Rock Climbing Lingo
Rock Climbing Lingo - Know the lingo before you get out there for a climb!
It is a fun, challenging sport ascending rock surfaces. Do you love this mentally and physically demanding sport? Test your agility, balance, strength, endurance, as well as your mental control as you show off your rock climbing lingo. The goal is to reach the summit. Knowing the techniques and equipment is very important. This sport can be very dangerous. The best time to go is on sunny days. You will get a better grip on a dry surface. Some do it at night, but you must have the right equipment and training along with the right rock climbing lingo.
The higher you go, the more you should be concerned about safety. Working in teams with ropes and Anchors
is a good idea. Most climbers either walk back down or rappel. Some people have started carrying a small parachute on the ascent. Bringing a parachute allows you to 'Base Jump" once arriving at the summit. Base jumping is not allowed in several destinations such as Yosemite National Park.
There are several different styles that rock climbing lingo applies to:
Aid style uses equipment to help your ascent. If not for aid style, some of the Yosemite challenges might be impossible. Aid Climbing is a popular way to scale walls.
- Rope soloing - allows you to be your own Belay. You can then go back down your rope and do it again using your rock climbing lingo!
- Top roping - A rope is connected at the top of the summit. The Belay hold the rope tight to help stop long falls. This is a good selection for beginners.
Free climbing also uses certain equipment, but not to help with the ascent. This style is the more popular of the two. You use your own strength and skill to make your ascent.
Types:
- Bouldering - a good starting point for rookies. Using only your hands and feet, you scale across the wall at about 10 to 15 feet from the ground. Some people use cushions to avoid scrapes and bruises.
- Free soloing - A single-person climb with no protection. A fall is likely to severely injure or kill someone with this type.
- Lead climbing - This requires two climbers. The leader starts off with a rope attached. The second climber is on belay. The leader can only go so far, thus may need to "pitch". The leader will set an anchor at the 'pitch', then belay the second climber to it. They continue to the summit using this method. Using rock climbing lingo helps them communicate.
- Top-roping - Tie off a rope at the top along with an anchor and attach to your body. The Belayer is attached at the bottom to prevent your fall.
- Traditional climbing - Traditional or Trad Climbing involves rock climbing routes that do not have permanent anchors placed to protect climbers from falls while ascending.
- Scrambling - using your hands and feet to make your ascent. It can be done on grades less than fifth class. It is most often done solo. Sometime ropes and other equipment is used.
- Sport Climbing - Unlike Traditional Rock Climbing, Sport Climbing involves the use of protection or permanent anchors which are attached to the rock walls.
Deep Water Soloing - when you must fall into the deep waters below.
Mixed climbing - A mix of Ice and Rock climbing special shoes and tools are needed.
Simul climbing - Two climbers moving at the same time. To 'lead' leaves gear for the 'follower'. They create a belay to exchange gear when it runs low. Rock climbing lingo is important.
If you are just getting started, you will want to learn some of the rock climbing lingo.
 |
Abseil- British for rappelling. Use this one if your want to sound smarter.
Anchor- Can be four carabiners through two bolts or two of them webbed around a boulder or tree.
Approach- How you get to the start of your ascent. Sometimes a challenge itself.
Arête- Outside corner of a rock. Originated in France.
Ascend- Moving upward on a rope. Ascenders
are often used. They slide up, but not down.
ATC- Used with a caribiner and rope for belay.
Back-clipping- Clipping the belay rope on the gate side making it easier to become unclipped. Very dangerous for lead climbing.
Bail- Backing out due to weather - or if you are scared.
Barn Door- Losing your balance and swinging outward.
Belay
- French for anchor - the person that keeps you safe.
Beta- Things that can make your ascent easier. Information about things to watch out for, for example.
'Biner- Carabiner for short. Only a rookie says Caribiner.
Bivouac- Someplace to sleep along the ascent - often uncomfortable.
Bolt- A bolt on a cliff where you can attach a 'Biner.
Bomber- Really solid.
Bombproof- Thinking that and anchor won't fail.
Bootie- Gear left by other people.
Bouldering- Climbing on boulders, lower to the ground. You should use a spotter while bouldering.
 |
Brain Bucket- Helmet
Bump: Moving only a small distance for a better hand or foothold.
Bumper Belay- Being close to your parking area. Helps avoid getting lost.
Bucket- An easy handhold, usually large.
Buttress- Broader than an arete.
Cam
- Used in Trad Climbing. Wedge this spring loaded tool into cracks.
Carabiner- A ring with a spring-loaded gate. Used with bolts, ropes, and harnesses. Also known as a ’biner.
Chickenhead- Knob of rock. Appears to form a bulb.
Chimney- A crack big enough to fit in between.
Choss- Loose rock
Clean- Removing gear as you descend.
Clipping In- Connecting your gear to the 'biner.
 |
Crack Climbing- Using cracks to ascend. Jam your hands and feet into the cracks.
Crimping- Small places you can hardly hang onto.
Crux- Most difficult part of the ascent.
Daisy Chain- Webbing with loops to carry your gear.
Deadpoint- A move using your momentum to get higher.
Deck- Falling to the ground. - Hit the deck.
Descender- Used for descent. Figure eights, ATCs, and 'Biners.
Dihedral- Two rocks making an inside corner.
Downclimb- Going down - harder that going up.
Dynamic Rope- Used in rappelling. This rope will stretch.
Dyno- Jumping to a place out of reach. Hope it's a Jug!
Edging- Using the edge of your foot on really small edges.
Face Climbing- Using the face instead of the cracks.
Figure Four- Hooking a leg over the opposite arm and pushing down to get to something out of reach. Be sure you have a good hold!
Fist Jam- Using your fist to hold while ascending.
Free Climbing- No bolts. Only protective gear is used.
 |
Free Soloing- No protection and by yourself. Suicide?
Flash- Leading on your first try. No beta knowledge.
Gardening- Removing rocks, grass and debris. Usually on a first ascent.
Grigri- Belay device - self locking.
Gumby- Someone with little experience - not safe.
Harness- Place this around your thighs and waist to keep you safe.
Heel-hooking- A foot technique using your foot to "hook" around something like your hand would.
Hex- A nut - hexagonal in shape.
Hook- hooking your heel or toe around an arête.
Horn- A small rock shaped like a flake.
Headwall- Steeper section of the ascent.
Jamming- Wedging a body part into a crack.
Jib- A foothold only big enough for your big toe.
Jug- A relief to find. A good hold.
Lead Climbing- The first to anchor on a pitch.
Lieback- Pushing with your feet and pulling with your hands while crack climbing.
Line- Path for your route.
Locking ’Biner- A carabiner with a twist and lock gate.
 |
Mantle- Pushing down with your arms, and then bringing your legs over the top.
Nub- A small hold you can only get with the tip of your toes or fingers.
Nut- used in Trad climbing. A wire loop with a metal wedge to jam into cracks.
Onsight- With no beta, leading with no falls your first time.
Pinkpoint- With protection already placed, you lead. Similar to redpoint.
Pitch- A portion of the ascent about a rope length long. Belay point are setup inbetween 'Pitches'
Pumped- So much lactic acid that you cannot grip. Even taking off your shoes is hard.
Phat- Really Cool!
Quickdraw- Short webbing holding together two 'Biners.
Redpoint- Leading with no falls. Similar to a pinkpoint.
Rib- Not as sharp as a arete.
Rack- Loops on the harness for gear - usually plastic.
Rapp- Using a fixed rope, ATC, or figure eight for rappelling.
 |
Roof or Ceiling- rock extending out over your head.
Saddle- A high pass between two peaks
Scrambling- Between hiking and climbing.
Screamer- A Long fall. You normally have to catch your breath in the middle of the scream to finish.
Send it!- Motivational phrase.
Sewing machine- Shaking legs due to fatigue.
Side pull- A handhold you must use horizontally.
Sit start- Starting from a sitting position. More of a challenge!
Slab Climbing- Non-Vertical surfaces. Helps work on footwork and balance.
Slack- When the Belay person need to loosen the rope.
Sloper- Almost a non-hold. The worst hold there is.
Spotting- Watching someone bouldering to catch them if they fall.
 |
Smearing- Only friction on your shoes.
Soloing- By yourself.
Spanked- One that really messed you up.
Sport- Connecting to set bolts along the ascent.
Static Rope- Rope that doesn't stretch.
Stemming- Pushing on two faces opposite each other.
Tension- Keeping the rope tight.
Top Rope- Attaching the rope to the top before starting.
Trad Climbing- Traditional climbing. Hooking into cracks with cams, wedging hexes, and nuts.
Traverse- Sideways across the cliff.
Undercling- Grabbing with your palm facing up.
Webbing- Flat, hollow nylon strips for anchoring and slings.
Yosemite Decimal System- Rating system for the difficulty. A 5.0 to a 5.4 is like a steep hike. A 5.13 is a surface leaning toward you that’s smooth as glass.
Zipper fall- Each part of your protection failing in sequence along a fall.
