Originally Posted by holden
"Actually, a free ascent is climbing with ropes. When they say "first free ascent of...", they mean they climbed it without pulling on gear (aid climbing, look it up). Free solo is climbing without protection."
When they say 'free ascent' do they still do that thing where they pin those keyhole things into the rocks, and put the rope through it? I mean, how does the rope benefit them otherwise?
And if it's not free climbing, what other aids do they use when climbing up a big rock?