Climbing Glossary

Consult this list of commonly used climbing terms if you are unfamiliar with any of the jargon used on our Web site.

A

Aid climbing

A form of rock climbing that requires artificial assistance, i.e. ropes, to ascend.

ATC

A proprietary type of belay device. (ATC stands for Air Traffic Controller.)

B

Belay

Protecting a climber from falling using a rope.

To belay climbers at VECC, you MUST pass our belay test and wear your VECC belay certification card in a visible location on your person while belaying at VECC.

Belay device

A mechanical device used when belaying.

Beta

Advice and/or instructions on how to successfully complete a particular climbing route.

Bouldering

A popular form of climbing involving climbing relatively close to the ground or floor, often performed by climbing on large boulders. Unlike top-roping, protection takes the form of crash pads and spotting instead of belay ropes.

When bouldering at VECC, your feet must stay below the blue tape line on the walls.

Bouldering Problem

Similar to a climbing route; a pattern or sequence of successive holds/moves while bouldering.

Bucket

Informal name for a large, easily gripped hold. (See "Jug.")

C

Carabiner

An oval metal ring with a spring-loaded gate used to make secure connections between ropes and other pieces of climbing gear.

Chalk

A compound used to improve grip by absorbing sweat.

The use of loose chalk is not allowed at VECC. A chalk ball kept in a chalk bag is recommended for those who use chalk.

Chalk bag

A hand-sized holder for a climber's chalk that is usually clipped or tied onto the climber's harness for easy access during a climb.

Chalk ball

A round cloth ball filled with chalk.

Clipping in

The process of attaching to belay lines or anchors for protection.

Crimp

A small, edge-like hold that is just deep enough to fit the tips of fingers into.

D

Dyno

A dynamic move to grab a hold that would otherwise be out of reach. Non-climbers might call this a lunge.

F

Figure Eight Knot/Double Figure Eight Knot

Special knot used to tie in for top-roping.

Free climbing

Climbing without unnatural aids, other than used for protection.

G

Grade

Intended as an objective measure of the technical difficultly of a particular climbing route or bouldering problem. (Often highly subjective.) At VECC, routes are marked with colored tape indicating which holds are considered part of the route or bouldering problem. The color of the tape indicates the relative difficulty of the route, as follows:

GriGri

A belay device designed to be easy to use and safe for beginners because it is self-locking under load. Invented and manufactured by Petzl.

H

Harness

Climbing equipment used for attaching a rope to a person.

Helmet

Also known as a brain bucket. It can save your life, but only while worn.

To climb at VECC you must either wear a helmet or initial a waiver statement stating that you have chosen not to wear one, despite being advised to do so.

Hold

An artificial rock feature affixed to a wall and used for climbing. Types of holds include Crimps, Jugs, Pinches, Pockets, and Slopers.

J

Jamming

Wedging a body part into a crack.

Jug

A large, easily gripped hold.

L

Lead climbing

A form of climbing in which the climber places anchors and attaches the belay rope as they climb.

Lieback

Or layback. A climbing move that involves pulling on the hands while pushing on the feet.

Locking carabiner

A carabiner with a locking gate, to prevent accidental release of the rope.

M

Match

To use one hold for two limbs, or to swap limbs on a particular hold.

R

Route

The path of a particular climb, or a predefined set of moves.

At VECC, routes are marked with colored tape indicating which holds are considered part of the route. The color of the tape indicates the relative difficulty of the route, also known as the grade.

S

Sit start

Starting a climb from a position in which the climber is sitting on the floor. This is common on short sport climbing routes and in climbing gyms in order to fit an extra move into the climb.

Sloper

A low-profile hold that slopes down away from the wall, often requiring an open handed grip.

Sport climbing

A form of climbing where grace and technical (or gymnastic) ability are considered more important than danger, exhilaration or brute strength. Sport climbing routes tend to be well protected with pre-placed bolt-anchors.

Spotting

An alternative to belaying commonly used during bouldering. A friend of the climber stands beneath them and prevents awkward falls or falls onto hazards. **Any climber at VECC ascending to a point where his or her feet are above the blue tape line, MUST be wearing a harness, be properly tied in to the correct top-rope for the route being attempted, and be assisted by a VECC certified belayer.

T

Top rope

To belay from a fixed anchor point above the climb.

Climbing Waiver (PDF)
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