Basic Rock Climbing Terminology

By:Kris Koonar

Thinking of enrolling for a rock-climbing event this vacation? Well if you are new to rock climbing, you need to access a lot of information on rock climbing, including the equipment required, the place to go for rock climbing and first aid manuals. You will also find yourself learning a new lingo!

That is right a new lingo, which is used by the rock climbing community. Most of the amateur rock climbers ignore this very important aspect and think that they will learn as they take the training and go for their first rock-climbing expedition. However, this is a very big mistake because if you are not accustomed to rock-climbing lingo, you may find yourself standing against more insurmountable objects than the physical ones.

Like many other sports, rock climbing has also evolved a language unique to the sport that the climbers must learn if they want to communicate with fellow rock climbers. What makes the terminology more interesting is that they do not have an obvious meaning. There are many rock climbing specific words and listing all of them here would be impossible, but given below are few terms that are more popularly used than the others:

Anchor-Not the one that is found on a boat, but it is equipment that is part of the climbing gear. It is equipment that supports the belay when climbing.

Belay-It is perhaps the most important equipment within the climbing gear. It is a rope anchor system that is used to provide support for the climber. The first climber often carries the belay and as he makes progress, he keeps on feeding out the rope to the succeeding climbers. Belay is run with the help of the friction system and it also has a mechanical break, which helps the climber from plunging to ground in case he falls.

Bouldering-This is the only term that means what it sounds. It means to find large size boulders and to practice climbing on them. Bouldering is the best way to learn climbing and it is also an excellent way to build up strength for the muscles for the advanced climbers. The climber can probably throw some pads around the boulder to cushion the fall.

Crimp-It is actually an art of trying to find a finger hold where there is not any.

Elvis-This is a physical condition, where the climbers legs begin to shake because of being tired or scared or even if the climber is listening to good music. The phenomenon is also known as sewing machine.

Face Climbing-This means to climb vertically, face up and towards the rock-using finger holds and edges to work ones way up.

Harness-This is a nylon device that is worn around the waist and legs and also tied off to the supporting ropes, to support the climber. It is advised to always put on the harness while climbing for safety.

Leading-The term is used for the first climber who is also responsible for determining the route, placing anchors and solving any problems. Clearly not meant for the amateur climbers.

Pitch-A pitch does not essentially means a vertical angle of rocks, but it is the distance between two belay points.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Mobile Climbing Walls, Extreme Engineering, Spider Zone

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Extreme Engineering is the industry leader in Climbing Walls including: Rock Climbing Walls, Portable Climbing Walls, Mobile Climbing Walls and Auto Belay Systems. The Spider one is our own proprietary system that handles 300 children per hour. Check out our photo gallery at http://www.extremeengidneering.com

Top Extreme Articles
1). Things You Better Know Before You Go Whitewater Kayaking By : Gregg Hall When talking about the sport of whitewater kayaking, to make a statement that is merely taking a paddle, in a kayak and going down or up stream, is a serious understatement. Kayaking is both dangerous and challenging, especially whitewater kayaking.
2). Skydiving Equipment And Supplies By : Skydiving Supplies What You Need To Know When you attend a skydiving certification course you will be able to hire all the skydiving supplies you need for the duration. However if you are serious about the sport you are going to need to equip yourself for action. Your basic equipment needs to begin with are a jump suit, goggles, and helmet. You may also like to buy your own altimeter and gloves.
3). Las Vegas Skydiving And Other Extreme Sports By : John Ewing The number of extreme sports in Las Vegas, including skydiving has exploded in recent years. While they offer all of the standard extreme sports, skateboarding, BMX biking, and things like skydiving, they also have a chance to offer great sports like rock climbing, too, because of the nature of the area. One extreme sport in Las Vegas is skateboarding.
4). The Kitesurfing Beginning and Early Kitesurfing Equipment By : Ispas Marin The latest craze in extreme sports is kitesurfing. It may seem like a new idea but kitesurfing dates back to the 13th century, earliest record being made in the 12th century. It was used as a simple mode of transportation and it was called kitesailing. The idea was to use a kite to enchance speed and gravity. Kitesurfing, the beginning Kitesurfing has it's root in the early 1980's, when kite skiing and flysurfing first appeared.
5). Brief Overview of Dive Flags By : dave4 The Dive Flag has become the symbol for the exciting sport of scuba diving in recent history. This unique flag is recognized by many but is more then just a symbol for scuba diving. In most areas, local laws and policies require one most use a dive flag while diving. Here in the United States, the dive flag is a red flag with a white diagonal stripe running usually running from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.
6). Skydiving Tutorial - How can we learn to Skydive? By : Ispas Marin The simplest thing we can do to start our skydiving experience is to start looking for Drop Zones to attend. If you find a good Drop Zone for you, you can view promotional materials, most cases skydiving videos, in order to make a clear idea of what is all about, you can also meet the staff over at the Drop Zone. Good ways to find some good drop zones are to look in the Yellow Pages in the Skydiving Section, you can get their telephone numbers and call the stuff.
7). What Makes A Sport An Extreme Sport? By : Gregg Hall Obviously extreme sports get your attention. The have garnered the attention of the U.S. military who has recognized that anyone involved in extreme sports would be good candidates to recruit for their hard to fill special operations positions.
8). Scuba Diving: A Florida Adventure By : Chelsea Aubin Many people consider Florida a divers dream come true. This is because Florida is composed of over 1,700 islands and the Keys that stretch over 150 miles there are many different places to go diving. The waters are calm, clear, and full with beautiful and unique sea life and colorful coral. You can visit some of the over 5,000 ship wrecks in these waters, or the only barrier reef in the continent.
9). Kayaking - a sport with lots of history By : john Kayaking is like canoeing, only better. They were originally invented by the Inuit in Alaska and used for hunting (the word means �hunter�s boat�). The defining characteristic of a kayak is the way the boater sits centrally in a long, thin boat and gets along using a paddle. Today they are used for sport. Kayaks are made differently to handle different boating environments, such as calm seas and whitewater.
10). T'ai Chi For Kayaking And Canoes Racing By : Jason Murphy Kayaking and canoes involve paddling and water. T'ai Chi, a style of martial arts, is practiced on land with neither water nor boats. The two seem unrelated but did you know that T'ai Chi benefits water sports players like enthusiasts of kayaking and canoes racing? Paddling requires moving gracefully, strongly, and balanced on rough waters. It also puts much strain on the arms and the back, if done incorrectly.

New Extreme Articles
1). Snowboarding Wax: What Should Be Done! By : Alex Rider Details exist on why and how to frequently wax a snowboard by youself. The main section includes information on the equipment required and the methods used.
2). Why Everyone Loves The Sport Of Freestyle Snowboarding By : Gregg Hall Freestyle snowboarding has grown in popularity over the last several years. Those that enjoy the sport enjoy many sports, and not just winter sports but sports of many seasons.
3). How Do You Decide That A Particular Sport Is An Extreme Sport? By : Gregg Hall What are the determining factors in naming a sport extreme? There are many sports considered to be extreme sports today but how did they become to be known as such?
4). What Is The Difference Between Snowmobile Racing and The Sport Of Snowcrossing? By : Gregg Hall What is it that draws so many people to snowmobile racing? Is it the snow, the snowmobiles themselves, or perhaps the crisp fresh air of winter? Suffice to say the draw is all of the above mentioned.
5). Free Fall With A Skydiving Lesson In California By : John Ewing A Skydiving lesson in California is a great way to begin the sport. Skydiving is a very popular extreme sport it today's society. The rush of jumping out of a plane and slowly floating to the earth in a peaceful surrounding is an urge many people cannot ignore. Skydiving lessons in California aren't difficult to locate. CalAdventures offers assistance with finding a skydiving lesson in California as well as other extreme sports like backpacking, dirt bike and ATV racing and riding, bungee jumping, and cave exploration.
6). Fixing Your Portable Generator By : Ralphie So, you've brought your generator out of storage, filled the tank, pulled the cord, and nothing. Hopefully, you are finding this out BEFORE the power outage or camping trip. This article will help you fix some common problems you may encounter. Before attempting any repair, remove the spark plug to prevent accidental starting while you are working on the unit.
7). Trekking Machu Picchu: the Inca Trail and other trek routes By : Charlotte De Patre The Inca Trail is undoubtedly Peru's most popular trekking route. Recommended for the physical fit only, it runs for more than 40km and reaches 4,200 m.a.s.l. at its highest point, the Warmiwa�uska or Dead Woman's Pass. The stone-paved trail, discovered in 1960 and part of the more than 23,000 km of roads built by the Incas across South America, crosses a remarkable range of natural landscapes and eco-systems, from thick tropical jungle to the bear, unwelcoming rocks of the Andean mountains.
8). Scuba Diving: A Florida Adventure By : Chelsea Aubin Many people consider Florida a divers dream come true. This is because Florida is composed of over 1,700 islands and the Keys that stretch over 150 miles there are many different places to go diving. The waters are calm, clear, and full with beautiful and unique sea life and colorful coral. You can visit some of the over 5,000 ship wrecks in these waters, or the only barrier reef in the continent.
9). Sea Kayaking: Alaska Wilderness By : Chelsea Aubin Sea kayaking in Alaska lets you create your own adventure, while escaping the responsibilities you have left behind. Alaska offers a unique combination of education and adventure so you can enjoy the beautiful nature all around you. Alaska offers a variety of different kayaking opportunities such as paddling and rapid riding. You can also hike, camp, fish, bird watch, and get up close with the sea mammals like sea otters, whales, seals, and dolphins.
10). Going For a Scuba Diving? Understand First the Real Safety Issue of The Underwater World By : Robert Langdon Scuba diving is one of the great adventures that one can take to explore the vast wonders of the underworld that cannot be seen on the surface of the water. This is an underwater activity where the diver utilizes breathing equipment or scuba apparatus to be able to stay underwater for longer period of time. To those who are less knowledgeable about scuba, the name was actually derived from its acronym of �Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus�.

� 2006 articles2k.com - Privacy Policy