Abseil or Rappel:
controlled descent on a fixed rope
Accessory Cord:
small diameter static cord used additional e.g. as pruzik
Active Camming Device:
protection device that secures in cracks
Aid Climbing:
opposite of free climbing
Ancors:
a point of attachment for the climbing rope
Approach:
the route to the base of a climb
Ascender:
device that slides upward on a fixed rope but not
Auto Lock Carabiner:
the carabiner gate lock by itself when the gate is closed
Barn Door:
Swinging away from the rock in order to maintain balance
Bashies:
malleable small anchors used into cracks
Belay:
what stops climbers from falling. It includes the rope, the anchors, the belay device and the belayer
Belayer:
the person who manages the rope and secure the climber in case of fall
Bent Gate Carabiner:
Carabiner mostly used in sport climbing as the rope clipping end of a quickdraw
Big Wall:
Multi-pitch rock climb that isn't complete in one day only
Bight:
a bend of the rope
Bivouac:
Over night stay on a wall in a multi day climb
Boby belay:
technique used to belay someone in case of emergency and lack of equipment
Bolted Route:
a route with pre-placed bolt anchors
Bolts:
metal expansion drilled in rock , used for climbers' protection
Bouldering:
climbing near the ground, on low high rocks or traversing a route, without the use of rope
Bowline:
a most frequently used knot
Camalot:
Spring-loaded camming device
Camming:
The act of rotating into place until tight
Camming Device:
Climbing protection usually placed into cracks
Cambered Sole:
A curved sole with a down-turned toe, useful in advanced climbing
Carabiner:
Metal loop used for connecting various parts of a climbing system
Chalk:
Carbonate of magnesium used to keep climbers' hand dry
Chalk Bag:
Small pouch worn on the harness to hold climbers' chalk
Chimney:
Vertical wide crack
Chock:
Passive protection piece wedged into cracks
Chock Pick:
Tool used to release chock from cracks
Chock Stone:
Rock or stone tightly wedged in a crack
Climber:
Every person who climbs
Clove Hitch:
a knot used to secure the climbing rope to an anchor, mostly when belaying the next climber
Core:
the inner fibers of the climbing rope
Crack:
a fissure in a rock wall in variable sizes
Crux:
the most difficult move or moves on a climb
Daisy Chain:
belt with multiple loops very helpful in aid climbing
Dihedral:
when the rock plane an angle with two faces. Imagine an open book
Drag:
friction that is created when the protections are not lined. It can be difficult for the leader climber but there is a way to avoid it
Dry-treated:
the rope is being processed with water repellent chemicals. Better use of the rope in snow and ice, and longer life.
Duodess:
each half of the rope has a different color or pattern. An easy way to find the center
Dynamic Rope:
the capacity of the rope to elongate in order to absorb the shock of a fall
Dyno:
a move where the climber jumps to the next hold
Edging:
standing at the edge of the shoe on small cracks of rock or artificial holds
Face:
a smooth side of a rock
Figure 8:
a common knot in climbing mostly used to tide the rope to climber's harness
Fisherman's Knot:
Knot that attaches two ends of the rope together
Flared:
crack with nonparallel edges
Flash:
a red point ascent using prior inspection or information from others
Follow:
the climber that follows the leader and collects the protection
Free Climbing:
climbing by hand and feet and using the rope only as protection
Free Rappel:
a rappel in which the climber has no contact with the rock
Free Solo:
climbing without belays, usually in high routes. Extremely dangerous
Friction:
a way of putting hands and feet on the rock in order to create the necessary balance for body during the climb
Friend:
a spring loaded camming device
Girth Hitch:
Is a way to connect a loop of webbing or cord to a fixed point
GriGri:
is a belay device with assisted braking and anti-panic handle
Half Ropes:
are thinner than normal 'single' ropes, and are designed to be used as a pair
Hangdogging (rock climbing slang word):
hanging from a climbing rope while working on the hard moves of a difficult route
Hanging Belay:
In multipitch climbs it is necessary to belay while sitting in a harness and anchored to the wall. It requires carefully rope management
Harness:
secures a person to a rope or an anchor point
Hexentrics:
they are intended to be wedged into a crack or other opening in the rock, and do not require a hammer to place
Jamming:
Is a technique were you wedge body parts into cracks
Jugs:
Are large, easy to grab holds. They can be held with the entire hand (and sometimes both)
Jumar:
See Ascender
Kernmantle:
Kern=core and mantel=sheath
The two parts of the rope. The interior core is protected by en exterior sheath designed to optimize strength, durability, and flexibility
Kevlar:
a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fiber
Kilonewton:
Is a Unit of force
kN ratings are shown on all the climbing gear: nuts, cams, slings and carabiners.
kN stands for kilo Newtons. 1kN is about 100kg or 220lbs
Lead climber:
the climber has a rope attached to the harness and is putting up the protection (quickdraws) and clipping the rope
Leg Loops:
Part of the climbing harness
Liebacking:
While Climbing a vertical edge and side-pulling the edge with both hands the climber relies on friction or very small holds for the feet
Lower:
The way in which a belayer brings a climber down from a climb
Mantel:
A transfer of motion from pulling to pushing while rock climbing
Multipitch:
A high altitude route is divided in pitches- because they are too long for a single belay rope. Therefore they are characterized as a multipitch routes
Munter Hitch:
or the Crossing Hitch, is a simple adjustable knot control friction in a life-lining or belay system
Offwidth crack:
cracks that are too big to finger jam or fist jam, but too small for you to fit inside and chimney climb
On sight:
Climbing a route for the first time, without seeing anyone else climbing or getting any tips
Passive protection:
Is referring to the gear that does not have moving parts
Pitch:
The distance between two belays that requires a rope’s length
Piton:
Metal spike into a crack
Prusik Knot:
is a friction hitch or knot used to attach a loop of cord around a rope
Quickdraw:
Consists of two carabiners connected by a semi-rigid material. It allows the climbing rope to run free through the one carabiner while the other is attached to the bolt anchor or other protection
Rappel:
is a controlled descent by using a double rope
Redpoint:
Is to successfully free climb a route without falling after a previous unsuccessful attempt
Redundant Anchor:
Anchors should consist of multiple components in case one or more components were to fail
Retire:
To stop using a piece of climbing gear (for climbing) due to age or damage
Ring bend (water knot):
joining two ends of webbing together, for instance when making a sling
Runner:
is an item of climbing equipment consisting of a tied or sewn loop of webbing
Runout:
The distance between a climber and the last piece of protection
Screwlock:
A carabiner with a screw locking system
Second:
The climber who follows second and is always secured by the rope above
Slippers:
Climbing shoes without laces or Velcro, usually characterized as the most comfort
Smearing:
is the act of pressing the sole of your climbing shoe directly to the rock or slab and using friction to gain vertical ground
Sport climbing:
Is a type of rock climbing where permanent anchors are fixed to the rock for protection
Stemming:
When the right foot or hand pushes one wall and the left another
Sticht plate:
The first mechanical rope break. Is getting less popular over the years
Swami:
Traditional climbing harness made by wrapping webbing around the waist
Hey, this is a nice, informative, and creative collection of photos, stories, and information. It was fun to read, but I am sure it took you alot of time. so thank you for the nice article! It was almost exhausting to read if it wasn’t so informative!! thank you.
Thank you Eric, that reminds me that I still have to complete my glossary of climbing terms.