision of climbers from potential falls, but not for advancement. It involves high-intensity climbing on relatively short routes. Its distinguishing characteristics include preplaced bolts and an emphasis on the physical aspect of the climb rather than the destination or summit.
One of the forms of sports climbing is bouldering, which has been on the rise in the past couple of years in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the city of Mostar, the Alpine-sports climbing club ''Neretva'' is the only club of climbers, and the team can be proud to say that they built their hall with their own hands. It all began with a single foundation stone, and today lead and boulder competitions they organize have become a part of the local climbing scene in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(ASPK Neretva practice hall)
Bouldering is rock climbing stripped down to its raw essentials. Leaving behind ropes and harnesses and just using climbing shoes and a bag of chalk over safety mats, your challenge is to climb short but tricky bouldering "problems" (a route, or sequence of moves) using balance, technique, strength, and your brain. You don't need experience or lots of expensive kit to have a go - making it really easy to get into if you've never tried it before.
A pair of right-sized rock climbing shoes, a good-fitting climbing harness, and a sazzy chalk bag, and you are ready to start the advneture.
Ropes used for climbing can be divided into two classes: dynamic ropes and low elongation ropes ("static" ropes). Dynamic ropes are designed to absorb the energy of a falling climber. Carabiners are metal loops with spring-loaded gates (openings), used as connectors. Once made primarily from steel, almost all carabiners for recreational climbing are now made from a light weight aluminum alloy. Steel carabiners are much heavier, but harder wearing, and therefore are often used by instructors when working with groups.
A harness is a system used for connecting the rope to the climber. There are two loops at the front of the harness where the climber ties into the rope at the working end using a figure-eight knot.
Climbing shoes protect your feet while providing the friction you need to grip footholds. Rock shoes should fit snugly but not painfully tight. The general rule is that closer-fitting shoes are the norm for more technically challenging climbs .
On 27CRAGS, popular web page for climbers, there is only 7 climbing destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina(Vrt Ciklama, Zeciji kamen, Suturlija, Kameni most , Pecka, Crna stijena, Zvecaj ). South part of the country, Herzegovina, built mainly of dolomite rocks has amazing climbing potential. Unexplored nature, beautiful landscapes, clear rivers are all around dolomite rocks, providing a unique climbing experience. And best of all, it is just 20 minutes from Herzegovina's mesmerizing capital city, Mostar.
This reportage was made by the Youth Correspondents of LDA Mostar.