CLIMBING.
Climbing is the art of transporting the body in any direction, by the aid, in general, both of the hands and feet. The climbing-stand consists of two strong poles, about fifteen feet high, and from fifteen to twenty-five feet distant, which are firmly fixed in the ground, and support a beam strongly fastened to them. One pole is two inches and a half in diameter; the other, which serves as a mast, should be considerably thicker; and both serve the purpose of climbing. To the beam are attached other implements of climbing: viz. a ladder, an inclined board, a mast, an inclined pole, a horizontal bar, a rope ladder, an upright, an inclined, and a level rope.—([Plate XVIII.])
KINDS OF CLIMBING.
Climbing on fixed bodies should first be practised.
The Ladder.
Exercises on the ladder may be practised in the following ways:—
- 1. By ascending and descending as usual.
- 2. With one hand, carrying something in the other.
- 3. Without using the hands.
- 4. Passing another on the front of the ladder, or swinging to the back, to let another pass.