Mountain climbing terms slang.
Mountain climbing terms slang Gap, notch, saddle are other words equivalent to pass. Mar 14, 2021 · Rock climbing being a team sport, you need to have a grasp of the basic lingo to be able to seamlessly (and safely) communicate with other climbers. 2. The official climbing guidebooks were the first systematic forms of beta. With so many confusing terms and phrases, it can definitely be hard to pick up on all of the lingo, especially if you’re new. Well in this article I’ve got a list of 217 terms used when rock climbing including their definitions. Even if you feel like a “gumby” (inexperienced climber) on the wall, you can show other enthusiasts you’re not by using these climbing slang terms. I was just curious if anyone knew some good basic climber terms that I should be aware of? Thanks for the insight/comments ahead of time! Familiarity with climbing terms and slang is more than just learning a new vocabulary; it’s about becoming an integrated member of the climbing community. Feb 16, 2022 · To help you get started, here are some common climbing terms from the rock climbing community. horns spikes of rock that are used for protection or holds. A climber ascends an arete. mixed climbing either a combination of free and aid climbing; or a combination of rock, snow, and ice climbing. 15c (currently the hardest confirmed free climb in the world). A dyno requires explosive movement and often means that during the leap or lunge, the climber won’t be touching the rock at all. Here are the basic climbing terms to get you going, in alphabetical order: 1 Dec 13, 2022 · A large section of this might be called a cave, and these are generally found in bouldering or lead climbing areas. Dec 22, 2024 · With an entire language all our own, it can be hard to understand exactly what we’re talking about, with some words even being regional. crux. Mar 23, 2018 · Whether you’re new to the sport or well versed in climbing, there may be some words you may not understand. Jan 28, 2018 · These mountain slang terms cover hiking, climbing, backpacking, mountaineering and skiing. DWS. Choss/Chossy - Rock that is not solid and likely to fall off under pressure. 28. For me it makes no difference. As for the content on theCrag, this glossary relies on the input of you, the users of theCrag for updates, corrections and more precise definitions. 47 rock climbing terms for beginners that you should know. com For beginners, some key climbing terms to know are “belay,” the process of managing the rope to ensure the safety of the climber; “harness,” gear worn around the waist and legs for safety; “jug,” a large, easily gripped hold; “toprope,” climbing with the rope anchored at the top of the climb; and “boulder,” climbing short Climbing has its own set of terms and slang and we’re breaking down some of the essential terms for you in this handy glossary. Pinkpoint and redpoint refer to the degree the route has been set up. Aug 15, 2011 · In conjunction with The Mountaineers Books, Climbing will be offering one climbing-word definition a day over the next three weeks, using terms pulled from the Climbing Dictionary. There are unlimited slang terms that different people use in different types of climbing. The system follows a scale that begins at 5. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Mar 16, 2020 · Other Rock Climbing Terms – Types of Moves. Other types of rock climbing terms that boulderers use are in relation to movements, or types of moves they should be engaging in. route: ruta / via boulder problem: just boulder or "bloque" crimp (n): Regleta crimp (v): Regletear sloper: same slapping slopers: no term for this compression: compresión / comprimir crack: fisura jam (n): empotre jam (v): empotrar campus: campus come on: venga / vamos / dale drop knee: (don't know) foot slip (n): no specific noun, just the Aug 2, 2019 · In Valley Uprising, a documentary about the early days of Yosemite rock climbing, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard gleefully says, “of course, we were all dirtbags,” referring to a band of pioneering rock climbers in the Yosemite Valley in the early 1960s. Apr 7, 2022 · Noun: A spiked traction device made of a frame that attaches to the bottom of boots. Mar 7, 2025 · Climb: General term for any climbing route or boulder problem, regardless of its difficulty or type. SEND Climbing term for climbing a route without falling or resting on gear. I you can climb it. It was not until I started to become of a frequent visitor at my local climbing gym that these rock climbing terms were a natural part of communication. Or you might try boyfriend or girlfriend to get words that can mean either one of these (e. ) When a crag looks more like a party zone than a climbing area, packed with hammocks, bluetooth speakers, and more people hanging out tanning, snacking, and gabbing than climbing. [10] MOUNTAIN PASS. Especially with the start of Sender One LAX’s Bouldering League, you may need to know some of these words just to understand the rules! Climbers use and say so much slang, climbing pretty much has its own language. Trad Climbing: Short for traditional climbing, this style involves placing and removing protection (like cams and nuts) as you climb, rather than relying on fixed anchors. Aug 2, 2024 · Our expert guide to rock climbing terms, from equipment, moves and climbing styles to the the esoteric slang used by seasoned climbers A lot of the language used to describe climbing has nothing to do with safety or security, it is just a way to show endearment and enthusiasm for the sport. Me I get to flash just about everything. Soloing – Climbing routes without a rope. Chickenheads is a synonym. Used for mountaineering and ice climbing. The search algorithm handles phrases and strings of words quite well, so for example if you want words that are related to lol and rofl you can type in lol rofl and it should give you a pile of related slang terms. Yet there’s scant evidence that they used the actual term. Dihedral – A dihedral is a contained corner, nestled inward from the main wall. Having been ingrained in the sport for over two decades, I wanted to develop a short guide to understanding the different terms and phrases used to communicate. See also microspikes, Yaktrax. Pitch – A single rope length. e. Call it mountain biking slang, jargon, or code Jul 15, 2011 · The Climbing Dictionary runs the gamut from technical terms (belay, harness, rappel, Stopper) to slang (dab, choking the cobra, gaston, old dad, pimpy), to regional (such as the South's "baby-butt" slopers), antiquated ("press-up"), and foreign terms that have achieved universal usage (au cheval, colonnette) and much more. Well there you go. Since I use my long term short term memory loss to navigate the routes I climb. A combination of free soloing, and BASE jumping. Abseiling. 1. But there’s a serious lack of slang when it comes to climbing gear. Aid climbing is when you use ladders, cams, slings, etc to ascend a route. See full list on rei. May 4, 2022 · RUNOUT The climbing term for being far above your last piece of protection. from the “Climbing Dictionary” by Matt Samet, published in 2011 by The Mountaineers Books and with illustrations by Mike Tea – an illustrated historical reference to more than 650 climbing terms, for the world’s most “mega” climbing slanguage resource. Typical of any sport or subculture, rock climbing has its fair share of vocabulary that may seem intimidating at first. Aug 25, 2022 · Yosemite Decimal System– The standard grading scale in the US for free climbing routes. This hiking term originated in the rock climbing community Apr 7, 2022 · Noun: A spiked traction device made of a frame that attaches to the bottom of boots. Jul 23, 2023 · To help you keep up or show off to your friends, we’ve selected 100 important rock climbing terms that every climber should know with very simple definitions. g. SIDEPULL Method for gripping a vertical edge that entails pulling with the hand and pushing with the feet. Feb 9, 2020 · Pinkpoint – Climbing a route with no takes or falls, on pre-placed gear. This hiking term originated in the rock climbing community The Youth Ready to Rock Trad climbing course is designed to help young climbers (11-17 year olds) make their first moves onto rock by having a fun day out, as well as covering the use of some key skills and equipment, for both the participant and the parent/carer. May 23, 2020 · Being a beginner and mostly in part being completely enthralled with climbing, I did not take notice much of all of this climbing terminology and slang. PINKPOINT. Arete – An arete is an exposed corner, sticking outward from the main wall. Common climbing slang terms Woody. Jul 21, 2023 · If you watched Alex Honnold climbing nearly 3,000 feet of sheer granite without a rope, but you weren’t completely certain what he was talking about half of the time, or if you just got into climbing and you’re looking to improve your crag-slang skills, or even if you’re just curious whether climbing slang is as weird as the words you use Apr 4, 2017 · Here are the 50 most important rock climbing terms. mountain range or a plateau. Instead of feeling lost in translation when you hear terms like “gaston the side-pull,” get ready to dive into the exciting world of rock climbing lingo. Cams are crucial for trad climbing. Please also note that due to every-last-rock. [1] [2] [3] The terms used can vary between different English-speaking countries; many of the phrases described here are particular to the United States and the United Kingdom. Oct 10, 2016 · T he lingo and expressions of mountain culture can be confusing. It’s true, our sport has a lot of slang. Jan 10, 2021 · As a climber myself, I know how difficult it can be to understand these climbing terms when you’re first starting out. “I picked up a couple gobies whipping on my proj,” sounds like nonsense to the general population. 29. Basically any time you use something other than your own body strength and technique. And you made it up. Arete- The corner of a rock face. Placement – A space in the rock into which traditional gear can fit. I took a brief "intro to climbing" course and we went over the basics as well as several climbing/bouldering terms. Some climbing is "single-pitch", and some is "multi-pitch". Avoid Gaper-Dom with These 17 Mountain Slang Terms • Fox in the Forest A section of a climb, or the whole thing. Jul 15, 2011 · * 130 black-and-white illustrations * A reference to more than 660 terms from climbers and mountaineers * Perfect stocking stuffer! In this hilarious yet authoritative illustrated lexicon of climbing terms and slang, former Climbing Editor-in-Chief Matt Samet has compiled a reference of more than 650 terms used by climbers and mountaineers around the world. As the word suggests, it points out the 'mass' of mountains i. Read my guide to the differences between microspikes, crampons, and snowshoes. Dec 6, 2017 · Related: Unsent—10 New Slang Terms for Climbing Gear; Beach Bash (n. Note, dyno could be added here, as well as some other terms higher up. Apr 25, 2020 · Yeah, the point might be how well you climb in particular. Jan 1, 2024 · Trad Climbing – Traditional Climbing, where removable protection is strategically placed as the leader ascends. Feb 21, 2017 · Free climbing is a general term that simply means you are relying on your hands and feet -- not gear -- to ascend a wall (you are equipped with gear as a safety precaution, however). If you find yourself conversing in a mountain town but can’t think of an appropriate term to describe your most recent outdoors adventure, a basic go-to is to take a word commonly viewed as undesirable and use it instead to describe something May 20, 2024 · A mechanical piece of climbing protection that expands within a crack in the rock to secure the climber. The routes through a mountain range or a ridge that makes navigation possible and the path less challenging is called mountain pass. Feeling lost with all the hiking jargon? No worries, this guide will help you find your feet! Without further ado, here are the top 50 pieces of hiking slang that every hiker should know: Alpine start: The practice of waking up hours before dawn in order to summit a mountain before sunrise. Ape Index - The ratio of your height to armspan. The guy went really fast, and his speaking voice was extremely soft and hard to hear. Mar 18, 2025 · Climbing slang. Free soloing is free climbing without a rope to protect you. com Nov 8, 2023 · We’ve broken down tons of essential rock-climbing slang and terminology into easy-to-understand categories to help you become more comfortable with the terms. REALLY not good climbing style. Mar 6, 2025 · Crimping is rock climbing slang that involves gripping small rock holds with your first pads on your fingers and applying pressure to small edges. Deep Water Soloing – Climbing without a rope, but over deep water as the name suggests; a. Keep scrolling for the full list of common climbing terms… Aid Climbing Also, you can check out this sweet Wikipedia article on climbing words. That’s why I put together a list of the climbing terms that I hear most Here you will find lot of climbing terms, mountaineering slang, glossary, dictionary and lot of information about climbing :-). With gravity working directly against you, climbing a roof requires a lot of strength and endurance. You want to know what’s going on, but you also feel a little embarrassed to ask what a certain word means. Jan 27, 2022 · Aid Climbing: Ascending the rock by pulling directly on gear for progress. Free climbing Climbing without unnatural aids, other than used for protection. Approaches can be anything from a paved 5-minute walk from the parking lot to the crag, to a 20-minute hike on a maintained trail, to a full-day, off-trail scramble across forest and talus. munge. k. Applies mostly to trad climbing, the term is out of fashion in sport climbing. Sport Climbing: Jun 10, 2024 · Whether you’re scaling peaks or trekking through the backcountry, these 30 must-know hiking terms will turn you from a simple wanderer into a trailblazing explorer. There will be words from activities like: Rock Climbing, mulit-pitch climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, dry-tooling, ski-touring, trekking, alpine climbing, and high altitiude climbing. The hike to a climbing area, or to the base of a specific route, is the approach. Learn these rock climbing terms to sound like an in-the-know pro. Both versions require a good belay at the top; multi-pitch routes require good belays between pitches. Single pitch routes are usually half the length of a single rope. You are at the top. lead see Pitch. Pitch – Part of a climb that can be completed with a single rope length. Trad climbing is the most popular style of climbing on British crags. May 19, 2014 · Mountain that tops 14,000 feet (4,300 m) in the contiguous United States. Edging However there might be that rock climbing term that seems to be passed around every now and then and you still wonder what it means. It will take time, but here are our top terms you should know when starting out in rock climbing. I’ve been there and totally get it. MASSIF. Invented, as the name suggests, to grade routes in the Yosemite Valley, CA. Check Out: Hampta Pass Trek. Antonym of “free climbing,” which means using only one’s hands, feet, and the rock for progress. It often sounds like a bunch of childish gibberish, and to be honest, it mostly is. Silvia Vidal aid Jan 4, 2024 · If you’re looking to get in on the action but don’t know what some of those strange phrases you hear at the crag actually mean, here are 40+ rock climbing terms that you should have on your radar. Next time you're outside, give one of these outdoor vocabulary words a try. Apr 11, 2014 · Here you will find lot of climbing terms, mountaineering slang, glossary, dictionary and lot of information about climbing :-). SHOCK LOAD A force exerted on an anchor when weight is suddenly dropped onto it. Boulder Problem: A short, free-climbing route (typically 6–15 feet) that climbers climb without a rope. Aug 25, 2022 · Wrap-Up: Hiking Terms. a. Any doubts? Please ask in the comments section. ) so as to manage the size of the guidebook and avoid giving so much information that would spoil an onsight attempt. Please also note that due to Oct 8, 2024 · But the vocabulary is part of what makes the climbing culture so great! They use strange verbiage, enjoy wrestling funky-colored walls, and are covered in chalk 90% of the time. You’ll learn some of the most used terms, like these: Anchor Belay Crag Free Solo Lead Pitch Rappel Sport Climbing Trad Climbing . length, grade, direction/topo etc. A term used interchangeably with rappelling, mainly in the UK and European countries. Whippers can be scary but are usually safe with proper belaying techniques. Chipping - Using tools to alter or create holds. In an effort to make our sport even less accessible, I’ve devised the 10 terms below. Can I Start Climbing Without Knowing All These Terms? Go to the climbing gym and listen to the teenagers or early 20s climbers talk. Usually, these terms will be used when you are asking how to complete a problem. Jan 24, 2009 · The sexual act of a man thrusting his penis between a woman's breasts. Noun: The hardest part of a trail or route. 0 (the easiest climbing, sometimes referred to as “a ladder”) and 5. Free climbing where the face of a mountain steepens dramatically. When I began climbing, understanding terms like “beta” and “crux” not only improved my communication with fellow climbers but also enhanced my overall climbing experience. Free base Climbing with your only protection being a parachute that is deployed in the event of a fall. Free climbing is climbing with a rope to protect yourself, and climbing with only your body to get you up. Jul 15, 2011 · The Climbing Dictionary runs the gamut from technical terms (belay, harness, rappel, Stopper) to slang (dab, choking the cobra, gaston, old dad, pimpy), to regional (such as the South's "baby-butt" slopers), antiquated ("press-up"), and foreign terms that have achieved universal usage (au cheval, colonnette) and much more. move see Pitch. Sport climbing: Climbing a bolted rock route (sport route), a type of climbing with some of its own terminology. Jun 24, 2024 · Climbing slang for a dramatic, often long, lead fall where a climber falls past the last piece of protection they clipped, creating an arc-shaped trajectory. Aid climbing Jul 11, 2023 · Beta, Crux, Crimp, Send, Free Solo—key rock climbing terms and lingo explained for new climbers, with reference photos for each Glossary of climbing terms relates to rock climbing (including aid climbing, lead climbing, bouldering, and competition climbing), mountaineering, and to ice climbing. C an be sharp or rounded. A simple type of plywood wall that features a combination of either bolt-on holds or screw-on holds. Climbing Terrain Terms . An outdated term used to describe a redpoint ascent where the quickdraws May 3, 2022 · Rock Climbing Terrain Terms Approach. moat the gap between snow and ice and a rock wall. I’ve also tried to include pictures/images where I can. Written by Matt Samet and illustrated by Mike Tea, the book is a new, 250-page guide to mountaineering slang, terms, neologisms, and lingo out this August. Now that you know over 100 hiking terms, you’re basically an expert and will understand what any hiker is talking about. Final Thoughts. A slang term for a dynamic move from one climbing hold to another. [10] The beta in these physical climbing guidebooks was limited to the basic details of the climbing route (e. The present Climbing Terms Glossary is a list of definitions of terms, jargon and lingo related to all styles of rock climbing covered on theCrag. Spur: A rock or snow rib on a mountain, a lateral ridge. bae). Ready to decode the wild? Let’s take the first step! Must-Know Hiking Terms, Phrases and Slang: Blaze; Bushwhack; Cairn; Descent; Elevation; Gaiters; Hydration pack; Incline The search algorithm handles phrases and strings of words quite well, so for example if you want words that are related to lol and rofl you can type in lol rofl and it should give you a pile of related slang terms. You’ll be sure to pick up a few things. It requires precise finger strength and control. Jun 24, 2016 · We go through this every month. cms gehh iatnkvn lllsos ggahj dlclqy rrbrmx rwwbany hvdq iawcv xelbmg pqodpwp opoelg smwf jcxqnroh