Outdoor sports: mountain and rock climbing terms
Mountaineering and rock climbing terms can be as foreign as another language if you are new to the sport. Here are the A to Z's in some of the terms you will use while participating in these exciting sports.
Mountaineering and rock climbing terms can be as foreign as another language if you are new to the sport. Here are the A to Z's in some of the terms you will use while participating in these exciting sports.
A; Abseil. Abseiling is a method that can be used to safely descend using a rope, also know as rappelling. The speed at which you descend is controlled by friction that the person descending by wrapping the rope around the body or with another mechanical friction device.
B; Belay. Belaying is the term used to describe managing a rope system where one person is protecting another while he is exposed on the face of the rock. The person belaying is able to stop the rope in the case of a fall.
C; Cams and chocks are mechanical wedges and devices that are used as protection. They come in many sizes and are placed in the crack of the rock with a quick draw and karabiner which is clipped to your rope.
D; Daisy Chain is a sling, usually made of nylon, that is tied or sewn strongly into numerous sections. They can be used to clip gear to, such as your quick-draws or cams.
E; Etriers is a ladder, sewn or tied, made from rope or nylon strapping. They are used when artificially climbing or aid climbing to step up to the next aid.
F; Fifi hook. The fifi hook function is somewhat like the daisy chain?s. You can use the fifi hook to quickly "hook" into a piece of placed protection to immediately protect yourself or rest. It is only a hook, and unlike the karabiner, when the draw is slack, the hook may come unseated from the protection.
G; Girth hitch. The girth hitch is an easily tied knot used to secure nylon webbing to a partially driven piton.
H; Hero loops. Used for aid climbing, hero loops are a short sling or tie off used in aid climbing. Usually ? inch webbing threaded through protection instead of a karabiner.
I; Ice axe. The ice axe is a basic tool which looks like a traditional axe. They vary in size and have a pick on one side an adze on the other. Used primarily for arresting falls on ice and snow and assisting the climber in vertical ice climbing.
J; Jamming or Jam is wedging your hands, feet, arms, knees and legs in the cracks of the rock to facilitate holds.
K; Karabiners (or Carabineers) are the universal method of managing rope systems while climbing. They are two basic shapes, oval or "D". However, there are many shapes that stem from those, pear-shaped, off-set "D" and bent gate. They are usually aluminum, alloy or steel. There are three types; Locking, lightweight and normal.
L; Leading or leader is the climber who climbs the pitch first.
M; Monkey hang. The monkey hang is an ice climbing technique used to overcome a bulge in the ice.
N; Nut is a general term used to describe the wedges used as protection, jammed in a crack with a quick-draw attached.
O; Overhangs and roofs describe climbing terrain where just as is sounds, is climbing horizontally, upside down. The rock could either be in a cave or a jutting out rock that is over-vertical.
P; Pitons or pegs are used as protection. It is driven into the rock securely and a girth hitch or karabiner is attached.
Q; Quick-draw was originally a trade name; however the name caught on and is now used to describe an extension or short sling. Usually made of nylon webbing with sewn loops at each end to facilitate a karabiner.
R; Rack. Your rack is all of your gear you are carrying for the climb. Usually organized on your harness, and slings or tied (rope) around your body.
S; Soloing is climbing without a rope for protection.
T; Twin rope is the term used to describe using two smaller ropes together as one rope for protection.
U; Undercling or undercut is an upside down hold and is usually more difficult to hold.
V; Verglas is the thin ice that forms on rocks from rain or melting snow is frozen.
W; Well protected, is the term used to describe a route that has more than sufficient protection and runners in place.
Y; Yosemite hoist is an assisted hoist used to haul up small loads. It consists of a karabiner or pulley attached above the load, a rope threaded through the pulley and tied to the load.
Z; Z pulley rescue system, or 3:1 pulley system allows a large mechanical advantage to the puller. Used to lift heavy loads such as an unconscious climber too safety.
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