运动休闲—攀岩:The ABCs of rock climbing

Rock climbing is the original extreme sport． Basically, rock climbing is going from the bottom of a wall to the top and then back down again. The main goal is to have fun while doing so and to preferably not die. Its roots go back at least 200 years to the explorers of the high Alps and Himalayas and probably even 6)further. It’s a dangerous sport that requires experience, skill and a cool head. But if you’re the right type of person to do it, a whole new world of vertical¹ fun will open up. 

 　　攀岩是最早的极限运动。基本上，攀岩就是从岩壁底部爬到顶端，然后再爬下来。主要目的就是享受攀爬乐趣，还有最好别摔死。它的起源至少可以追溯到二百年前阿尔卑斯山与喜马拉雅山的高山探险家，甚至可能更早。这是需要经验、技巧跟冷静头脑的危险运动。不过，如果你是适合攀岩的人，一个垂直乐趣的新世界将会从此展开。  

1) original (a.) 原来的，最早的 2) basically (adv.) 基本上 3) preferably (adv.) 较好，宁可
4) explorer (n.) 探险家 　　　　5) probably (adv.) 很可能 6) further (adv.) 更进一步
7) require (v.) 要求，需要 　　　8) vertical (a.) 垂直的

The best and safest way to get started is to go to an indoor climbing gym. The “rock” walls at an indoor gym are not really made of rock at all. They are usually tall wooden walls with hard plastic handholds set at various angles. The handholds feel like rock, and allow the climber to have as realistic an experience as possible. 

　　最好、最安全的入门方式就是去室内攀岩场。室内攀岩场的「岩壁」并不是真的岩石。通常是高大的木墙，设置各种不同角度的硬质塑料岩点。岩点摸起来很像岩石，攀岩者可以获得最接近真实的体验。 

1) indoor (a.) 室内的 2) gym (n.) 体育馆 3) wooden (a.) 木制的
4) plastic (a.) 塑料的 5) handhold (n.) 可以抓的地方。在攀岩的术语中称为「岩点」
6) various (a.) 各式各样的 7) angle (n.) 角度 8) climber (n.) 攀爬者 9) realistic (a.) 真实的

Climbing gyms have many 1)advantages. They are safe because experienced climbers are always around. People can learn from 2)instructors how to belay－to hold a partner’s rope while he or she is climbing. You can also take classes that teach important safety skills. Furthermore, you don’t have to buy lots of expensive 3)equipment. Gyms usually 4)provide ropes and 5)rent shoes, 6)harnesses and belaying 7)devices. And let’s face it: when you can use an indoor gym, there’s no 8)excuse to 9)skip practice on a rainy day.

　　室内攀岩场有许多好处。这里很安全，因为总有经验老到的攀岩者在场。可以跟教练学习如何做确保——就是在伙伴攀岩时拉住他或她的绳索。也可以上课学习重要的安全技巧。此外，你不用购买一堆昂贵装备。攀岩场通常会提供绳索以及出租攀岩鞋、安全带跟确保装置。而且说实话：当你有室内攀岩场可去，下雨天就再也不是取消练习的借口了。
1) advantage (n.) 好处
2) instructor² (n.) 教师，教练
3) equipment (n.) 装备，器材
4) provide (v.) 提供
5) rent (v.) 出租，租用
6) harness (n.) 装备，系在身上的绳子
7) device (n.) 装置
8) excuse (n.) 借口
9) skip (v.) 跳过，省去

After you’ve 1)toughened up your hands and built up some 2)enthusiasm at an indoor gym, it’s time to go 3)outdoors and try sport climbing. To do this, it’s
necessary to buy some 4)gear. Except for the most popular spots, you’ll need to bring your own rope, climbing shoes, 5)helmet, belaying devices and 6)clips for the 7)bolts on the rock walls. Some 8)chalk for your hands would be nice too.

　　在室内攀岩场把手磨粗了、培养起一些热情之后，该是走出户外，试试运动攀岩的时候了。要做运动攀岩就得采购一些装备。除了一些人气最高的地点之外，都得自备绳索、攀岩鞋、安全帽、确保装置，以及扣在岩壁耳片上的快扣。准备些擦在手上的滑石粉也不错。
1) toughen up (v.) 使坚韧，使粗糙
2) enthusiasm (n.) 热中
3) outdoors (adv.) 户外
4) gear (n.) 器具
5) helmet (n.) 安全帽，头盔
6) clip (n.) 夹子。攀岩中固定绳子用的「扣环」
7) bolt (n.) 螺栓。攀岩中固定绳子用的「耳片」
8) chalk (n.) 白垩，即滑石粉

Sport climbing started in the 1970s when French rock climbers began 1)drilling bolts into rock walls to make them safer to climb. Because the bolts were never taken out, climbers didn’t need to worry about making their own 2)trails. As the climbers went up, they just clipped their ropes onto the bolts. The bolts made falling less dangerous, so sport climbers tried the same 3)route again and again (falling often) until they got it just right.

　　运动攀岩发源于一九七○年代，当时法国攀岩者开始在岩壁上钻入耳片，增加攀岩的安全性。因为耳片从不取出，所以攀岩者不用担心要自己建立路线。攀岩者上攀时，只须将绳子扣在耳片上即可。耳片可以减低坠落的危险，所以运动攀岩者可以不断尝试相同的路线（常常会坠落），直到完全正确为止。
1) drill (v.) 钻凿
2) trail (n.) 小径
3) route (n.) 路线

OK, you’ve done your time at the indoor gym and you’ve “sent” enough sport climb routes. Now you want to try something new. It’s time for a 1)traditional climb. For this type of climbing, you have to be 2)mentally prepared. There won’t be any bolts 3)fastened to the rock walls, so it’s up to you to put them there. For this, you’ll need special tools that 4)stick into holes and 5)cracks in the rock. These tools then 6)attach to your rope. Finding the right place to put the tools that will save your life requires a cool head. If you 7)panic, there’s a good chance you’ll die. So make sure you try an indoor gym first.

　　好，你已经花了足够的时间在室内攀岩，也「通过」了够多的运动攀岩路线。现在你想尝试点新玩意。是该做传统攀岩的时候了。这种攀岩你必须做好心理准备。没有任何紧栓在岩壁上的耳片，所以你必须自己打耳片上去。要这么做，你需要可以卡进洞孔与裂缝的特殊工具。然后这些工具要扣在你的绳索上。寻找正确位置装上这些能够救你一命的工具，需要冷静的头脑。如果你慌张，很可能会因此送命。所以一定要先从室内攀岩场开始。
1) traditional (a.) 传统的
2) mentally (adv.) 在心理上
3) fasten (v.) 固定
4) stick (v.) 塞，卡
5) crack (n.) 裂缝
6) attach (v.) 附着
7) panic (v.) 惊慌

There are many ways to rock climb. You could spend a few hours a week at a gym, getting 1)in shape and getting to know some climbing 2)buddies. Or you could just go out on your weekends to climb at a favorite spot. Or if you’re really into it, you might put handholds all over your house to practice on. However you do it, rock climbing can bring out the true monkey in you. 

　　攀岩有很多方式。你可以每周花几个小时在室内攀岩场，练练身体，跟一些攀岩伙伴混熟。也可以在周末直接到你喜欢的地点攀岩。真的很热中攀岩的话，也许可以在家里遍设岩点来练习。不论你用哪个方式，攀岩都可以激发出你内在的原始猴性。
1) in shape (phr.) 体能状况良好
2) buddy³ (n.) 伙伴，好友

1 vertical   

adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置

参考例句：

• The northern side of the mountain is almost vertical.这座山的北坡几乎是垂直的。
• Vertical air motions are not measured by this system.垂直气流的运动不用这种系统来测量。

2 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

3 buddy   

n.（美口）密友，伙伴

参考例句：

• Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气，老兄。有什么麻烦吗？
• Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了，你这家伙！