ABC of climbing jargon (more to come)
Abseil = descending a rope using a friction device or traditional method (the later is not advised if you value your genitals)
Arete = like a corner but inside out… imagine one of the outside corners of your house
Alternate Lead = take it in turns to lead the pitches on a multipitch route.
Barn Door = one side of your body lets go of the rock…. you’re swinging out !!! can you hold it?
Belay = using a friction device or traditional method to keep your mate safe… holding the rope. A somewhat important part of climbing.
Bolt = those shiny metal things that sport climbers use for protection. Drilled in to make a permanent anchor on the rock.
Bouldering = exactly what it sound like – climbing on boulders at a safe(ish) height… lets you practise climbing without the stress and get strong!
Campus = for the beast in you! climb an overhang without your feet!
Crimp = tiny diddy hold or edge. watch your tendons!
Crux = the hard part of a route… the real meaty bit!
Chockstone = big old rock jammed in a crack
Chimney= errm well… like a … chimney?
Corner = to walls meet to form a corner. Just any corner really!
Crack = need I explain?
Deep water soloing = no ropes, no nonsense climb as hard as you want above the nice soft(ish) landing of deep-water… make sure the tide’s in!
Dogging = I know what your thinking… but this has nothing to do with car parks… get up the route like a french free climber… any means possible! can’t do a move? pull on the gear!!
Duncan Campbell = massive punter with a mohican and the catch phrase of “write the theme tune, sing the theme tune take a massive whipper”
Flake = A piece of rock that forms a feature which looks like its almost peeling away from the wall.
Going Elvis = shaky leg syndrome… you will experience this!
Ground-up = When you go for the onsight, fall off, lower to the ground without checking any moves, pull your ropes through and lead the route cleanly, a good style of ascent.
Heel Hook = wrap your heel around the hold and pull! great for resting or rocking over.
Jamming = jam your hands or any appendage you feel willing to sacrifice in that crack. you’ll be surprised what you can hang off!
Jug = a whopping great hold. hmmmm….
Overhang = anything that is over-vertical is overhanging….its gonna get pumpy!
Laybacking = lean to the side, get your weight back, think light and move up!
Lead = climb the route clipping your rope into protection you have placed.
Mantle = push down as hard as you can and get on top of that feature: grab it by the horns…
Multipitch = a route consisting of several rope lengths.
Match – two hands, one hold
Moving together =you’re tied to your mate, climbing with the rope clipped to several pieces of gear in between you. leader keeps placing the gear, second takes it out. One way to move quickly over easier terrain. Nice
Onsight = Climbing a route from the bottom to the top without any info except the guide book and some sketchy beta your mate gave you: no practise, no second chances! don’t blow your on-sight!
Pocket = a hole in the rock, how many fingers can you get in…
Rock over= get you foot high and rock all your weight onto it… get those quads working!
Roof = much like an over hang, but this time you may be horizontal!
Second = Follow the leader, feels scary but you’re on top rope… what you flapping for!
Soloing = no ropes… definitely no second chance this time! watch it you lot, stay safe!
Slab = the opposite of an overhang, may require technical footwork on non-existent foot holds. watch out for the for the Elvis leg when those calves get pumped!
Sloper = sloping negative hold, doesn’t really look possible does it? use the friction man!!
Side Pull = a hold which faces sideways
Smearing = use your high tech sticky rubber boots when all footholds disappear! ball of you foot/toes face the rock, trust the friction!
Sport climbing= Climbing a route using pre-placed bolts for protection… attempts to minimise the risks.
Toe Hook = similar to a heel hook, wrap the top of your toes around the rock… weird eh?
Traverse = climbing sideways
Traditional Climbing = Climbing a route using leader placed protection… the nice scary stuff!
Top-rope = Climbing with the rope above you… fall? you ain’t going nowhere.
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