Rock climbing is a very challenging and exciting sport. Not using a safety rope (that is, “free climbing” or “unprotected climbing”) will significantly increase the risk, and it may also bring unique psychological and physical experiences. The following are the main **challenges** and potential**fun of free climbing**： --- ###**Challenge: High risk and stringent requirements** 1. **Life-threatening**： Any mistake can be fatal. Even experienced rock climbers can fall to their deaths due to loose rocks, lack of physical strength, or sudden weather changes. There have been a number of well-known accidents in the history of free climbing (such as Alex Honnold's many pioneers before climbing the Chief Rock). 2. **Psychological stress**： Extreme concentration needs to be maintained throughout the process. Fear and stress may lead to wrong decision-making. Even minor mistakes (such as hand slippage or foot point judgment errors) cannot be remedied. 3. **Physical fitness limit**： When unprotected, the reliability of each action needs to be repeatedly confirmed, and the physical exertion is greater. Muscle fatigue or decreased coordination can directly increase the risk. 4. **Environmental uncontrollability**： Rock quality, weather changes (such as sudden strong winds or rainfall), or wildlife disturbance (such as birds and insects) can all become fatal factors. 5. **Moral and social disputes**： Free climbing is often criticized as “irresponsible”. In the event of an accident, rescuers may be involved and cause psychological impact on relatives, friends and the rock climbing community. --- ###**Fun: Ultimate experience and self-transcendence** 1. **Purity and freedom**： Rope-free climbing allows climbers to fully immerse themselves in the interaction between movements and rock walls, and experience the primitive pleasure of “dialogue with rocks”. 2. **Highly focused ”heart flow" state**： The pressure of life and death may bring extreme focused satisfaction, which some climbers describe as ”sober meditation." 3. **Sublimation of sense of accomplishment**： The successful completion of difficult free climbing routes (such as El Capitan's “Freerider”) is regarded as the highest honor in the rock climbing world, representing the pinnacle of technology and psychology. 4. **The philosophical significance of simplifying decision-making**： The situation of no retreat forces climbers to face themselves completely, and many free climbers mention the spiritual enlightenment brought about by this kind of “absolute honesty”. --- ###**Important reminder** Free climbing is a high-risk behavior that only a very small number of professionals (such as Alex Honnold) choose after years of training. The vast majority of rock climbers should always use safety ropes, and gradually improve their skills through top rope protection, pioneer climbing, etc. The core pleasure of rock climbing lies in the balance between challenge and safety, not in the blind pursuit of risk. If you need to try high-risk rock climbing, be sure to receive professional guidance and systematically learn about risk assessment and emergency plans. There is only one life, and reverence for nature is always the first rule of outdoor sports.