Climbing started in the early 1900s, and the climbing gear back then was not as minimalist as it is today. Trad climbers would wear really large rubber-soled boots compared to the small climbing shoes used today, and their hardware back then was much larger than what we use today. Many of the reasons why modern climbing equipment and hardware have changed to be more minimalist is because it shows that the traditional bolt anchor caused permanent damage to the rock formations.
In the 70s, free soloing started to gain more popularity when "dirtbags" started climbing. It was a specific lifestyle they lived, and they knew how to respect nature compared to the earlier pioneers of climbing that used safety hardware. Climbing soon became a lifestyle for "off-the-grid" folks as it was an inexpensive, outdoor hobby that didn't require much. Many of these climbers wouldn't even use shoes or drying agents like chalk because they wanted to be as minimalist as possible.
In the present day, climbing has taken the life form as a sport now that it's gained so much popularity in the media. Sport climbing is one of the most popular types of climbing that requires ropes, and bouldering is the other most popular type of climbing. Indoor gyms make it more accessible for people to start climbing without taking as many safety measures as outdoor climbing. Many people nowadays start to climb for the sport and hobby rather than seeing climbing as a whole lifestyle as before.
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