When we were kids, we loved to climb on just about everything. Don’t believe me? Ask you parents. Well, more and more people are taking rock climbing up as adults. To get into the game, you need to know how to speak the language of rock climbers.
As you might guess, there are different types of climbing. Sport climbing is a version that allows for the perfection of technique without a lot of the steps that slow a climb down. Bolts are pre-placed, so you do not need to place them.
One of the pillars of rock climbing is the bolt. A bolt is pretty much what it sounds like. It is a piece of steel bolted into a rock and used as an anchor. Due to its strong hold on the rock, it is a very safe think to hook on to prevent long falls.
Rock climbing is obvious subject to the weather and the time you have to get out to a particular spot. Given our busy lives, it is little surprise indoor rock climbing has become huge. Climbing gyms offer indoor walls you can climb and work on your technique.
Crampons are used in mountaineering and ice climbing. Pneumatic crampons area a version that fit over your boot toe and heal and then tighten down for a firm fit. The crampons have spikes that allow for tremendous grip and traction.
If you are going to do some serious ice climbing, your feet are critical. You need to anchor yourself on the ice with your toes, and rigid crampons are the answer. They fit snugly over the bottom of your boot and have spiked toes that anchor into the ice.
What do rock climbers do during the winter? They either fly somewhere warm to climb or go ice climbing. If you ice climb, you need to know what crampons are. They are spikes that strap onto the bottom of your boots and can be used to anchor yourself.
Climbers often have some pretty nasty looking fingers. One reason is a finger technique used that is known as the crimp. The crimp is basically any hold where you transfer all weight to your fingers in the hold. It places a lot of stress on the tendons and joints.
The finger lock is a common, but advanced climbing technique. It is essentially the cramming of multiple fingers in a crack on the climbing surface to create a hold. One has to be careful not to get the fingers stuck in the crack, which can happen given your weight.
Obviously, the above represents a small sampling of the terminology used by climbers. If you are getting into the sport, pick up a book and learn all you can. Of course, you’ll need to learn the slang on the climb.
