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		\| Climbing Terms \| Speleology Terms \| Climbing Terms you might want to know about! \| A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z \| A Abseiling The act of lowering oneself down a cliff, pitch or steep slope on a fixed rope. The controlled descent is obtained by friction of rope on the body or passing the rope though a descending device. Also known as Rapelling Aid climbing Moving up a rock using fixed or placed protecting as a means of progression (and not just for protection). Alpine butterfly One of the most important, and versatile rocksports knots. Its main advantage is that the two strands of rope emerging from the knot are at 180 degrees to one another rather than emerging in the same direction as in a figure-of-eight for example. This makes it a good mid-rope knot as it has greater strength than a figure-of-eight if loaded awkwardly. Anchor Point where the rope is fixed, be it to the rock or to a suitable tree or bolt. Ascenders Devices used to ascend a rope also called Gibbs, Jammers or Jumars. ATC 'Air Traffic Controller', belaying device made by Black Diamond. B Belay To operate a safety line. (2) To secure (a person) at the end of a rope. (3) To secure (a rope) to a person or object. (4). To be made fast. (5) The set-up of a safety line through a belay device, secured to an anchor point. (6). The securing of a person or a safety rope to an anchor point. Belay device A friction device used in belaying, this can be the same as a descender although usually a specific device is used. Belay station A safe stance consisting of an anchor, a rope, and a belayer (aka "the belay") Belayer The person at the belay station securing the climber. "Belay, on" When the belayer is ready , he yells "On Belay". "Below" Used to warn for impending impact with objects coming from above (e.g. falling rock). Bent gate caribiner Caribiner with the gate bent to accept the rope more easily. Big wall Rock climb that is so long and sustained that a normal ascent lasts several days. Biner Short for Carabiner Bolt A high tensile steel bolt used as an anchor point to attach rigging for descending or ascending or safety line. The bolt locks into a drilled hole by one of the following methods; expansion of a threaded holder, chemical bonding, or by hammering into a slightly smaller hole. The latter being the least reliable anchor method. Bomber Used to indicate that something is exceptionally solid, e.g. an anchor, a hold. See also bombproof. Bombproof The illusion that an anchor is infallible Bouldering Climbing unroped on boulders or at the foot of climbs to a height where it is still 'safe' to jump off. Bowline This knot was once used for tying a rope around a belay but is now most often used for tying the end of a safety line rope around a person when belaying them up a climb or ladder. This knot does have a tendency to loosen and can come undone so it is a good idea to used a half hitch to secure the "tail" of the knot to the loop. Brake Bar A round bar attached to a carabiner, used as a descender. A piton can be used for this purpose, this is referred to as a piton brake bar. Also the bars which make up a rappel rack. Bucket A large hold, also called a jug Buildering To climb buildings Buttress The part of the mountain or rock that stands in front of the main mountainface. C Cam Generic reference to the family of spring loaded camming devices (SLCD) such as friends, camalots, aliens, TCUs, etc. Also referred to as springs Campus board A wooden training board with finger ledges that is used for training dynos and finger power. Canyon A deep valley with steep to vertical sides. Also to Canyon, to pass through a canyon, usually by abseiling, swimming or liloing Carabiner Metal connecting device, sometimes spelled with a 'K' . This most essential device in all rocksports, it is also known as a "biner", "crab" or "krab" Chalk a powdery white substance (usually magnesium carbonate) that keeps the hands dry in order to maximize grip on the rock. Chalk bag n. A cylindrical bag which holds chalk. Chest harness Harness worn on the chest (must be used with a waist harness) Chimney A wide crack that accommodates (most of) the body of the climber. Chimneying A climbing technique used to conquer chimneys. Requires the use of opposing force against opposite walls. Chipped hold A hold created with a hammer and chisel. This is not considered ethical in rocksports and is frowned upon by Royal Rangers. Chock Generic reference to the family of passive wired protection devices, also called nuts, stoppers, wires, and rocks. Chockstone A stone wedged between a crack, a chimney, etc. Cliff A vertical piece of rock good for climbing (see also Crag). Cliffhanger A small hooking device used to aid climb up small ledges and pockets. Climbing shoes Shoes made of sticky rubber, designed for climbing . Clove hitch A useful, easily adjustable climbing knot usually used to tie the rope into a carabiner. Cord Thin static rope (5, 5.5 or 6 mm) Also called accessory cord or prussic cord. Cows Tail A legnth of dynamic rope used as a sefety line to connect the lead ascender to the harness. It also contains a free end to attach to an anchor or connect the wearer to any safety line or loop. Crab Short for carabiner. Crag Name for a (small) climbing area. Crampons Very pointy footwear use to walk glaciers or climb ice. Crash Pads Portable gym mats to aim for when you fall bouldering. Crimper A very small hold that accepts only the finger tips. Crux The hard bit, usually referring to a climb but is sometimes used in canyoning. D Daisy chain A sling sewn (or tied) with numerous loops, used as an adjustable sling in aid climbing. Descender Device used for abseiling. Double fisherman's knot The standard knot for tying two ropes together. (also called the grapevine knot). Double rope Abseiling on two ropes, used for canyoning. to enable the rope to be pulled down after the decent Dynamic Rope A kernmantle rope manufactured with twisted core strands and has the ability to stretch sufficiently to break the fall of a rockclimber. E Etrier (Pronounce with a French accent). Webbing ladder used for aid climbing. Also known as 'aider'. F "Falling" Yelled when a climber is (about to) fall. Fall factor The length of the fall divided by the amount of rope paid out. Figure 8 A belay/rappel device which has two (one large, one small) holes in it, aligned vertically, resembling a figure eight. Figure of eight This is a very versatile knot most commonly used for attaching ropes to anchor points.If you only learn one knot, make it this one, and its varients. Figure of nine The figure-of-nine knot can be used as an alternative to the figure-of-eight. It is very similar to a figure-of-eight with just an extra turn before finishing the knot. It is bulkier than the figure-of-eight but has greater strength. Fisherman's knot Simple knot to tie two ropes together. The double fisherman knot, however, is more popular. Fixed protection (fixed pro) Bolts, rings, etc that may be found on a rock face for use as an anchor or tie in point. Free climbing Moving up a rock using only hands, feet, and natural holds. Ropes and pro are only used for protection of the climber and not for progression. Free Pitch A pitch where a rope (or ladder) hangs vertically and free from the rock. Free solo Free climbing while using no ropes for protection. You fall - you die. Not permitted for Royal Rangers Friend Trade name for the original camming devices, now also available as Camalots, TCU's, Quads, Aliens, Big Dudes, etc. G Gardening The act of clearing loose rock or debris away from an abseil face or ladder climb for safety and in doing so reduce the risk of objects falling on other people. Can be used to describe ripping out a tuft of grass or bringing in a chain saw. NB this should be done for reasons of safety only, and with care and consideration for the environment. Gate The part of the carabiner that opens. Gibbs A type of ascender which grips the rope with a cam operated by the weight of the climber. Grade A number denoting the seriousness of a route or difficulty of a climb, canyon or bouldering problem. Grapevine knot See Fisherman's knot. Grigri Belaying device made by Petzl. H Half rope A rope of 9 or 8.5 mm that has to be used together with a second rope when leading a climb. Handjam Slightly masochistic technique where the hand is wedged into a crack. Handle Big banana-shaped hold often found in indoor gyms. Great for waving hello to admiring bystanders. I've never seen one of those outdoors... Harness An arrangement of webbing tape used to attach the lower body (seat harness) or upper body (chest harness) to ascender or descender. The coolness factor can be significantly enhanced by hanging things that go jingle from the harness. Haul bag Large and robust bag used to haul food, water, climbing gear, sleeping bag, television, satelite dish, and other essential equipment that is required, up a big wall or through a cave. Head Lamp The main lighting source, mounted on a caver's helmet. In Australia this usually refers to an electric light source, with the location of the battery/s being irrelevant. In many other countries this term refers to a carbide lamp. "Help" The vocal alternative to S.O.S. -- it doesn't mean anything but is understood by most people.. Helmet Solid plastic, or fiberglass. The helmet protect the head from injury in a fall and from falling stones. This is not an optional piece of equipment, all rangers must wear one. Hex Short for Hexentrix. A type of nut with an excentric hexadiagonal shape. Works for wedging (as a nut) but also for camming. HMS Carabiner with one wide side used for belaying with a munter hitch (aka pearabiner). From the German term for munter hitch belay: 'Halbmastwurfsicherung'. Hold Anything that can be held on to. I Ice axe Device used for ice climbing, glacier crossing. Ice screw A protection device for ice climbing. Looks like a large bolt that can be screwed in hard ice. Italian hitch See munter hitch J Jam, to Wedging body parts in a crack. Jug Very large hold (short for jug handle) (Also "bucket"). Jumar A type of rope ascending device. See ascender. Jumar, to To ascend a rope using ascenders. K Karabiner See carabiner Kernmantle rope Modern climbing rope consisting of bundles of continuous nylon filaments (Kern or core) surrounded by a braided protective sheath (Mantle). kN Kilonewton. An abbreviation usually found on carabiners and other climbing gear. For those of you who are not engineers, one kilonewton is about 100 kg or about 220 lbs. Knotted cord Piece of cord with a knot tied into the end that is used for protection (pretty much like a nut). A traditional method of protecting climbs, and still used in the Krab Short for carabiner. L Ladder Used in caving. A flexible lightweight ladder with steel cable and aluminum rungs. Layback/Lieback Somewhat clumsy looking climbing technique where hands and feet work in opposition. Leader The person directing activities of a caving party and held responsible for the group’s safety. In climbing the person who leads a climb. Lead, to To ascend a climb from the bottom up, placing protection (or clipping protection) as you go. Ledge Flat bit on a rock (can be miniature or gigantic). Limestone Type of rock wonderful for climbing but also where you find caves.. Locking Carabiner Carabiner that can be locked. Usually a screwgate although other types of locking carabiner are available. Lowering To descend something or somebody. M Maillion Rapide This is a screwlink, similar to a carabiner but without the sprung gate. It has a screw thread gate. Manky Term used to describe a fixed bolt that looks like it was placed before the last ice age. Use these bolts at your own discretion Multi pitch Climb or abseil that consists of more than a single pitch. Munter hitch An excellent self-reversing friction knot suitable for belaying people when climbing or using a ladder. It can also be used for abseiling and gives a smoother ride than a belay plate. This one is worth learning for all those occasions when you forget your belay plate or descender. (also called itallian hitch ) N Nut Metal wedge used for protection in cracks. Nut key or Nut tool Piece of metal that can be used to remove stuck nuts or cams. O "Off Rope" A call from an abseiler or belayed climber to indicate that they have disconnected from the rope. Follows after the call of "safe" Overhand knot A simple (but solid) knot in a double rope. Overhand loop The simplest type of knot possible. Overhang Rock (or ice) that is "more than vertical". P Pendulum A swing on the rope, either intentional to gain a distant anchor on big wall climbs or unintentional when falling during a traverse. Pitch A section of between two belays and no longer than the length of one rope. Piton Metal spike hammered into a crack . Also used as a descender (piton break bar) Pro, Protection Anchors placed during the climb to protect the leader. Prusik To prussic, meaning to ascend a fixed rope. Usually by means of a prussic knot. Prusik Knot A friction knot which grips on the fixed ascending rope when weight is applied and runs free along the rope when weight is removed. Used to ascend ropes, however it’s possible to descent but rarely used this way because the method is very slow. Q Quickdraw, quick Short sling with carabiners on either side. R Rack The climbing gear carried during an ascent. Also, abbreviation for Rappel Rack Rad Not trad. Slang for sport climbing. Rappel, to See abseiling. Rappel Rack A mechanical abseil device, able to be set with variable degrees of friction to suit the weight of the abseiler. Rebelay Any additional attachment points (after the initial anchor point) on a rope down a pitch. Rebelays are placed to avoid rub or wear points on a rope or to split a long pitch. This is usually only used in a cave. Rigging . The setting up of descending or ascending equipment. The term also includes a belay if required. Also the equipment in total, required for an ascent or descent. Ring A large (2 inch diameter) ring that is cemented in the rock as a bolt. These are excellent for abseiling. Rock rash n. General abrasion wounds. Common in most Rocksport activities. Rope Long and round nylon fabrication. Ropes are generally between 10 and 11 mm in diameter "Rope" Should be yelled when a rope is about to be thrown to the base of the crag. Rope Protector Any device used to protect the rope from abrasion against the rock. Specific rope protectors can be purchased but a square of carpet can work wonders. Runner A loop of tape or webbing either sewn or tied. Runner A runner threaded or looped around chockstones, flakes, etc for protection. S "Safe" A call made by a person who has finished climbing/abseiling to a another person who has been belaying, - to indicate that they are safe. Safety Line A safety rope attached to a novice abseiler to give them confidence, often part of a top belay. A safety rope attached to a caver climbing a ladder or undertaking a difficult maneuver, and belayed by another person either above or below. Scrambling Easy climbing, usually unroped. Screamer A very, very long fall. Scree Loose rocks and stones that cover the slope below a cliff. With every step, scree slides under your feet. Screwgate The type of carabiner that can be locked with a screw. 'locking carabiner'. Second The climber who follows the leader. See also following. Single Rope Technique (SRT) The abseiling method of using a single (11mm) rope. Includes the methods of ascending and descending. Popular in caving. Sit start To start a bouldering problem from a sitting position. Skyhook A particular type of hook used for aid climbing Slab Flat and seemingly featureless, not quite vertical piece of rock. "Slack" A call made by a person being belayed, to the person belaying. A request for extra slack in the belay line. Sling See runner. Smearing Foot technique where a big part of the climbing shoe is used to generate as much friction as possible. Snaplink See carabiner. Soloing Climbing alone, though not necessarily without the protection of a rope Sport climbing Climbing routes of gymnastic difficulty while protection oneself by clipping into preplaced protection. Spotter A person who watches and stands behind/below a boulderer in order to catch them if they fall awkwardly. SRT See Single Rope Technique. Static rope A kernmantle rope manufactured with parallel core strands and has little stretch with the weight of a person abseiling or prusiking. This type of rope is not suitable for lead climbing as the small amount of stretch would induce high shock loading on a person, when arresting a fall. Static ropes are used by cavers, canyoners and abseilers. Sticht plate A belay device consisting of a plate with two slots in it. An original creation by Franz Sticht. Summit The top of a mountain or rock. T "Take in" To lessen the amount of slack on a climbing rope. Tape A flat or tubular webbing tape, usually made of nylon. Used to make harnesses and slings. Tape Harness A harness made from one continuous (5mtr) piece of tape, secured with a tape knot. Tape knot This knot is primarily used for tying tapes into slings for caving or climbing. (also called a water knot) This knot is tied so that the load bearing tape emerges from opposite sides of the knot so it will sit naturally when the sling is in use. Toprope A rope set so that it goes through anchors at the top of the cliff and back to the ground for both the climber and belayer Also, to climb using a toprope Trad Traditional climbing, characterized by the placing of protection (cams, nuts, etc.) in cracks and pockets. Opposite of Rad. Trace A short length of woven wire fitted with interlocking rings fitted at each end and used to attach a flexible ladder or rope to an anchor point. Traverse Horizontal climb. Tubular tape Flat and strong strip of nylon, that is hollow in the inside. W Water knot See tape knot. Webbing See tape. Wet Suit Wet suits are invaluable in canyoning and can also be useful in wet caves. Whaletail A mechanical descender made from an aluminum block, designed to apply varying degrees of friction depending on the number of slots the abseil rope is passed through. Some Speleology Terms you might want to know about! \| A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z \| A ARMCHAIR CAVER An experienced caver who is now incapable of caving or a person still able to, but has lost the urge to actually go caving. On the other hand they may spend much of their time writing or reading caving books and hours may be spent reminiscing over photographs from past trips. B BOOBTUBE A clear flexible tube about one metre long. Used like a straw to drink water from small crevices or inaccessible pools. The original name was the Super Syphon Sucker, first utilised widely around 1973-74 by Jeffory Smith a Venturer Scout in the Kotara Unit (N.S.W). Jeffory used it extensively on bushwalking, caving and cross-country skiing trips and the use of such a tube spread widely among outdoor enthusiasts from there. Several name changes occurred over the next few years, however during the last 10 to 15 years the name Boob Tube has been most widely used. BOULDER CHOKE A collapse of rock from floor to roof which makes further progress difficult or dangerous. F FOUL AIR Cave atmosphere containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) which affects a cavers respiration and metabolism. This term usually refers to air which contains 1% CO2 (by volume) or greater. Simple test:- A lighted match will go out if foul air is present. G GROT-HOLE A small insignificant cave with no possible leads, often tight and difficult to manoeuvre oneself in. GROUND-TROG The systematic search of the surface ground for cave entrances. J JUG-HANDLE A small loop of rock shaped like a handle, used as an anchor point or hand hold to aid climbing. K KRAB Short for Karabiner. A steel or aluminium alloy snap-link used in rope work. M MICROBOD A term used to describe a child or an adult caver of small build - able to fit through narrow passages and seemingly able to dislocate their joints to negotiate tight corners. O OVERHANG A ledge or shelf of rock which projects past the rest of the rock face below. Also referred to as part of an abseil (either above or below ground), where the abseiler is hanging free of the rock face. This occurs once an abseiler has passed a projection of rock which makes it impossible for the abseiler's feet to touch the rock face without swinging on the rope. R ROOF-SNIFFING The act of edging oneself along a small water-filled passage, on your back with only sufficient airspace for eyes and nose. It should be pointed out that this practice can be very dangerous for inexperienced persons. S SCROGGIN An edible random mixture of nuts, dried fruit, rice crisps, unwrapped lollies, chocolate and edible seeds. The mixture is consumed by cavers, bushwalkers and other outdoor enthusiasts as a source of high energy food. It is made up to suit an individuals taste and requirements. T TOURI A group of tourists at a commercially developed caving area. In other words those people who go on guided or self guided tours where fixed lighting is provided to view the caves. "Stay out of sight of the tourists (touri)", is often one of the conditions attached to a caving permit, where the permit cave is in the close vicinity of a commercial tour cave. TROG-UP Attiring oneself in suitable clothing and necessary equipment in readiness to go underground.