Rock climbing is an art for many travelers.  It is a sport where participants climb up or down on a rock surface. Here the rock surface can be a natural formation or artificial. In rock climbing, the goal point is known as the ‘Summit’. It is also a physical and mental test for climbers without falling reach to the summit point. Actually, here is the most important thing for you is balancing your physical and mental strength.

As Qatar is a destination full of surprise and thrill, here you can get so many opportunities for climbing rocks. Here few points that are suitable for rock climbers with varieties of rock formations that may increase your adventure and thrill during climbing rock.

Rock Climbing is a Physical and Mental Balancing Technique:

Rock climbing is now a worldwide demanding sport because of its versatile workouts in our bodies and mind. These are:

• Rock climbing includes all major muscle groups of your body and enhances them.
• It also improves your balancing ability, strength, and flexibility.
• Moving to the summit, you have to face so many problems. This will increase your problem-solving ability instantly.
• By facing any obstacles, you will be more confident and flexible than in previous.
• This may also help you to overcome your fear, obstacle, mental stress, and trauma in your life.
• It also increases social skills like communication, trust, collaboration, and focus in your life.

For these reasons, day by day, every nation is practicing this sport, and day by day it is becoming popular. Qatar is also an example of this. Only a few years earlier it has less practice rock climbing but now it is a famous sport for most of the citizens.

Outdoor Rock-climbing Areas in Qatar:

Though Qatar is a small desert land, it has many rock-climbing areas for your amazing thrill. It has so many outdoor climbing spots where you can climb on sunny days and can have a feel on nature.

• Zekreet: Zekreet is qatar’s north western village near in Dukha. It is about 80 km northwestern from Doha. Zekreet national park has a large number of rock formations. Here you may also find Zekreet Fort which is also a climber's attraction. In Zekreet the highest rock formation is about 15 meters. In this spot, you may also find horse shaped wall, a spot of attraction for rock climbers. Currently, you may find 13 different routes here in Zekreet. A few of their names are “Tiger”, “Spanish Angel”, “The Crack” and “Chico Power”.
• Musafir Sinkhole: Musafir Sinkhole is one of the most popular tourist attractions for rock climbers. It locates at Umm ash Shubrum, Qatar. It forms mainly from dissolved subsurface under the middle Pleistocene. Basically, it is the largest, deepest as well as accessible sinkhole in Qatar. Here the visible bottom is approximately 100 meters deep. It is actually 40 feet wide and 300 feet down from the earth. It has so many rocks climbing routes that may thrill your mind.
• Ras Abrouq: Ras Abrouq is the northernmost area of the Peninsula, Qatar. This site is popular for its various formations of sandstone cliffs. It is one of the archeological areas in Qatar. Different formations of cliff and sandstone are the main attraction for climbers. Here has so many easy to dangerous roots for your rock-climbing adventure. In addition, it is also a place of wildlife heritage. You may enjoy wildlife variations during your rock climbing on different rock formations here.
• Qatar-UAE: Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE) share a naval border that said Qatar-UAE. Actually, this part is the Arabic-speaking Persian Gulf region. They are members of GCC. This area has different types of boulders, sandstones, and different rock formations. It is a good place for your next rock-climbing mission in mixed areas. Moreover, you can feel mixed traditions, culture, and ethics with scenic beauty here.
• Fuwayrit: Fuwayrit is a coastal village located in Ash Shamal. Actually, it is almost 90 km north of the capital city Doha. Here you may find many cristal lines that bear a sign of a 16th-century historical battle. This place has so many rocky areas and varieties of rock formations. One of the most popular rocky cliffs is Jebel Fuwayrit or commonly Fuwayrit Hill. It is one of the best tourist destinations for travelers. Moreover, you can enjoy here Mngrove Fuwayrit with versatile scenic beauty.

Qatar’s Rock-climbing Community EsQalar:

EsQalar is one of the most popular rock-climbing communities in Doha, Qatar. It offers indoor as well as outdoor climbing throughout its community. This sports community was established in March 2018. The instructor Micheal Demain built it inspired by the Spanish group in previous 2011. First, they named this community Escalar from the Spanish word and after that, they replaced its C with a Q that represents Qatar.

Till now it made a huge response from locals and ex-pats. Most of the people enjoy their leisure in this community. They offer various types of classes and training programs for rock climbing. First of all, they offer safety and security which is the key to any climbing.

They offer two programs for kids: schools and academies. Every level runs here for 3 months from mid-November to mid-May. They also offer different courses for teenagers as well as adults. Moreover, they offer birthday packages, one-day trips, Solo trips, etc. They also provide introductory classes, training classes, top rope classes, etc. They also make their outdoor trip on Zekreet and Dukhan through the complete instruction of their trainers.

Beginning History of Rock Climbing in Qatar:

Qatar is the latest nation in the world. It is the latest nation with a maximum point above sea level which is 103 meters or 338 feet. Only a few years ago Qatar was not familiar with rock climbing.  In 2011, three Spanish travelers searched areas in quest of rock climbing in this flat area. Then finding any clue they googled ‘rocks in Qatar’ and through google earth they disclosed a few spots to continue their favorite activity.

Then they discovered countries northeast part of Zukreet national park which is full of a variety of rock formations. Here few boulders have almost 15 meters of height and many more types of rocks. So, here’s the new beginning of a journey of Qatar's rock climbing.

Types of Rock Climbing:

• Bouldering: Bouldering is usually used for low-level climbing. Actually, it is low route climbing without the use of safety ropes like other techniques. Here the only form of protection is a ‘Bouldering pad’. A bouldering pad is just a small mattress used for climbers' safety. You have to place it under the route in case of avoiding your fall or breaking ankles or backs. Typically, bouldering is done in a safe area and in low heights. Normally the height varies between 8 to 10 feet. Frequently the height may raise to 30 to 50 feet on the basis of your ability.
• Top-rope climbing: Tope rope is mainly the safest form of rope climbing. In this climbing, the climber belay from the ground or base route. In this form, the anchor is creat at the top of the cliff whether it is with a tree or bolts or some other natural anchor like a boulder.  The rope attaches to the climber and goes up to the anchor. Then back to Blair who is standing on the ground. This form is also called ‘Slingshot top’. Because the rope goes from again to the bladder to the top and then down to the climber.
• Sport climbing: Sport climbing protects with permanently fixed bolts and anchors drilled into the rock using a rope and the aid of a belayer. Here the routes may be single or multi-pitch routes. This type is much different than traditional climbing techniques. Sport climbing involves protection bolts that are placed with power drills or permanent anchors. It is much different from bolted trad climbing.
• Free solo climbing:  In the term of UK, free soloing, refer to as ‘Soloing’. It is one of the risky forms of climbing. In this form one single person climbs up to the cliff without any help of a rope or protection system. This technique is similar to bouldering. But the fact is height. In bouldering the is on average 10 feet. On the other hand, in free solo climbing, the height is 20 feet or higher. Any mistake in this technique can cause serious injury to the person if he is soloing over the water.
• Aid climbing: It is still one of the most popular climbing methods. During climbing up any big walls or cliffs, the climber uses aid for moving upward. Here an aid like nails uses and placed repeatedly for making progress. This type of technique uses climbers when the ascent is too tough or impossible for free climbing.

Techniques of Rock Climbing:

Actually, during rock climbing, rock formation is one of the most important things for climbers. According to the rock formation, different techniques may apply.

• Crack: In rock climbing, rock cracks use is most familiar in this term. In this process, climbers use rock cracks during ascending upward of the rock. Its specific techniques are jamming, stemming as well as laying back. Cracks can vary in their size. It can be smaller to larger than the human body.  Here most important thing climbers may protect their hands from sharp-edge rocks using tape.
• Face: Face climbing is used during ascending a vertical rock face. In this technique, climbers use rock’s irregularities and features such as edges or finger pockets. Its specific techniques are manteling, stemming as well as undercling. This technique mostly relies on body position.
• Slab: Slab climbing is a process of climbing through the slope of the rocks. In this case, rock angles are less steep and much vertical. So, climbers climb upward by following the slops of the rocks. It includes the techniques of smearing, body placement, and movement. Slab techniques are one of the most challenging techniques in rock climbing.
• Simul: The form is simultaneously used here in the short form named ‘Simul’. These techniques use when two climbers move at the same time tied with the same rope. Here protection is placed by the first member of the team and removes the gear last member of the climbers. In most cases, multi-protection use and rope length vary usually 15-30 meters.
• Rock climbing environments: There are two types of rock-climbing environments. One is indoor and the other is outdoor. Basically, indoor rock-climbing practices on artificial rock structures on a building. It is a unique source for Beginners training or improving new techniques. It may also be a source of fun and a unique way of the gym. Here you can always practice in every weather and the types of climbing always ensure your personal safety. On the other hand, outdoor rock-climbing practice on sunny days. This environment is suitable when holes are dry and provides a good grip. In this fact, adverse situations and nights ignore mostly.

Tips and Tricks Before Rock Climbing:

• Have a good quality of climbing gear: Mostly wearing unsuitable and unfitted gears may cause injuries to you. Moreover, it will hamper your comfort level during climbing. So have a good quality of gears before starting climbing. Moreover, choose gear according to you comport and fittings.
• Have a basic understanding of climbing Grades: Grading is the most important thongs during climbing. There are different types of grading. First, do not try to practice much more grades. Practice a few and use them properly. After completing a move to the others. You may need an instructor in this case.
• Use the ‘Silent feet method’: Most of the time climbers do not make attention to their feet. You may avoid making sounds while moving upwards. Also, it will increase your focus on grips. Moreover, do not take on an extra burden when your feet are not moving, try to learn with your own capability with full of attention.
• Make falling practices: It’s quite normal to fall during rock climbing. So, you have good expertise in falling off. Practice falling off to overcome your limitations and how you will move in those adverse situations. Do not give extra pressure on your feet while moving upwards. You can divide falling options into coming off the wall, falling as well as landing.
• Keep your arms straight: Most of the time beginners mistake of not keeping their arms straight. As most of your body weight is on your arms, you may have them straight. Any kind of injury may cause if you do not make them straight. If your arms get injured you may not move or create any trouble. So, practice keeping your arms straight.
• Balance on your core: Most of the time we think that climbing on rocks is most necessary is upper parts strength. But surprisingly most of the gripes balance thorough your body’s core. So practice balancing on your core. In this case, yoga can help you greatly.
• Make warm-up routines: Body warm-up is one of the key points of rock climbing. It may enhance your rock-climbing capability. So, make a warm-up routine every day and improve your ability.
• Have enough nutrition: Through rock climbing a greater level of energy in your body will go down. So, take balanced and nutritious foods to stay healthy and fit. Moreover, balanced protein, fat, and sugar may improve your rock-climbing ability also.

Rock climbing is getting more popular day by day in the recent world. In the century of technology and luxury, everybody wants to keep their body fit. Rock climbing improves your body and mind situation. Also, it gives you a thrill of entertainment that have a great influence on your body and mind. In Qatar, the rock climbing community is becoming popular day by day. Most citizens try to enjoy their leisure in different workouts. If you want to have a part of these exciting thrills, dot late to adventure in Qatar through rock climbing there.