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Climbing and Gymnastics A Historical Association |
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Climbing and Gymnastics A Historical Association |
More Military Gymnastics & Training . . . And now, the most interesting of this collection of engravings as far as climbing is concerned: military gymnastic exercises from the early 1800s incorporating a very early version of an artificial climbing wall.  Documented prior to 1850 - probably ca. 1820 Here is an enlargement of the (left) climbing wall:
The hand and
footholds might be anchored metal loops, or they could be protruding or
incut holds of some
sort.
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Early Acrobats . . .  Early 1800s What makes this interesting is the performer on the left, balancing on two upright bottles. In the 1960s, the great Yosemite climber, Chuck Pratt, would line up a row of empty beer bottles on a flat surface and delicately walk them. Just one more precurser to slacklining! |
