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Climbing Glossary with Mountaineering Quotes
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Climbing Terms
Reference Notes
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-
ablation :
-
the process by which ice and snow waste away as a result of
melting and/or evaporation. Also, the erosive processes by which
a glacier is reduced.
-
ablation zone :
-
the area of a glacier where yearly melting meets or exceeds the
annual snow fall.
-
abominable snowman :
-
see yeti.
-
ABS :
-
a strong lightweight plastic that's a copolymer of acrylonitrile,
butadiene, and styrene, hence its designation by UniRoyal; this
plastic core is often sandwiched between vinyl layers to protect
it from being degraded by ultraviolet light.
-
abseil :
-
a method of interlacing the climber's body with the descent line
so as to garner control from the drag thus generated (ie: a
stylized S overlaid with the rope wrapped around the climber's
body); one of the several processes by which a climber can
descend a fixed rope, instead of by use of a friction device (eg:
carabiner, figure-8, brake-bar); also called "body rappel",
"hasty rappel", or 'dulfersitz'. [ety: German loanword /
lehnwort]
-
abyss :
-
a deep immeasurable space, gulf, or cavity, as a vast chasm;
derived from "bottomless". Also, the lowest or most hopeless
depths, as the infernal regions. Also, anything profound,
unfathomable, or infinite, as the primal chaos.
-
acclivity :
-
an upward slope of ground, as an ascent.
-
acme :
-
the highest point of development or attainment; the peak or
extremity.
-
Aconcagua :
-
a mountain in the Andes, situated in western Argentina, being the
highest peak (22,834 feet) in the western hemisphere.
-
acrophilia :
-
a natural affinity or attraction to heights.
-
acrylic fiber :
-
any of the synthetic textile fibers, such as Orlon or Acrilan,
that are made by the polymerization of acrylonitrile.
-
ACW :
-
Artificial Climbing Wall, being a man-made arrangement of
climbing problems or difficulties, as used in training students
or challenging competitors, that enables the rapid acquisition of
confidence and experience with a minimum of risk and
inconvenience. While the first climbing wall was built at Fort
Lewis in 1943 to accelerate the training of the 10th Mountain
Division during World War Two, indoor and outdoor Artificial
Climbing Walls (ACW) began to be commercially developed for
specialized training and exercise in 1987. Because the difficulty
of climbing walls can be standardized, they have been used in
Olympic competition since 1991.
-
adamant / adamantine :
-
that which is too hard to cut, pierce, or break; any unyieldingly
hard substance, as derived from a legendary stone of impenetrable
hardness, formerly identified with the diamond. Also, absolutely
firm or utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion, despite all
appeals or urgings; uncompromising or intractable. Also, like a
diamond in shape or luster. [cf: adamantane]
-
Adirondack 46ers Club :
-
an association of hikers who have attained the summit of all
forty-six Adirondack "high peaks", which are above the
4000ft/1219m height, but require no bushwhacking (only Mounts
Marcy and Algonquin need technical aid) within this six million
acre park;although originating in 1918, the Adirondack 46ers club
wasn't established until 1936 (registered 1948), being devoted to
outdoor conservation ... like "winter Rangers", those persons who
ascend these peaks between 21 December and 21 March while
enduring the region's snow and ice, low temperatures and freezing
winds are distinguished by a special designation.
[nb: it was later discovered that one peak was overlooked and
four were slightly lower than the minimum stipulated, but the
original "46 high peaks" still stands] [cf: Adirondack Mountain
Club]
-
adz / adze :
-
an ax-like tool that's used for the rough cutting of certain
materials (eg: timber, earth, ice, and soft stone); typically
furnished with two curved chisel-like blades that are mounted
perpendicular to each other on a sturdy handle; being the
prototype of an ice ax. [cf: pickax, grub hoe, hazel hoe, rhino,
mattock, tranchet]
-
aeolian :
-
pertaining to the winds; of or caused by the wind, being
wind-blown or wind-sculpted; as derived from Aeolus, the ancient
Greek god of winds.
-
aerial tramway :
-
a system for carrying passengers and freight in vehicles
suspended from and operating along overhead cables; also called
ropeway or telpherage.
-
aerolith :
-
a meteorite that mainly consists of stony matter; also called
"brontolith".
-
age :
-
a unit of geological time, shorter than an epoch, during which
the rocks comprising a stage were formed. Also, a period of the
history of the earth that's distinguished by some special feature
(eg: Ice Age, Stone Age). Also, any great length of time.
-
ahkio :
-
a small boat-like sled used as a rescue transport or for hauling
shared equipment across snow and ice; called akja in Finland and
pulka / pulkka in Lapland, this sleigh is traditionally
reindeer-drawn. [v: slipe, toboggan]
-
aid climbing :
-
the use of ropes, slings, and hardware (eg: wedge, piton, bolt,
nut, cam, etc) when ascending or descending an elevation.
-
aider :
-
see etrier.
-
aid route :
-
the path of a technical climb on vertical rock that requires the
use of artificial protection devices, such as pitons, bolts,
nuts, spring-loaded cams, sling ladders, and the like.
-
airglow / air-glow :
-
a dim light from the upper atmosphere caused by emissions from
atoms and molecules that have been ionized by solar radiation; a
radiant emission of quasi-steady photochemical luminescence
arising from chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere over
middle and low latitudes, which is distinguished from the
sporadic emission of auroras that occur over higher latitudes.
Although each has slightly different characteristics, when
observed during the day, it may be known as 'dayglow'; and when
observed at twilight, it may be known as 'twilight glow'; and
when observed at night, it may be known as 'nightglow'.
-
AirMesh® :
-
proprietary name of an extremely durable nylon fabric that's
woven into a breathable mesh pattern.
-
airplane turn :
-
a dramatic change of direction that's made in midair after skiing
over a mogul.
-
akja :
-
a small sled used as a rescue transport or for hauling shared
equipment across snow and ice in Finland; also called ahkio and
pulka / pulkka. [v: slipe, toboggan]
-
alkali rock :
-
any igneous rock with a marked preponderance of alkali and a low
percentage of silica.
-
alluvium :
-
sedimentary matter deposited in recent times, especially by the
action of water; as derived from "washed against". [v: alluvion]
-
alpenglow :
-
a reddish glow that often appears on the summits of mountains
just before sunrise or just after sunset.
-
alpenstock :
-
a strong staff with a metal point, as used by mountaineers for
balance, support, and belaying, especially when trekking. [ety:
German loanword / lehnwort]
-
Alpine :
-
pertaining to any elevated place or lofty mountain. Also, native
to the heights above timberline, such as plants or people. Also,
designates downhill or slalom skiing, wherein the toe and heel
of the boot are secured, as originated in Scandinavia;
distinguished from nordic (cross-country or X-C). [nb: National
Ski Patrol established 1940]
-
alpine start :
-
an effort to efficiently maximize available resources for a full
day's expedition by pre-packing all equipment and commencing the
excursion before dawn; an early start so as to avoid the hazards
of melting snow or ice, and to ascend and return over the most
difficult part nearest the summit with the assistance of
daylight.
-
Alpine style :
-
an ultra-lightweight method of high-elevation climbing wherein
equipment and rations (ie: comfort and security) are trimmed to
the barest essentials in order to facilitate a swift ascent to
the summit.
-
alpine zone :
-
high-elevation areas where trees are unable to grow; also called
"above the treeline".
-
alpinist :
-
a mountaineer or mountain climber, especially in the European
Alps.
-
altitude sickness :
-
a condition caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood that
affects some persons at higher altitudes, which is characterized
by a cluster of symptoms (eg: headache, dizziness, malaise,
shortness of breath, nausea, loss of appetite, and disturbed
sleep); also known as "mountain sickness" or Acute Mountain
Sickness (AMS).
-
aluminum :
-
a silver-white metallic element, lightweight and non-magnetic,
ductile and malleable, and not readily corroded or tarnished, as
used in alloys. [nb: cold-formed 5052 Al is one of the higher
strength aluminum alloys with excellent forming characteristics
and good corrosion resistance; heat-hardened 6061-T4 Al alloy,
containing magnesium and silicone, is stronger and more corrosion
resistant but also more expensive]
-
Ama Dablam :
-
a mountain in the Himalaya range of eastern Nepal, with its main
peak at 22,493 feet and its lower (or western) peak at 20,243
feet; it's the third most popular destination for expeditions
permitted in the Himalayas. Known as the "Matterhorn of the
Himalayas", Ama Dablam has the appearance of an embracing mother,
with its name meaning "mother's necklace". Once considered
impossible, Ama Dablam was not successfully climbed until 13
March 1961.
-
AMBU® bag :
-
Artificial Manual Breathing Unit is the proprietary name for a
manual resuscitator, a self-inflating bag, or a bag valve mask
(BVM), which is a hand-held device used to provide positive
pressure ventilation to persons who are not breathing
(respiratory arrest) or not breathing adequately (respiratory
failure). Use of a manual resuscitator force-feeds air or oxygen
into the lungs in order to inflate them under pressure, thus
constituting a means to manually provide positive-pressure
ventilation, which is used by professional rescuers in preference
to mouth-to-mouth ventilation, either directly or through an
adjunct, such as a pocket mask. Two principal types of manual
resuscitator exist: one version is self-filling with air,
although additional oxygen (21% - 100% O2) can be added but is
not necessary for the device to function; while the other
principal type of manual resuscitator (flow-inflation) is heavily
used in non-emergency applications in the operating room to
ventilate patients during anesthesia induction and recovery.
Invented in 1953 by Holger Hesse and Henning Ruben, the AMBU bag
(or BVM) consists of a flexible air chamber attached to a face
mask via a shutter valve, such that when the face mask is
properly applied and the bag is manually squeezed, the device
forces air through into the patient's lungs, and when the bag is
released, it self-inflates from its other end, drawing in either
ambient air or a low pressure oxygen flow supplied by a regulated
cylinder, while also allowing the patient's lungs to deflate to
the ambient environment past the one-way valve. Bag and valve
combinations can also be attached to an alternate airway adjunct
(eg: endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway), instead of to
the mask; bacterial filters and heat or moisture exchangers may
also be added. Complications relate to over-inflation or
over-pressurization, such as gastric insufflation, volutrauma,
and/or barotrauma. The AMBU bag, available in different sizes, is
a single-use disposable unit.
-
AMS :
-
Acute Mountain Sickness, being the body's reaction to a lack of
oxygen (hypoxic stress) caused by ascent at a faster pace than
acclimatization; symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue,
dizziness, apathy, confusion, moodiness, and periodic breathing;
treat by extending acclimatization or descending to a lower
altitude, and by increased hydration.
-
anchor :
-
a natural or artificial point of attachment that's used during a
climb or traverse for belay or rappel. Also, to attach to a
stable place (eg: chockstone, outcropping, deadfall, etc) or
secure artificial device (eg: bolt, nut, cam, piton, etc) so that
a fall will be arrested.
-
anchor bend / anchor knot :
-
a knot made by taking a round turn on the object to which the
rope is to be fastened, passing the end of the rope around the
standing part and under the round turn, and securing the end;
also called "fisherman's bend".
-
anchor rope :
-
the part of a climbing rope extending from a solid anchor point
to the belayer in order to firmly secure the belayer in a safe
position for arrest in case one of the climbers falls.
-
Andes lightning :
-
a corona or luminous discharge that occurs over mountains when
the atmosphere is electrically disturbed; also called "Andes
glow" or "Andes lights".
-
angle :
-
the acute or obtuse intersection of rock faces, as when wedging
an ascent or descent. Also, an extra-wide steel piton that has
been folded lengthwise, which is set with attachment eyes; an
angle piton (qv).
-
angle piton :
-
a tapered and shaped piton, in V / L(J) / S(Z) / W(M)
configuration, with one or more eyes for attachment; also known
as 'bong'. The angle piton was a type of specialized piton,
fabricated from an extra-wide piece of steel folded lengthwise,
used in wider cracks or fissures before the invention of cams and
nuts.
-
anorak :
-
a hooded pullover jacket, usually with a chest pouch, for wear in
cold or stormy weather; originating as a pullover parka of
indeterminate length worn by the Inuit peoples of Greenland.
-
anticlinal :
-
pertaining to or composed of rock strata of a structure or fold
that slants in opposite directions from a central axis; inclining
downward [decline] on both sides from a median line or axis, as
derived from "lean against each other".
-
anticline :
-
rock strata that slants in opposite directions from a median line
or central axis; originating as a back-formation from anticlinal.
-
APC :
-
an Aspirin Phenacetin Caffeine compound, or a generic
extra-strength aspirin, being a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug (NSAID) that's used chiefly as an antipyretic and analgesic.
-
apex :
-
the highest point; summit, pinnacle, vertex. Also, the tip or
point; peak, acme, climax.
-
approach :
-
the route undertaken to reach the technical portions of a climb;
the path to the start of actual climbing ... often a trek,
sometimes a scramble, but never insignificant.
-
apres-ski / apres ski :
-
the after skiing apparel and activities of Alpine (downhill)
skiers, from fashionable attire and luxurious dining to frivolous
games and restorative hot tub bathing at a comfortable lodge.
[ety: French loanword]
-
arch :
-
a carved structure that's supported on both sides; within caves,
a rock structure surmounting a large passage or cavity, having
two or more entrances from which daylight is always visible; also
called "natural arch".
-
arete / arête :
-
a sharp rugged mountain ridge, or protruding fault, produced by
glaciation; a narrow ridge of rock formed by glacial erosion;
often called a "backbone" or "spine". Also, a small ridge-like
feature on a steep rock face; a protrusion formed by the
intersection of two angled surfaces of rock or snow and ice,
which rugged jut may be either horizontal or vertical. Also, the
method in indoor climbing wherein the climber is able to use such
a protruding corner as a hold. [ety: French loanword]
-
Argand burner :
-
a type of oil or gas burner in which air is fed directly into the
flame through a metal tube inside a cylindrical wick; named after
Aimé Argand, the Swiss scientist who invented it.
-
Argand lamp :
-
an oil lamp with a chimney, having a tubular wick that permits
air to reach the center of the flame; named after Aimé
Argand, the Swiss scientist who invented it.
-
armored rope :
-
rope made of wire-wrapped hempen strands that is used in salvage
work. [nb: not to be confused with "armored cable" which is
electric cable covered by a protective metallic wrapping]
-
arroyo :
-
a small gulch or steep-sided watercourse with a nearly flat floor
that is usually dry, except after heavy rains; derivation akin to
mine shaft.
-
Artificial Climbing Wall :
-
also called "climbing wall"; a man-made arrangement of climbing
problems or difficulties, as used in training students or
challenging competitors, that enables the rapid acquisition of
confidence and experience with a minimum of risk and
inconvenience. While the first climbing wall was built at Fort
Lewis in 1943 to accelerate the training of the 10th Mountain
Division during World War Two, indoor and outdoor Artificial
Climbing Walls (ACW) began to be commercially developed for
specialized training and exercise in 1987. Because the difficulty
of climbing walls can be standardized, they have been used in
Olympic competition since 1991.
-
ASA :
-
AcetylSalicylic Acid, or generic aspirin, being a non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that's used chiefly as an
antipyretic and analgesic.
-
ascend :
-
to move or pass from a lower to a higher place, as to go up or
above; to gain, mount, or surmount. Also, to slant, rise, extend,
or lead upward. Also, to complete a particular route. [nb:
descending is statistically more dangerous than ascending]
-
ascender :
-
a directional clamping device, normally used in pairs when
mechanically sliding or braking so as to progress upward along a
fixed rope, and often cited by brand name (eg: Jumar, Petzl, CMI)
as a generic product generalization.
-
ascent :
-
an upward slope or inclination; acclivity. Also, the gradient or
degree of inclination. Also, the act of ascending, of rising or
climbing upward.
-
aslant :
-
slanting at a lateral or tangential oblique across the slope.
-
aslope :
-
sloping at an upward or downward angle.
-
asphalt rock :
-
a rock formation, usually of limestone or sandstone, containing
large amounts of bitumens.
-
asterisk / * :
-
a popularity rating (1-5) that can be added as a suffix to any
Class 5 designation in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), with
one asterisk indicating only local interest and five asterisks
designating a classic climb of aesthetic appeal.
-
ATC® :
-
(Air Traffic Controller) a proprietary belay and rappel device
that's manufactured by Black Diamond, which, when used in
conjunction with a locking carabiner, provides a safety brake on
the rope.
-
athlete's foot :
-
a contagious disease (ie: tinea) of the feet that's caused by a
fungus that thrives on moist surfaces; ringworm of the feet.
-
athletic supporter :
-
see jockstrap.
-
atlas :
-
a bound collection of maps; or a bound volume of charts, plates,
or tables illustrating any subject; as derived from the figure of
Atlas, with the world on his back, which illustrated the title
page of the maps collected by Mercator for publication in 1595.
Also, in Greek mythology, one of the Titans (son of Iapetus and
brother of Prometheus and Epimetheus) who was condemned by Zeus
to bear the heavens on his shoulders, thereafter his abode became
the Atlas Mountains in North Africa ... consequently, any person
who supports a heavy burden, someone who's a mainstay. Also, the
first cervical vertebra, which supports the head.
-
atomic belay :
-
a quick method for setting up a two-point anchor in sport
climbing, using the climbing rope to attach to the anchor points.
-
at the end of one's rope :
-
a metaphor indicating an absence or lack of mental or physical
resources, being exhausted or bereft; similar to "backed against
the wall", "at wit's end", or "painted into a corner"; although
this expression can imply an untenable situation (eg: "run out
his string"), it's never an allusion to a satisfactory finish or
completion (eg: "tied-up his affairs"). This phrase apparently
derives from the practice of staking an animal to restrict its
grazing range, expressed as being "at the end of its tether".
-
auger :
-
a drilling tool that consists of a long shaft terminating in a
bit, which is rotated by a transverse handle, as used for boring
a narrow hole in the ground by hand, as when seating an anchor.
Also, a smaller version, but larger than a gimlet, is used for
boring a narrow hole in wood by hand, as when setting a
connector.
-
aureole :
-
any encircling radiance, a ring of light or color; also called
"halo" or "corona". Also, a zone of altered country rock around
an igneous intrusion.
-
aurora :
-
a radiant emission from the upper atmosphere that occurs
sporadically over the middle and high latitudes of both
hemispheres (ie: aurora borealis, aurora polaris, northern
aurora, northern lights; aurora australis, southern aurora,
southern lights) in the form of luminous bands, streamers, waves
or the like, caused by the bombardment of the atmosphere with
charged solar particles that are being guided along the earth's
magnetic lines of force. Also, dawn, or the period of sunrise;
after the name of the ancient Roman goddess of the dawn [cf:
Eos].
-
Australian rappel / Australian rappelling :
-
a downward-facing or inverted descent on fixed rope that's used
with caves and buildings where the upside down posture
facilitates the descender's anticipation of difficulties.
-
Australian rating system :
-
a scale of numbers used to rate the difficulty of climbing routes
in mountainous terrain.
-
autobloc / auto-bloc :
-
see French Prusik.
-
autochthon :
-
a geological formation formed in the region where found; derived
from "of the land itself". Also, one of the indigenous plants or
animals that's native to a region. [cf: allochthon]
-
avalanche :
-
a large mass of snow, ice, rock, and other debris that suddenly
detaches from a mountain slope and quickly slides downward; as
derived from "descend rapidly". A "slab avalanche" breaks away as
a whole and sweeps downhill, which contrasts with a "loose
avalanche" that begins with a small portion that accumulates and
expands during descent. This downfall is caused by the action of
new snow piled upon old snow, inviting slippage.
-
avalanche cord :
-
a brightly colored lightweight cord that's attached to a winter
climber, snowshoer, or skiier so it trails behind; its intended
purpose is to attract attention by remaining visible on the
surface in the event of an avalanche burial so the position of
the victim can be determined. This low-tech locator has been
supplanted by use of an electronic beacon.
-
azimuth :
-
the horizontal deviation of a bearing (usually in "degrees") as
measured from a standard reference (usually "magnetic north"); a
compass heading or angle.
-
bachar ladder :
-
a piece of training equipment that's used to improve a climber's
core strength, especially for campusing.
-
Bachmann knot / Bachman knot :
-
a friction hitch tied (with three or four loops) onto a round
cross-section carabiner using 1" tubular webbing strap, and is
used when the knot needs to be quickly reset, to be often retied,
or when made self-tending and self-rescuing.
-
backbone :
-
chine or arete / arête.
-
Backbone Mountain :
-
a peak of the Allegheny mountains that's situated in northwestern
Maryland, being the highest elevation (3360ft) in the state.
-
back-clipping :
-
loading the belay rope in the wrong direction such that an excess
of friction will be generated during a fall, and the chance of
disconnection is increased; a fundamental mistake that may prove
hazardous.
-
back country skiing / backcountry skiing :
-
skiing that's done away from settled areas, developed lands, open
roads, and lift-assisted slopes, including cross-country (X-C) or
Nordic and Alpine touring or randonee.
-
backpack :
-
informal usage for anything that's "man-portable" or relatively
"pocket" sized, whether operated from or simply transported on a
person's back.
-
backwoods Bogners / boondocks Bogners :
-
a déclassé allusion to blue jeans worn as
pedestrian skiing attire by counterculture reactionaries against
the haute couture fashion trend by Alpine (downhill) skiers,
being a jocular or jocose reference to the stylish stretch pants
(with attached stirrups) made for skiing by the German firm
Bogner. [nb: denim is inelastic, and unlike wool, wet cotton
contributes to hypothermia]
-
badlands :
-
a barren area in which soft rock strata are eroded into varied
forms, some bizarre or fantastic; term alludes to the difficulty
in traversing such rough country. Also, a region in South Dakota
and Nebraska; site of Badlands National Park, formerly Badlands
National Monument (1929-1977).
-
baetyl :
-
a meteorite or stone held to be sacred, or believed to be of
divine origin; also baetylus or baetulus.
-
baggywrinkle :
-
chafing gear made from old ropes.
-
bail :
-
slang for retreating from a climb.
-
Baily's beads :
-
spots of light that appear to encircle the moon, resembling a
string of luminous beads, which are visible immediately before
and after a total eclipse, as caused by the sun's light shining
between the mountains on the moon's surface; eponymously after
Francis Baily, the English astronomer who first described this
phenomenon.
-
Bakelite® :
-
a brand name for any of a series of durable phenolic resins and
plastics that are used to fabricate lightweight, strong, and
corrosion-resistant items, especially electrical insulators (in
lieu of porcelain ceramics).
-
balaclava :
-
a knitted cap that covers the head, neck, and sometimes the
shoulders or upper torso; as derived from Balaklava, a Crimean
seaport on the Black Sea.
-
balance climbing :
-
movement up cliffs and slopes that are too steep for walking.
-
balds :
-
slang for naturally clear areas on hillsides, especially denuded
mountain tops.
-
ballistic nylon :
-
a high-performance synthetic thermoplastic material that's
characterized by strength and elasticity, resistance to abrasion
and chemicals, low moisture absorbency and a capacity to be
permanently set by heat; this tough polyamide fabric is tear
resistant and was introduced during WWII as protection against
flying debris.
-
ball-nuts :
-
thin crack protection utilizing sliding ball-and-ramp
construction.
-
bandana :
-
a large lightweight scarf or handkerchief, usually figured
(originally tie-dyed), that's worn about the neck or head by men
and women; originally signifying someone's tribal affiliation or
familial status. [nb: this cloth should not be mistaken for the
hijab]
-
bank :
-
a slope or acclivity. Also, a long pile, heap, mass, or bank-like
border constructed of small stones or sandbags.
-
barber :
-
a strong wind carrying damp snow or sleet that freezes upon
contact with objects, especially head and facial hair that's
exposed to this spray.
-
barn-door / barn-dooring :
-
a climber's loss of contact with the rock face for half his body
length, such that the climber pivots away from the vertical
surface, as if his hand and foot on one side were hinges.
-
barranca :
-
a steep-walled ravine or gorge, gully or arroyo.
-
barrow :
-
a mound or hill. Also, an artificial mound raised over a grave or
midden, as a tumulus.
-
barrel knot :
-
a knot for fastening together two strands of gut or nylon by
wrapping each around the other several times before interlacing,
as fishing lines or leaders, ascent or descent ropes; also called
'blood knot' or "triple fisherman's bend".
-
barrens :
-
bare land that's unproductive; level or slightly rolling land
that's relatively infertile, usually with a sandy soil and few
trees.
-
base camp :
-
the largest and best supplied fixed campsite, typically setup at
the lowest elevation, which supports a major ascent of a
mountain.
-
base weight :
-
the total loadout weight of essentials and consumables contained
in the backpack. [nb: the back country rule of thumb on
diminishing returns is that when trekking or climbing, the weight
to distance ratio must be balanced, such that the heavier the
load for a long trip, then more energy must be expended to
proceed, so the spent energy must be replenished, consuming
resources that makes the load lighter, but the distance traveled
much shorter!]
-
bashie :
-
slang for a malleable device (eg: rivet, copperhead) that's
intended to be pounded into a rock depression or crack.
-
basic :
-
a rock having relatively little silica.
-
basin :
-
a hollow or depression in the earth's surface. Also, an area in
which rock strata dip inward toward a common center; a circular
or elliptical syncline. Also, a natural or artificial hollow
place, usually wider than deep, containing water.
-
basket litter :
-
see Stokes litter.
-
basket sled :
-
a high-sided rig mounted on runners used as a vehicle for cargo
or passengers when traveling over snow or ice; also called a
"rescue sled", "basket litter" or "basket stretcher".
-
batholith :
-
a large body of intrusive igneous rock believed to have
crystallized at a considerable depth below the earth's surface.
-
bat hook / bat hooking :
-
an extreme form of aid climbing wherein a sky hook, filed to a
sharpened point, is tapped into a hole drilled shallowly in the
rock from which an etrier is hung for farther advancement.
-
bay :
-
a recess of land, partly surrounded by hills.
-
bc / BC :
-
abbreviation for back country or backcountry, being a class of
heavier-duty and wider cross-country (Nordic) skis for use in
rugged (ungroomed) terrain.
-
bead lightning :
-
lightning wherein the intensity appears to vary along its path
and so resembles a string of beads; also called "chain lightning"
or "pearl lightning".
-
bear bag :
-
any variously sized sack of tough material that can be quickly
and easily suspended off the ground at least twelve to twenty
feet, which is positioned at least twenty to fifty feet away from
the campsite, for the safe storage of food, toiletries, garbage,
and anything else that emits an odor attractive to nocturnal
animals.
-
bear trap :
-
a non-releasable toe-strap and cable type of ski binding that
allowed the skier to convert from heel-free cross-country (X-C)
to heel-secured downhill skiing, as used by WWII mountain troops
and other alpinists.
-
bedrock :
-
the lowest stratum of unbroken solid rock, which bottommost layer
is overlaid in most places by soil or rock fragments.
-
beer :
-
an alcoholic beverage made by brewing and fermentation from
cereals, usually malted barley, and flavored with hops and the
like, for a slightly bitter taste ... it's the champagne of
working class people, who often use it to toast one another's
achievements, to celebrate remarkable attainments, and to simply
slake each other's hard-earned thirst or to cut the choking dust
at the end of an exhausting day!
-
beginner's hill :
-
no such thing; does not exist; everyone is an amateur in the real
world of constant change; also called "learner's hill", "tyro's
mountain", "rookie's hill", "novice's mountain", "simple...",
"easy..." -- any slope can kill the unwary! [v: Zen beginner's
mind, Christian child's innocence; cf: tenderfoot, greenhorn,
cheechako, and similar aspersions] [nb: those adjustments,
especially the mechanical and technical ones, that are intended
to make risky situations safer, only result in making them more
complicated and, paradoxically, more hazardous; because order and
consistency are abnormal, accidents and mistakes are inherently
normal, so risk management is an essential constituent of living]
-
beginning slope :
-
see dope slope.
-
belay :
-
to tether or restrain by manipulation of a rope or line, as a
safety anchor in rappelling; protection against falling may
involve body, hardware (piton, bong, cam, nut, plate, deadeye),
natural or man-made (eg: cleat, bollard) objects; also called
"cinch" ('cingula') or "dally" ('dale vuelt'). Also, a secure
object or other safe projection that's sturdy enough to anchor a
rope or line under a full load; that point of connection or
attachment to which a rope or line is fastened or made secure for
the protected descent and ascent of people and objects. Also, an
imperative directive to stop or cease, halt or desist, cancel or
quit; to hold fast or delay execution.
-
belay device :
-
a mechanical device (eg: piton, bong, cam, nut, plate, deadeye,
cleat, etc) that's used to create friction or resistance on a
rope or line; a Munter hitch can sometimes be used instead of a
belay device ... some belay devices may also be used as
descenders.
-
belayer :
-
the person at the belay station who is securing the ascending or
descending climber; also known as a "belay slave".
-
belayer's neck :
-
an annoying but temporary malady intrinsic to climbing, being a
muscle ache and tension headache caused by the awkward postures,
especially constantly looking upwards, in order to track the
progress of the ascending or descending climber for the sake of
safety and security.
-
belaying :
-
the paying-out and taking-in of rope that a climber has attached
himself to, which is secured by the belayer's body, a natural or
artificial anchor point, and the necessary application of braking
force to reduce the severity of a fall.
-
belay on :
-
see on belay. [nb: United Kingdom climbers prefer the "Climb when
ready!" call]
-
belay point :
-
a secure object or other safe projection that's sturdy enough to
anchor a rope or line under a full load; that point of connection
or attachment to which a rope or line is fastened or made secure
for the descent and ascent of people and objects.
-
belay slave :
-
informal reference to the person who acts as backup or safety for
the other climbers; someone who provides security, through
partiality or bribery, deception or coercion, intimidation or
inducement, while gawking.
-
belay station :
-
the place, variously uncomfortable or hazardous, where the
belayer is situated so as to control a natural or artificial
belay point.
-
ben :
-
a high hill or mountain peak; derived from peak ("beann").
-
bench :
-
a flat or shelf-like area of rock with steep slopes above and
below. Also, a flat step or level elevation; as derived from
bank.
-
benching iron :
-
a pronged triangular plate that's driven into the ground to
provide a temporary bench mark or surveying point.
-
benchmark :
-
a known or established elevation from which other measurements
may be calculated, as represented by a triangle on maps and a
fixed marker on the ground; abbreviated BM. Also, a normative
standard or established reference by which anyone may be judged
or compared.
-
bend :
-
a knot used for joining ropes, for attaching lines to themselves
or to one another; any of various loops for joining the ends of
two ropes, or for joining the end of a rope to some other object;
as derived from a crooked bind. Also, an idiom for crazy or
insane, deranged or lunatic, nutty or bonkers, as "around the
bend" [ie: not on the straight and narrow].
-
bending the map :
-
projecting a false impression, or perceiving a false reality; as
when misreading terrain features and misapplying its landmarks to
a topographic representation. Such a delusional mismatch, or
imposition of desire, is also called "re-mapping" or "forcing the
map", which bewilderment or bemusement can be disastrously
disorienting.
-
bergschrund / 'schrund :
-
a crevasse, or series of crevasses, at the upper end of a
mountain glacier, seemingly caused by gravitational movement that
introduces separation; a crevasse separating a glacier from the
rock walls enclosing it, or from higher snow or ice fields. [ety:
German loanword literally meaning mountain + crevice]
-
berm :
-
any level strip of ground at the summit, on the sides, or along
the base of a slope; also called a "bench". Also, any flat or
horizontal surface, as a fortified berme or beach backshore.
-
best route :
-
the most direct approach up to a peak, which is by no means the
easiest or fastest; being the line that most closely approximates
the natural descent of falling water dropping from that peak.
-
beta :
-
any advance information (eg: weather, terrain features, rock or
snow conditions, previous routes, local lore, etc) which helps
someone in planning or negotiating a climb; detailed and specific
advice on how to complete a particular climbing route, usually
proffered by someone who has recently succeeded.
-
beta flash :
-
the rapid ascent of a new climb on the first attempt, without
falls or delays, solely based upon reliable advice. [cf: on-sight
flash]
-
betty lamp / Betty lamp :
-
a primitive early American lamp that consists of a shallow basin
that's filled with oil or tallow as the fuel for a wick that's
housed in a teapot-like spout, and is often hung by a hook or
suspended by a chain.
-
bezel :
-
the angled rim surrounding the face of a watch or compass,
especially a rotating ring that can serve to mark time or
indicate position; as derived from 'bevel' or 'chamfer'.
-
B-grade :
-
a grading system for bouldering problems that was invented by
John Gill, which has been largely superseded by the V-grading
system.
-
biathlon :
-
an athletic competition in which cross-country (Nordic) skiers,
carrying rifles, shoot at targets at four intervals along a 20km
(12.5mi) course. Also, an athletic contest comprising any two
consecutive events, whether organized as sprint, intermediate, or
endurance.
-
bicycle shorts :
-
see bike shorts.
-
bigfoot :
-
see yeti.
-
bight :
-
a slack portion of cord, line, or rope that's bent or folded upon
itself without crossing so as to leave an opening, as used in
constructing some knots or executing belays. Also, the middle
portion of the rope or line, as distinguished from the ends.
-
Big Rock Candy Mountain :
-
any remote refuge or fanciful retreat, named after the paradise
lyricized in the 1928 folk song. In this pre-Depression era, some
Marysvale (Utah) residents placed a sign at the base of a cluster
of some brightly-colored hills near Fishlake National Forest
naming them "Big Rock Candy Mountain" as a local joke; they also
labeled a nearby spring as "Lemonade Springs" ... the Big Rock
Candy Mountain Resort occupies a hub in the area's Paiute trails.
Furthermore, the largest exposed rock in the South Platte rock
climbing area of Colorado is also called "Big Rock Candy
Mountain" because of its colored stripes resembling a candy cane.
And, one of the peaks in the Capitol State Forest of Washington
state is also named "Big Rock Candy Mountain".
-
big wall climb :
-
a sustained climb that extends over more than one day due to its
physical or technical difficulty.
-
bike shorts :
-
bicycling attire in the 20th century has metamorphosed from
modest transportation to practical athleticism, wherein skirts
and trousers (with "trouser clips") have evolved through bloomers
and baggy shorts into skin-tight cycling shorts that're bibbed
and knee-length, made in various colors of blended fabrics
(including nylon, polyester, polypropylene, cotton, and the like)
that wick moisture and reduce wind resistance ... and with the
addition of chamois groin pads, reduce chafing. [v: gym shorts]
-
binding :
-
a mechanical attachment that functionally connects the wearer's
foot to a ski or snowshoe for optimal control while maneuvering,
including Alpine (both toe and heel are fixed), Nordic (only toe
is fixed), and Alpine touring or randonee (toe is fixed while
heel may be fixed or unfixed); if force (torque) limits are
exceeded during a fall or impact, most bindings are designed to
release so as to minimize injury to the wearer's ankle or leg.
-
biner / 'biner :
-
truncation of carabiner (qv).
-
biolith :
-
rock formed from once living creatures.
-
bird :
-
slang for a watcher or gawker, typically huddled in clusters at a
safe distance, who invariably knows more than the climber scaling
the rock and dispenses this expertise to other non-climbers in a
stage whisper; so-called by their resemblance to peeping,
popeyed, baby birds with gaping mouths! [cf: voyeur; v:
titillation, frisson]
-
bird beak :
-
a thin, hooking-type piton, which is easily removed, that's used
to engage small cracks on a clean ascent.
-
bitt :
-
a strong post, as single or paired projections, for securing
cables, towing lines, and the like; a bollard or cleat.
-
bivouac :
-
a temporary encampment, frequently unplanned, typically
abstemious or austere, often arduous if not agonizing; generally
reduced to 'bivvy'. [ety: French loanword]
-
bivouac sack :
-
a simple tubular tent (minus poles) suspended from pitons fixed
in the rock; during the Vietnam-era, such a sack-like enclosure
was considered to be a luxury.
-
bivvy :
-
informal term for a small tent or temporary shelter, as by
adaptation of 'bivouac'; also called "bivouac sack".
-
bivy :
-
a fitted cover secured over the mummy-style sleeping bag,
and serving as external protection from abrasion or weather.
Also, a waterproof bag or 'stuff-sack' intended for stowing a
sleeping bag, but widely used for other utilitarian storage; also
called "bivy bag" or "dry sack".
-
black ice :
-
permanent ice found in shady couloirs or on steep north faces
that's very dense, extremely hard, and usually difficult to
climb.
-
Blackwall hitch :
-
a hitch made with a rope laid over a hook, so that it holds fast
when pulled, but is otherwise loose; named after Blackwall, a
London shipyard.
-
bladder / bladder bag :
-
a lightweight, portable, and collapsible water reservoir, sized
from quart to gallon capacity, which flexible containers were
introduced during the Vietnam War.
-
blain :
-
an inflammatory swelling or sore, such as chill blains; a
discrete lesion or aggragate of papules.
-
Blake's hitch / Prohaska hitch :
-
a friction hitch commonly used by arborists / tree climbers and
cavers as an ascending or descending knot that's formed by the
trailing end of a rope (instead of a loop of cord or webbing);
although stable, this knot is usually backed up by a stopper knot
(eg: figure-eight) for safety, and is preferred to other hitches
(eg: taut-line) because it's less prone to bind ... as with other
friction hitches, constriction resistance (grip) can be increased
by adding additional binding loops. This hitch was first
introduced (1981) by Heinz Prohaska in an Austrian periodical for
mountain guides, and later presented (1990) in a caving journal,
then it was separately and independently discovered (1994) by
Jason Blake for use by the arborist community.
-
Blanca Peak :
-
a mountain situated in southern Colorado, being the highest peak
(14,390 ft) in the Sangre de Cristo range.
-
blaze :
-
a distinctive mark used to conspicuously indicate a route or
passage, a border or boundary. Also, to lead the way in finding
or forming something; pathfinding.
-
blink :
-
a brightening of the base of a cloud layer caused by the
reflection of light by snow or ice, as derived from gleam,
twinkle, glitter, or shine.
-
blizzard :
-
a heavy snowstorm of strong winds and intense cold.
-
block :
-
any solid material mass with one or more flat faces. Also, an
obstruction, obstacle, hindrance, or stoppage. Also, a housing or
part enclosing one or more freely rotating, grooved pulleys,
about which ropes or chains pass to form a hoisting or hauling
tackle; also known as "tackle block" or "block 'n' tackle".
-
blood knot :
-
a knot for fastening together two strands of gut or nylon by
wrapping each around the other several times before interlacing,
as fishing lines or leaders, ascent or descent ropes; also called
'barrel knot' or "triple fisherman's bend".
-
blue ice :
-
very dense ice with a watery hue and few air bubbles.
-
bluff :
-
a precipitous headland, cliff or hill, with a broad steep face;
as derived from "flat" or "even".
-
bm :
-
abbreviation for benchmark (qv). Also, a polite abbreviation for
bowel movement, which necessity is often difficult and/or
embarrassing while climbing or trekking.
-
board lasting :
-
the method of footwear construction wherein the insole ("board")
is fixed to the last (foot form), then the upper is wrapped
around this assembly so the midsole, vamp, and outsole can be
attached to form the shoe; a board lasted shoe is usually more
rigid than a slip lasted shoe, giving the wearer less sensitivity
to the terrain underfoot.
-
boards / slats :
-
slang for skis.
-
boatswain's seat :
-
a web or canvas sling chair, or wooden plank, suspended by ropes
or cables over the side of a steep wall or other vertical
surface, as in construction, maintenance, or rescue work.
-
bobsled :
-
a sled formed of two shorter sleds set in tandem; also called
"bobsleigh".
-
body rappel :
-
see abseil. [nb: the rope is straddled by the climber, then
looped around a hip, across the chest, over the opposite
shoulder, and down the back to be held with the downhill hand to
adjust the hip and shoulder friction so as to control the speed
of descent]
-
bohio :
-
a raised-platform sleeping shelter, open on three or four sides,
and clear to waist-height underneath, with a slanted roof of
semi-permanent primitive construction, as used widely by the
indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia.
-
bollard :
-
a short thick post of dubious strength and reliability that's
carved from ice for use as a belay stand or rappel point when no
better anchor is available; any large knob of rock or ice used as
a belay anchor.
-
bolt :
-
a strong metal fastening screw with an untapered shaft that's
drilled into rock and is retained by friction; a stout point of
protection in aid climbing that's permanently installed into a
hole drilled into the rock, to which a metal hanger is attached,
having an integral socket to accept a ring or carabiner.
-
bolt chopping :
-
the deliberate removal of one or more installed bolts; this
destructive "clean-up of a fixed route is performed by purists
and environmentalists who believe that they are "protecting" the
rock face.
-
bolted in :
-
see nailed up.
-
bomber :
-
slang for any maximal handhold. Also, slang for anything, from
equipment to a bivouac site, that's generally positive or
beneficial, of high quality or dependability.
-
bomb-proof anchor :
-
a totally secure and completely reliable anchor; also known as
"bomber" ... the kind that fail when not tested.
-
bonfire :
-
a large outdoor fire that's built in the open and used for
warmth, entertainment, or signaling.
-
bong :
-
slang referent for a tapered angle piton in the shape of a V /
L(J) / S(Z) / W(M), with attachment eyes spaced along its length;
a type of specialized piton, fabricated from an extra-wide piece
of steel folded lengthwise, used in wider cracks or fissures
before the invention of cams and nuts.
-
boomer :
-
a fast downhill skier, often rash or reckless; also called basher
or schuss-boomer.
-
bora :
-
a violent, dry, cold wind blowing from the north; derived from
"boreas/borras" meaning northern or mountain wind.
-
boreas / borras :
-
north winds; this ancient Greek term may have originally meant
"wind from the mountains".
-
bottom of the world :
-
an expression representing the antarctic region or the far south,
including the Antarctic Circle and South Pole; also known as the
"end of the earth", and contrasted by the "top of the world".
-
boulder :
-
a large detached rock, usually worn or rounded; derived from "big
stone".
-
bouldering :
-
the climbing of short, hard routes on low-lying rocks without
protective gear; climbing unroped among large boulders or
outcroppings, which are typically close to the ground, so safety
precautions include protective pads and companion spotting,
instead of harnesses and belays.
-
bouldering mat :
-
any thick mat that's used to soften landings or to cover harmful
objects in the event of a fall; also known as a "crash pad" and
as tumbling or exercise mats.
-
bounce box :
-
a package of replenishment supplies sent ahead of one's present
location for later collection upon arrival; a method of
forwarding resupply items to oneself, often entailing an
off-route side trip. [nb: general delivery is a temporary mail
service for persons without a permanent address (such as
travelers) for which collection at least two forms of official
photo identification must be presented; a small number of letters
and parcels, addressed to a specific individual by way of
"General Delivery" at a specified USPS post office with ZIP code,
will be accepted and held for no longer than thirty (30) days,
unless an extension has been prearranged with the postmaster]
-
bow / bowknot :
-
a knot used for joining the ends of cord or line that can be
readily loosened, which has two projecting loops that leave both
ends free for untying.
-
bowline / bowline knot :
-
a knot used to make a nonslipping (often non-constrictive) loop
on the end of a line or rope.
-
bowline on a bight :
-
a knot made along the middle of a line or rope that's used to
make a nonslipping loop that's not drawn-up.
-
brachiate / brachiation :
-
locomotion accomplished by a primate or human swinging by the
arms from one hold to another.
-
braid / braided line :
-
woven nylon line that has better abrasion resistance than twisted
line.
-
brain bucket :
-
slang for helmet (qv).
-
brake-bar / braker-bar :
-
a short rod that fits on the gate and connects over the back of
an oval carabiner, so as to bisect the link; or an elongated
rappel rack containing numerous rounded brake-bar rods; as used
for additional interlacement so as to increase resistence during
a belay or descent. Originally improvised from a piton laid
across a carabiner for increased friction. The brake-bar is the
weakest part of the friction assembly, so is the most prone to
mishap or failure. A brake-bar will not attach to any
asymmetrical carabiners (such as pear or slant-D shape); and will
not fit over the locking mechanism of any carabiner pattern.
Although a brake-bar is a convenient way of altering the features
of a carabiner, which has many more uses than descending, a
rappel rack is like a figure-8 descender in having no other
utility to justify its size and weight displacement on a trek.
[nb: not "break-bar" or "breaker-bar"]
-
brash :
-
a pile or mass of loose and brittle fragments, as of broken rock
or fractured ice; as derived from "break".
-
Brazilian rating system :
-
a scale of Roman numerals and adjectives used to rate the
difficulty of climbing routes in mountainous terrain.
-
break-bar / breaker-bar :
-
see brake-bar / braker-bar.
-
breakdown :
-
a fall of bedrock from a cave roof or wall under its own weight;
also, the resultant pile of broken bedrock.
-
breaking strength :
-
the load that will cause a line or rope to fail.
-
breakweather :
-
any makeshift shelter or protective refuge.
-
breathing :
-
the movement of air passing in and out of a cave, which is due to
changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure on the earth's
surface.
-
breccia :
-
rock composed of angular fragments of older rocks and/or fossils
that've been melded together in a matrix of finer sediment.
-
Breche / brèche :
-
a notch in a ridge; a gap, breach, or opening. [ety: French
loanword (eg: la brèche de roland)]
-
breech :
-
the end of a block or pulley farthest from the supporting hook or
eye.
-
breeches :
-
knee-length trousers that were worn with stockings by men from
the 17th through the early 19th centuries; full-length pants were
adopted by Americans to help protect the wearer's lower legs
while working. [ety: bottom, buttocks] [v: britches; cf:
jodhpurs, pantaloons, riding breeches]
-
brent :
-
anything steep, precipitous, or lofty.
-
bridge :
-
a natural (ie: rock, ice, etc) or man-made (ie: rope, wood, etc)
elevated or suspended structure providing passage over an
obstacle or across an opening, such as a chasm or river; being a
connective or transitional route, an intermediate or conjoining
phase of maneuver or march. Also, a method used to maneuver in a
chimney or cleft by fully extending the body, with the feet or
legs opposite the hands or arms, so as to ascend or descend by
friction exerted by bodily pressure as a span; also known as
'layback' or 'stem'.
-
bridging :
-
when the climber maneuvers in a crack, chimney, or other opening
by fully extending the body, with the feet or legs opposite the
hands or arms, so as to ascend or descend by friction exerted by
bodily pressure as a span; also called "laybacking" or
"stemming" by use of holds on adjacent rock faces to ascend or
descend.
-
brink :
-
any extreme edge or verge; the edge or margin of a steep place.
Also, the margin or verge of land bordering water. Also, a
critical point beyond which something crucial will occur.
-
britches :
-
see breeches.
-
British rating system :
-
a scale of adjectives and numbers used to rate the difficulty of
climbing routes in mountainous terrain.
-
brodie :
-
a daredevil leap or a suicidally wild dive from a precipice or
other high ledge; eponymously after Steve Brodie, who claimed to
have jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge in 1886.
-
brotherhood of the rope :
-
the camaraderie of rock and mountain climbers; an unstructured
and unsanctioned association of people who seek the personal
challenges and spiritual satisfactions of climbing remote
terrain.
-
brow :
-
the edge or lip of a steep place or drop-off; a brink or brim.
-
brule / brulé :
-
a forested area that's been destroyed by fire; also spelled
brulee / brulée, as derived from 'burnt'. Also, land
covered with rocks or scrub growth.
-
bucket :
-
slang for a large handhold; also called 'jug' or 'bomber'.
-
buildering :
-
a neologism for the art of climbing on buildings, which is often
illegal, albeit irresistibly intriguing.
-
bum :
-
someone who's more devoted to experiential ventures than to
educational certification, career development, or familial
commitment; finances, and the products purchasable with such
funds, are secondary to the skills developed by performing more
and more challenging engagements. [v: ski bum, surf bum, scuba
bum, climbing bum / dirt bag, outdoor idler]
-
bump :
-
to quickly move a hand or foot up a short distance from one
useful hold to another.
-
bunny boot :
-
slang for the military-style mukluk that was developed during
WWII for mountaineers in winter operations, as so-called by
members of the 10th Mountain Division. Being a knee-high,
soft-soled, moccasin-like, fur- or pile-lined boot for wear in
deep snow, or with snowshoes and cross-country (Nordic) skis;
bunny boots were developed to overcome the limitations of the
then-standard issue 'shoepacs' as winter boots.
-
bunny slope :
-
see dope slope.
-
burly :
-
slang for difficult, demanding, or challenging, as associated
with the large, stout, sturdy, tough figure who is capable of
encountering such.
-
bushwhack :
-
to make one's way through jungle, woods, or other dense cover by
cutting away at the undergrowth.
-
butte :
-
an isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly above the
surrounding land; derived from "landmark".
-
buttress :
-
a formation that projects outward from the line of a rock face; a
projecting support that steadies a structure by opposing its
outward thrusts, as any natural or artificial prop; derived from
"thrusting arch" or abutment.
-
Buys-Ballot's law :
-
the law stating that if one stands with one's back to the wind in
the northern hemisphere, then the atmospheric pressure will be
lower on one's left, and in the southern hemisphere, it will be
lower on one's right; named after the Dutch meteorologist C.H.D.
Buys-Ballot, this law is descriptive of the relationship of
horizontal winds to atmospheric pressure.
-
BVM :
-
Bag Valve Mask; see AMBU bag.
-
Byerlee's law :
-
cites the stress circumstances in the earth's crust at which
fracturing along a geological fault takes place.
-
bysmalith :
-
a cylinder of igneous rock that, when forced upward, lifts any
overlying rock.
-
cable bend :
-
a knot or clinch that forms a short length of loop for the secure
attachment of a cable to an anchor or other fixed object.
-
cable binding :
-
a relatively simple and secure binding for skis and snowshoes
wherein the boot toe is fixed in place, and an adjustable
metallic cable encircles the boot heel ... if mounted on downhill
(Alpine) skis, guide brackets on either side of the ski near the
beginning of the boot heel, anchor the boot so the heel will not
be able to rise. The tension mechanism controlling the torque on
the toe and the heel are adjusted separately.
-
cache :
-
a hidden storage place for food and other replenishment items,
including gear and rescue supplies; materials that have been
concealed in a stash for safekeeping.
-
cagoul / kagoul / kagool :
-
an unlined, knee-length, pullover-style raincoat with elasticized
cuffs and an attached hood, which is usually lightweight enough
to pack into its own chest pocket or hood; it was seemingly
created by Noel Bibby of 'Peter Storm Limited' during the early
1960s as a longer version of the anorak. This weatherproof shell
has been nicknamed "cag", and has been marketed as "Pack-a-Mac"
and "Cag in a Bag". [ety: French loanword meaning 'hood'
(cagoule)] [cf: cowl]
-
cairn / carn :
-
a distinctive heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument,
cenotaph, tombstone, or other marker; literally a "pile of
stones" ... most often used to denote a summit or to mark a trail
above the treeline.
-
caldera :
-
a large, basin-like depression resulting from the collapse or
destruction of a volcano's center; known by Alaskan natives as a
"thunderbird's nest", this term derives from "cauldron".
-
calf :
-
a mass of ice detached from a glacier, iceberg, or floe ... as if
"birthed" from a larger "cow".
-
cam :
-
a spring-loaded metal device (eg: "Friend" by Ray Jardine) that's
used to provide anchor points in rock cracks to secure a climbing
rope; also generically known as "spring loaded camming device"
(SLCD) (eg: Friends, Camalots, TCUs, etc) in various sizes by
different manufacturers.
-
cam band :
-
a webbing strap with a cam-action tensioning buckle that's used
to secure gear or equipment together, or to a harness.
-
Cambrian :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era,
occurring from 570 million to 500 million years ago, when algae
and marine invertebrates were the predominant form of life on
earth.
-
camel-up / camel up :
-
slang for drinking as much water as possible at a supply outlet,
departure point, or natural water source so as not to prematurely
consume any of the precious water that a person is carrying.
-
camp / campsite :
-
a suitable place for one or more persons to be temporarily lodged
outdoors, as for sporting or recreation; to pitch a shelter for
the temporary residence of a venturer or other outdoorsman. [v:
day camp, training camp, summer camp]
-
campfire :
-
an outdoor fire used for warmth or cooking. [v: bonfire]
-
camp robber :
-
someone who steals outdoor equipment and clothing, especially a
sticky-fingered employee with reasonable access; to crib, nap,
snatch, nab, snitch, boost, glom, snap-up, jack / hijack, hook,
lift, nip, pilfer, nick, score, rip / rip-off, rifle, filch,
purloin, rustle, swipe, make-off / make-away, thieve, heist,
burgle / burglarize, so as to acquire useful items that are
otherwise unavailable, generally for trade or resale. Also, any
small animal (eg: pack rat, scrub jay, etc) that raids a campsite
for food, shiny objects, or other useful articles; although
pesky, they're typically differentiated from vermin.
-
camp stove :
-
a small portable cookstove using inflammable liquid (eg: oil,
gas, alcohol, etc), usually under pressure, that serves for
cooking or heating by outdoorsmen; the packing container for such
a stove often serves as a pot and/or pan. [v: Primus stove] [nb:
an empty food can, vented at the base and with fuel laid at the
bottom, can serve as a field expedient camp stove with shielding
windbreak for heating food or liquid]
-
campus / campusing :
-
a dynamic form of climbing using the fingers, hands, arms, and
upper body only; a style created by ... . [v: brachiate /
brachiation]
-
campus board :
-
a piece of training equipment that's used to improve a climber's
upper body, especially finger strength and strong arm lock-offs,
as for campusing.
-
candle lamp :
-
a vented chimney for safely housing a lighted candle that can be
hung inside a tent or from any nearby protrusion; often provided
with a shutter to direct and limit the exposed light. [v: fairy
lamp; cf: dark lantern]
-
canned heat :
-
see Sterno®.
-
canyon :
-
a deep valley with steep sides, often with a stream flowing
through it; as derived from "hollow tube".
-
canyoneering :
-
a hybrid recreational activity that often combines off-road
bicycling or white water rafting, rugged hiking and bouldering or
climbing (called "technical canyoneering") in a canyon or gorge,
which has broad appeal to people of all ages and various skill
levels; also called "canyoning".
-
cap rock / caprock :
-
a protruding mass of anhydrite, gypsum, or limestone immediately
above the salt of a salt dome. Also, an impervious stratum
overlaying an oil- or gas-bearing structure.
-
carabiner / karabiner :
-
a specially shaped metallic ring, with a spring-catch (gate)
built into one side, that's used in mountaineering to secure
equipment and fasten ropes; also known as biner or snap-link,
this term is shortened from "carbineer hook" [karabinerhaken],
which was a device for attaching the carbine to a bandoleer of
ammunition. A modern carabiner is available in various shapes
(ie: oval or pear, D-shaped or offset-D, twisted or slanted),
configurations (ie: locking, auto-locking, or non-locking; pin
and hook or key lock; screw gate or bent gate), and compositions
(ie: cast or forged, aluminum or steel). The strongest part of a
carabiner is the long axis of the spine (opposite the gate
opening), but this strength can be compromised by improper
loading (eg: if the loaded object rests at the farthest point of
the reservoir from the long axis). Although most carabiners are
generally interchangeable, some are specially designed for
specific applications (eg: on litter, for belay, on pulley, with
Munter hitch, etc). This useful climbing aid, carried in
multiples on a sling or rack, is only reliable if it is loaded in
the correct direction and the safety gate is closed. [nb: not
carbineer/carabineer or carabiniere] [ety: German loanword /
lehnwort]
-
Carboniferous :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era,
including the Pennsylvanian and Mississippian periods as epochs,
occurring from 345 million to 280 million years ago.
-
carrick bend :
-
a knot used for joining the ends of two ropes; a woven coupling
used with heavy lines, cables or hawsers; because the single
carrick bend tends to jam tight, a double carrick bend is
preferred; probably derived from the merchant vessel ('carrack':
"ship of burden") from the Renaissance period.
-
cartwheel :
-
a skiing stunt wherein an upright acrobatic skier rotates
sideways with the fall line, landing first on the hands (or
forearms) and then back up onto the feet ... typically executed
in star or spoke fashion, with the hands hitting singly, followed
by the separated legs. Other than style, this maneuver serves no
practical purpose.
-
catch basin :
-
a natural hollow that collects and retains water in a pool, as
from rain or seepage. [v: seep] [nb: exposed limestone rock in
the desert can contain an abundance of water that's held in under
pressure by a crust that forms on its surface, such that if the
crust is suddenly cracked apart, the water may gush forth]
-
cat hole / cathole / cat-hole :
-
an expedient field toilet that's been dug out of the ground
(sized at least six inches wide by 12 inches deep, and situated
at least 200 feet from a water source) for the use of one person
to evacuate human waste.
-
cat's-paw :
-
a retaining hitch taken in the bight of a rope or line.
-
cavate :
-
hollowed out, as a space excavated from rock.
-
cave :
-
a hollow in the earth, especially one opening more or less
horizontally into a hill, mountain, or the like. Also, to hollow
out, as by causing overlying material to fall into a stope, well,
or sublevel; or to cause supports, sets, or stylls to collapse
beneath overlying material (cave-in ).
-
caver :
-
a person who studies or explores caves; not to be confused with a
"cave man". Among the confraternity, cavers are the people who
rescue spelunkers and speleologists.
-
cavern :
-
a large cave that is mostly or entirely underground.
-
caving ladder :
-
see Jacob's ladder.
-
ceiling :
-
the overhead interior surface of a compartment, cave, or other
opening inlet into rock.
-
Cenozoic :
-
noting or pertaining to the present geologic era, beginning 65
million years ago and characterized by the ascendancy of mammals;
succeeded the Mesozoic Era, subsuming the Quaternary (Holocene
and Pleistocene epochs) and Tertiary (Miocene, Oligocene, Eocene,
and Paleocene epochs) Periods.
-
chain :
-
a continuous range of mountains.
-
chain brake :
-
a chain looped in front of a rescue sled or toboggan by which the
speed of the carrier can be controlled by either raising or
lowering the chain; also known as a "brake chain".
-
chair lift :
-
a single, double, or quadruple seat that's suspended from a
motor-driven overhead cable that carries skiers up a slope.
-
chalk :
-
a soft, white, powdery limestone consisting chiefly of fossil
shells of protozoan foraminifers. Also, a powdery compound of
magnesium carbonate (or a similar substance), also called
"gymnastics chalk", that's used to improve a climber's grip or
handhold by absorbing sweat; its use is controversial in some
areas.
-
chalk bag :
-
a hand-sized holder for the supply of chalk that a climber will
use to dry his hands; typically suspended from a gear belt or
equipment sling for ready access.
-
chamois / shammy / chammy :
-
originally, a soft pliable leather from any of various skins
dressed with oil; later, a sueded cotton or synthetic cloth
simulating such absorbent leather.
-
chaos :
-
a state or condition of utter confusion or disorder; a
disorganized and unstructured mass, the infinite space and
formless matter comprising primordial or primeval existence; as
derived from chasm or abyss.
-
chap / chapped :
-
skin that's roughened, cracked, and reddened by exposure to
weather.
-
charley horse :
-
slang for a painful involuntary muscular cramp, typically of an
arm or leg, that results from excessive strain, blunt-force
trauma, or nutritional deficiency; sometimes misspelled "charlie
horse", being an Americanism of obscure origin from the 1880s.
-
chasm :
-
a yawning fissure or deep cleft in the earth's surface, such as a
gorge. Also, any marked gap, opening, breach, or break; as
derived from "gape".
-
chatter mark :
-
any of a series of irregular gouges made on a rock surface by the
movement of rock fragments over it. Also, the marks left on a
work surface by a vibrating tool.
-
cheek :
-
either one of the sides of a tackle block.
-
chert :
-
a compact rock consisting essentially of microcrystalline quartz.
-
Cheyne-Stokes respiration :
-
a fluctuating pattern of breathing with a gradual increase in its
depth and sometimes in its rate to a maximum, then followed by a
decrease that results in apnea; these cycles ordinarily vary,
including coma, from an affect upon the nervous centers of
respiration. [cf: Cheyne-stokes psychosis; Cheyne's nystagmus]
-
chicken head :
-
slang for a protruding horn or knob of rock (eg: granite) that's
useful as a handhold or sling protection point.
-
chimney :
-
a narrow vertical opening within or between rocks, being a cleft,
crack, or fissure with almost parallel sides that's often vented
at the surface, and is wide enough to admit the climber's body.
Also, a method of full or extended body maneuvers that use force
or tension against opposing rock walls so as to ascend or descend
such a rock formation.
-
chimney rock :
-
a 19th century Americanism for a spire of rock rising above the
level of the surrounding area, or a vertical column isolated on
the face of a steep slope; so-called by its resemblance to a
man-made smokestack structure.
-
chine :
-
a deep and narrow ravine formed in rock by the action of running
water, often sharply angled; derived from gape or crack open, as
a fissure or crevice. Also, a ridge or crest of land; a backbone
or spine, an arete / arête.
-
chink :
-
a narrow opening, such as a crack, cleft, or fissure; probably
derived as a corruption of 'chine'.
-
chinook :
-
a warm dry wind that intermittently blows down (katabatic) from a
mountain, increasing in temperature as it descends; this foehn is
also known as the "snow-eater wind".
-
chipping :
-
to permanently improve a handhold by shaping or removing rock; a
practice considered unethical.
-
chock :
-
a wedge or block, typically forming an obstacle to free passage.
Also, a naturally occurring stone that's wedged in a crack or
chimney, that may be used as an anchor.
-
chockstone :
-
a chock or wedge in a rock formation that's used as a point of
attachment.
-
Chomo-Lungma / Chomolungma :
-
Sherpa and Tibetan name for Mount Everest, meaning the "Goddess
Mother of the Land".
-
choss :
-
loose or "rotten" rock. [nb: Australian slang for loose rock;
British slang for dirt and weeds found in rock cracks]
-
choss pile :
-
slang for an unappealing route, or a disagreeable mass of rock.
-
Christie / Christy :
-
any of several skiing turns used when changing direction,
decreasing speed, or stopping, especially a turn in which the
skier's body is swung around by momentum while the skidding skis
remain parallel; introduced by the Austrian ski guide Hannes
Schneider, and so-called after Christiania, the former name of
Oslo (Norway), so as to differentiate it from telemark. [cf: stem
christie, royal christie] [nb: Open Christiania skiing
demonstrated by Sondre Norheim (ca1868)]
-
chronograph :
-
a timepiece capable of demarcating very brief intervals of
elapsed time.
-
chronometer :
-
any timepiece that's been designed for the highest accuracy where
very exact measurement of time is required, as for use in
determining longitude in celestial navigation.
-
chute :
-
a vertical or sloping opening caused by erosion or glacial
action, generally wider than a chimney; an inclined channel or
steep shaft that often serves as a conveyance. [ety: derived from
"to fall" (French: 'cheoir')]
-
cinch :
-
to secure or bind firmly, as to gird with a cinch [v: girth,
cincture, cingula, surcingle]. Also, a firm hold or tight grip;
to "cinch up" is to constrict or tighten. Also, something easy or
assured; simple, predictable, guaranteed.
-
cirque :
-
a bowl-shaped mountain basin with steep walls, as carved by
glaciation, and often containing a small round lake at its blunt
end; a semicircular or crescent-shaped basin with steep sides and
a gently sloping floor that's situated at the head of a valley or
on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion.
-
clamber :
-
to climb with effort or difficulty using both feet and hands; to
scramble or scrabble.
-
class system :
-
a numerical designation that rates the relative difficulty of a
trekking or climbing route; Class I: a moderately strenuous
jaunt; Class II: a hike, the steepness of which sometimes
requires the use of hands for balance; Class III: an ascending
hike requiring handholds, and involving relatively serious
exposure to falling, such as steep talus; Class IV: a climb over
steep rock with smaller holds, and greater exposure in which a
fall could be fatal, such that ropes should be carried, and
knowledge of knots, belay techniques, and rappelling is
obligatory; Class V: any climb sufficiently steep to mandate the
use of ropes and technical gear, which ascents are progressively
gradated in increments from 5.0 to 5.14.
-
clastic :
-
composed of particles or fragments (clast) of older rocks or
previously existing solid matter. Also, able to be broken into
parts or pieces or portions; dividing into fragments, fragmental.
-
clawing :
-
to advance up an icy slope by alternating the use of an ice ax
pick, an ice hammer pick, and the front points on the climber's
crampons.
-
clean :
-
to remove all hardware and equipment from a route. Also, a route
that does not require the addition of invasive protection, such
as pitons, bolts, or copperheads. Also, any route that's free of
loose vegetation and rocks (choss). Also, to complete a climb
without falling or resting on the rope (hangdogging).
-
cleaning tool :
-
a narrow, hook-shaped, metallic accessory device that's used for
removing jammed hardware and other protective equipment (eg:
bolts, cams, nuts, etc) from a route; also known as a 'nut key'
... and useful after climbing as a beer bottle cap-lifter.
-
clear :
-
the call made to the belayer and other climbers that the person
ascending or descending is off of the line; the term "safe" is
also used to inform others that the rope is no longer being used.
-
cleat :
-
a projection, of various shapes and constructions, which is
intended to serve as a check or support, as in tethering or
belaying ropes.
-
cleave :
-
a contranym meaning both to cling or adhere closely as well as to
split or separate along a natural line of division; to join or
sever, to stay or advance.
-
cleft :
-
a space or opening made in the rock by cleavage, such as a crack
or split.
-
clench :
-
to grasp firmly or grip tightly. Also, something that holds fast.
[cf: clinch]
-
cliff :
-
a steep rock face or high precipice.
-
climbing area :
-
any region offering a multitude of vertical and/or technical
challenges to a climber's skillset.
-
climbing boots :
-
originally, any rugged outdoor boot suitable for hiking, then
later developed as specialty footwear with rigid insoles, cleated
outer soles, "sticky" rubber-coated sides, ankle support, and so
forth; also called 'climbing shoes' and often worn with gaiters.
-
climbing bum :
-
an enthusiast who travels from one mountainous area to another,
taking odd jobs as necessary to minimally finance living
expenses, gear and clothing replacements, and essential repairs
to body or mind, so as to partake in the soulful communion of
high altitude grace; also called "dirt bag". [v: ski bum, surf
bum, scuba bum]
-
climbing command :
-
any short directive, concise instruction, or simple statement
that can be clearly understood at a distance and under adverse
conditions, as communicated between one climber and another,
between the leader or belayer and a climber.
-
climbing gym :
-
a man-made arrangement of climbing problems or difficulties, as
used in training students or challenging competitors, that
enables the rapid acquisition of confidence and experience with a
minimum of risk and inconvenience. While the first climbing wall
was built at Fort Lewis in 1943 to accelerate the training of the
10th Mountain Division during World War Two, indoor and outdoor
Artificial Climbing Walls (ACW) began to be commercially
developed for specialized training and exercise in 1987. Because
the difficulty of climbing walls can be standardized, they have
been used in Olympic competition since 1991.
-
climbing harness :
-
an arrangement of tied rope or sewn webbing, worn around the
thighs and waist, and sometimes the chest and shoulders, that
helps to secure the climber's body to the ascent/descent rope or
to anchor points, from which hardware is suspended, and to which
attachments are made.
-
climbing iron :
-
one of a pair of spiked frames that are strapped to the
shoe or leg to help when climbing trees, poles, or the like; also
called "climbing spur".
-
climbing shoe :
-
specialized supportive footwear, typically only ankle-high for
maneuverability, which includes a "sticky" rubber-coating
extending partway up the sides, and features a sole that will not
deform when the climber's full weight is balanced upon the toe or
edge; also called 'climbing boots' and often worn with gaiters.
-
climbing skins / climbing socks :
-
temporary coverings for skis that enable a person to ascend a
snow-covered slope without herringboning or side-stepping;
these tubular strips were originally made of exposed (rough-out)
sheepskin, then later of mohair and textured synthetics, and
variously affixed, including "slip-on tie-down skins" that laced
into place, and "stick-on skins" that pressed on and peeled off.
The textured climbing socks pulled-on over the tail of the skis,
and were held in place by friction. Some modern touring skis
include a "fish scale" pattern to accommodate this need for
gripping or resistance.
-
climbing socks :
-
often worn in doubles to accommodate the need for padding and to
wick perspiration (or other moisture) away by repulsive capillary
action, so as to prevent the climber's feet from freezing; often
a pairing of silk and wool stockings. Also, a pull-on type of
climbing skins (qv) used on skis to enhance their grip while
moving upgrade.
-
climbing technique :
-
particular moves or maneuvers that a climber applies when
ascending or descending (eg: jam or bridge, deadpoint or smear,
crank or crimp); those skillcrafts necessary for safe and
successful climbing; that skillset essential for proficiency.
-
climbing tower :
-
a free-standing, flat-topped, pyramidal climbing structure,
usually erected outdoors, that presents four different Artificial
Climbing Wall (ACW) faces as man-made arrangements of climbing
problems or difficulties, which is used in training students or
challenging competitors.
-
climbing wall :
-
a man-made arrangement of climbing problems or difficulties, as
used in training students or challenging competitors, that
enables the rapid acquisition of confidence and experience with a
minimum of risk and inconvenience. While the first climbing wall
was built at Fort Lewis in 1943 to accelerate the training of the
10th Mountain Division during World War Two, indoor and outdoor
Artificial Climbing Walls (ACW) began to be commercially
developed for specialized training and exercise in 1987. Because
the difficulty of climbing walls can be standardized, they have
been used in Olympic competition since 1991.
-
clinch :
-
fastened or secured together. Also, to hold something fast; to
make an object secure. [cf: clench]
-
-cline :
-
combining form (eg: anticline, decline, eugeosyncline,
geanticline, incline, isocline, monocline, syncline) meaning
slope.
-
clinometer :
-
an instrument used for determining angles of inclination or
measuring the degree of slope. [nb: not 'inclinometer']
-
clipper :
-
a sudden violent storm that originates on the lee side of the
mountains during winter that pushes a fast moving low-pressure
system into the lowlands, often distinguished by a rapid drop in
temperature and gusty winds, with a small amount of snowfall;
it's so-called by association with the fast moving sailing ships
that were made in America during the 19th century.
-
clipping / clipping-in :
-
attaching to a belay line or anchor with a carabiner for
protection.
-
cloud banner :
-
a plume-shaped cloud extending downwind from an isolated mountain
peak; also called "banner cloud".
-
cloud cap :
-
a stationary cloud directly above an isolated mountain peak; also
called "cap cloud".
-
clough :
-
the channel of a steep-sided watercourse that is dry except
during periods of rainfall; a gulch or ravine.
-
clove hitch / clove-hitch :
-
a double-crossover knot that's used for fastening a rope to a
larger rope or to a fixed object (eg: spar), consisting of two
half hitches made in opposite directions with the beginning and
end of the attachment also pointed in opposite directions; also
called "builder's knot".
-
coccolith :
-
a microscopic calcareous disk or ring making up part of the
covering of certain marine plankton and forming much of the
content of chalk and limestone deposits.
-
col :
-
a gap or dip linking two mountains, or the depression between two
high points on the same mountain, which exposed pass, smaller
than a saddle, is used as a pathway.
-
cold camp :
-
a small overnight position, typically primitive, that lacks the
usual amenities, such as hot food and fresh water; such a haven
is also called a "fly camp" or "cold harbor".
-
cold pole :
-
the location having the coldest annual mean temperature, as
situated in either the northern or southern hemisphere; also
called "pole of cold". [nb: Vostok Station in Antarctica,
situated at 11,444ft above sea level, registered a temperature of
-128.6°F on 21 July 1983; by comparison, the lowest
temperature ever recorded at the South Pole is -117.0°F; and
Mount Logan in Canada, at an elevation of 19,685ft above sea
level, recorded a temperature of -107.5°F in May 1991]
-
colossal :
-
that which is extraordinarily great in size, extent, or degree,
as likened to the gigantic bronze statue of Helios, the Colossus
of Rhodes.
-
combe / coomb / coombe :
-
a narrow valley or deep hollow, especially one enclosed on all
but one side.
-
compression molding :
-
the process used to form a patterned outer sole with a supporting
insole and heel counter, together with the vamp and uppers in a
unitary construction that's both rugged and comfortable, as
widely used in athletic shoes and hiking boots featuring various
materials; also called "direct molded sole". [v: injection
molding]
-
continuous climbing :
-
the ascent of a steep wall or face by two or more people who are
connected by a rope in a series of incremental advances that are
shorter than the length of a single rope. [nb: sometimes defined
as the simultaneous movement of all members of a climbing party]
-
contour lines :
-
lines drawn on a topographical map that are used to display
graduated variations in elevation, and other terrain features.
-
contour map :
-
a topographic map on which the shape of the land surface is
illustrated by contour lines, with the relative spacing of the
lines indicating the relative slope of the surface.
-
copperhead :
-
a malleable metal swage (once made of copper, but now usually
aluminum) attached to a flexible wire loop that can be hammered
into small depressions in the rock for protection in aid
climbing.
-
coprolite :
-
a fossil consisting of animal fecal matter; also known as
"alvinolith".
-
cord :
-
a thin rope, light cable, or common string made of several
strands braided, twisted, or woven together.
-
cordage :
-
lines, hawsers, and the like collectively; especially all the
sizes and lengths necessary for rigging a task (expedition) or
object (yacht).
-
cordelette :
-
a long loop of accessory cord that's used to tie into several
anchor points.
-
cordillera :
-
the principal mountain chain of a land mass.
-
Cordura® :
-
proprietary name of a woven nylon fabric that's flexible,
durable, and vapor permeable.
-
Coriolis effect :
-
the deflection of a body in motion with respect to the earth as
caused by the earth's rotation; originally misattributed to a
hypothetical influence ("Coriolis force") by its French
discoverer Gaspard G. Coriolis.
-
corner :
-
an inside angle of rock where converging surfaces intersect;
being a V-shaped or L-shaped indentation that's the inside angled
formation that's opposite of an arete / arête. Also, a
secret or secluded place. Also, an awkward or precarious position
from which escape will be difficult.
-
cornet :
-
a small cone of paper that's been twisted at the end so as to
contain a small quantity of candy, nuts, tobacco, condiments, or
the like; also called 'screw'. Also, a Briticism for an ice-cream
cone. [v: cornucopia; cf: coronet]
-
cornice :
-
any surmounting prominence, as a wind-sculpted snow overhang or
rock protuberance which is potentially unstable, as a projecting
mass overhanging the side of a ridge; derived from 'crown'
(cornix).
-
cornice bench :
-
(forthcoming)
-
corniche :
-
a winding path or contour route cut into the side of a steep hill
or along the face of a coastal cliff; properly called a "route de
corniche" or "route en corniche", as derived from "rock ledge
road". [ety: French loanword]
-
corn snow :
-
Uunconsolidated granular snow that has under gone a short
freeze-and-thaw process. [cf: firn, neve / névé]
-
corona :
-
a circle (or set of concentric circles) of white or colored light
that's visible in the atmosphere and seen around a luminous body
(especially the sun or moon), and is attributable to the
diffraction caused by thin clouds, mist, or even dust. Also, a
hot envelope of diffuse ionized gas that surrounds the sun, and
is most visible during a total solar eclipse.
-
corrie :
-
a naturally rounded hollow in a hillside, such as a cirque or
cwm; a steep bowl-shaped basin occurring at the upper end of a
mountain valley that may contain a lake.
-
cot :
-
a lightweight portable bed, especially one constructed of canvas
on a folding frame. Also, a small cottage or hut; a small place
of shelter. Also, a protective covering or sheath, as for an
injured finger or toe.
-
coulee / coulé :
-
a small valley or deep ravine (gulch) cut by the flow of
intermittent streams.
-
couloir :
-
a large, steep, funnel-like gully that's often an open chute for
falling ice, snow, and loose stones, which is potentially
unstable. [ety: French loanword]
-
counterglow :
-
a faint, elliptical patch of light in the night sky that appears
opposite the sun, being a reflection of sunlight by meteoric
material in space; also known as "gegenschein".
-
country rock :
-
the native rock which surrounds, and is penetrated by, mineral
veins or igneous intrusions.
-
cove :
-
a hollow or recess in a mountain, as a sheltered nook, cave, or
cavern. Also, a narrow pass or sheltered area between woods or
hills.
-
cowboy camping :
-
an allusion to spare and simple minimalism, wherein an overnight
campsite is set open in a field under the stars without the
protection of a tent, bivvy, fly, or natural shelter (eg: bower,
lean-to, bohio, shebang, etc).
-
cowboy coffee :
-
an allusion to the field expedient practice of boiling unfiltered
coffee grounds in potable water, then allowing the floating
granules to settle by moving the pot off the fire, by adding a
small amount of cold water to the top of the brew, or by adding
eggshells to the brew; when the flavor weakens, the old coffee
grounds are not discarded, but new grounds are added to the brew.
-
crab :
-
a sideling maneuver that heads partly into the wind to compensate
for drift. Also, a mechanical contrivance for hoisting or pulling
heavy weights; a truckle.
-
crab-walk :
-
to scurry or scuttle in a semi-prone crouched or hunkered
posture, especially when sideling at an angle.
-
crack :
-
a slight opening or thin break without separation, as a fissure;
a long narrow opening that's also called "crack line". Also,
slang for a chance or opportunity, an attempt or try; also
expressed as 'shot' or 'go', 'fling' or 'whirl'. Also, a sudden
sharp noise.
-
crack climbing :
-
to ascend a rock surface by wedging one's body parts into cracks
and other openings; also called 'jamming' and 'stemming'.
-
crag :
-
any steep or rugged rock, especially the broken or projecting
part of a rough rock; akin to the Welsh term for rock [craig].
Also, informal reference to a small or confined climbing area,
being one offering only a few routes on a single cliff, or a
scattering of only a few boulders.
-
cramp / cramped :
-
a sudden and painful hyperflexion of a muscle (or set of muscles)
that's caused by exhaustion, dehydration, hypoxia, or electrolyte
imbalance (low sodium, potassium, magnesium, or calcium) ... as
distinct from a physiological reaction to a disease state ...
which involuntary contraction incapacitates the affected
muscle(s) for seconds or minutes or hours without permanent
damage or impairment, and may only be ameliorated by
counterflexion and relief of the causative.
-
crampon / crampoon :
-
spikes or cleats fixed to a frame or plate that's attached by
straps to the climber's boot to improve traction and to prevent
slippage on ice and crusted snow; also called "creeper" or "ice
creeper" ... some versions include a pair of spikes protruding
beyond the toe of the climber's boot for use on vertical ice.
[ety: French loanword derived from 'hook']
-
crank :
-
slang for pulling on a hanger or hold as hard as possible. Also,
slang for expending total or maximum effort on an endeavor.
-
cranny :
-
a small narrow opening in a rock or rock wall; a chink, crevice,
or fissure; as derived from notch or groove. Also, an obscure
corner or nook; any small out-of-the-way place.
-
crash pad :
-
any thick mat that's used to soften landings or to cover harmful
objects in the event of a fall; also known as a "bouldering mat"
and as tumbling or exercise mats. Also, older slang for a spare
room that's used exclusively for sleeping, before or after a
climb.
-
crater :
-
a cup-shaped depression with a raised rim that was formed by the
impact of a meteoroid on the surface, or that marks the orifice
of a volcano; as derived from "mixing bowl" [krater]. Also, slang
for a climber impacting the ground at the end of a fall, instead
of being caught by the safety rope.
-
creep :
-
the gradual downhill movement of loose soil and gravel from the
slow deformation of solid rock, resulting from constant stress
applied over long periods; properly known as "solifluction".
Also, the gradual but permanent deformation of a body produced by
a continued application of heat or stress. Also, slang for a
grappling iron or grapnel. Also, to slowly crawl, as on hands and
knees, close to the ground.
-
creepers :
-
informal referent for crampons, being spikes or cleats fixed to a
frame or plate that's attached to the climber's boots to prevent
slippage on ice and crusted snow; also called "ice creepers".
-
crest :
-
the highest part of a hill or mountain range; the head or summit.
Also, the highest point or level, as the climax or culmination.
-
crest cloud :
-
a stationary cloud parallel to and near the top of a mountain
ridge.
-
crestline :
-
a ridge or ridge-like formation constituting the highest part of
a hill or mountain range.
-
Cretaceous :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Mesozoic Era,
from 140 million to 65 million years ago, characterized by the
greatest development and subsequent extinction of dinosaurs and
the advent of flowering plants and modern insects.
-
crevasse :
-
a fissure, or other deep cleft, in glacial ice or the earth's
surface, that's caused by geologic tension or shifting.
-
crevice :
-
a crack forming an opening, as a cleft, rift, or fissure.
-
crimp / crimper :
-
a small but positive hold on a rock, with very little surface
area; a negligible "finger-hold" or 'nub'.
-
cross-country :
-
narrow and lightweight Nordic (X-C) skis with toe-trap or cable
bindings that are used when touring.
-
crown :
-
the top or highest part (of anything); crest or summit, vertex or
apex. Also, the distinction that comes from a great achievement;
an exalting or chief attribute. Also, the highest or most nearly
perfect state of anything; the acme or supreme source of
something. Also, a knot made by interweaving the strands at the
end of a rope, often made as the beginning of a back splice or as
the first stage in tying a more elaborate knot.
-
crud :
-
slang for wet heavy snow that clumps into dense irregular
patches; a condition that inhibits and protracts movement across
its surface.
-
crumple :
-
a collapse that creates a mash or crush of materials that
contract into irregular folds or into a compact mass.
-
crux :
-
the essential part or pivotal point of a difficulty, which may be
a single move or a particular pitch; the most challenging portion
of a climb.
-
Crystal Mountain :
-
first reported in the 1880s as being situated in North Dakota,
the existence of this invisible pile was inferred from the
redoubtable mass of dead creatures accumulated around its base;
in addition to its propensity to knock birds out of their flight
in the sky, it tends to create echoes where none should exist,
and to present distorted reflections from seemingly distant
mirages. Pitons and crampons will not bite into this impervious
lump, and snow only mocks its distortions. Every attempt to scale
its heights has met with failure, often lamentable or
disasterous. Geological surveyors have been unable to map it, and
the aviation authority has dealt with this anomalous condition by
posting a 'no fly zone' prohibition, explaining that "Nobody goes
there anyway, and there's nothing to see, so it's no bother to
anyone or anything! After all, this hazard could be higher than
Mount Everest ... we really don't want to find out the hard way!"
-
Cubco® binding :
-
a heel-and-toe downhill (Alpine) ski binding that nested a toe
insert at the front and a couple of small metal heel clips
screwed into the back of the ski boot that were fixed in place by
a tension lever that would release under the torque from a fall;
introduced in 1950, this arrangement was imitated by others
("Rotomat" by Marker, "Grand Prix" by Look, etc) from 1966
onwards.
-
Cuben Fiber® :
-
proprietary name of a high-performance fabric that's used as an
ultralight material for some bags and tents; also known as
Dyneema.
-
cuckold's knot :
-
a temporary hitch that consists of a single loop with the
overlapping parts of the rope seized together; also called
"cuckold's neck", "ring seizing", or "throat seizing"; so called
because the noose so made is insecure.
-
cul-de-sac :
-
any opening that terminates in a dead-end, or any entrance
without an exit; as derived from "bottom of the sack" [v: blind
alley; cf: fundus]. Also, any situation in which further progress
is impossible.
-
cup :
-
any cup-like utensil, organ, part, cavity, or the like; such as
either of the two forms that cover and usually support the
breasts in a brassiere or similar garment (eg: bathing suit), or
a concave plastic or metal shield used to reinforce an athletic
supporter (ie: jockstrap).
-
Curie's law :
-
the law that the susceptibility of a paramagnetic substance is
inversely proportional to its absolute temperature; named after
Pierre Curie.
-
cut :
-
a passage or route, often lateral, as in "cut across" or "cut
over".
-
cut a corner / cut the corner :
-
to cross the space formed by the convergent intersection of two
angled surfaces so as to use a shorter route. Also, metaphoric
usage for reducing careand concern, or other real costs in
execution.
-
cut-loose :
-
where a climber's feet swing away from the rock on overhanging
terrain, leaving the climber hanging by only his hands; also
known as "cutting feet".
-
cwm :
-
a steep draw or declivity/acclivity, as a combe or cirque. This
Welsh term for 'high valley' was introduced to mountaineering by
George H.L. Mallory, the British alpinist who died in 1924 on
Mount Everest.
-
cycle shorts :
-
see bike shorts.
-
dab :
-
to throw a rope or line so as to make a connection; lasso.
-
daisy chain :
-
a specialized type of sling having multiple sewn or tied loops
for attaching equipment; it's significantly weaker than a normal
sling. [v: progressive failure]
-
Dakota fire hole / Dakota fire pit :
-
an ancient technique for building an efficient campfire that
conserves fuel while reducing cooking time, which is also readily
concealable; sometimes called an "outlaw's oven" or "hobo
skillet", "sunken campfire" or "smokeless fire pit", this
subterranean fire hole can serve a temporary primitive need or be
used over a protracted bivouac throughout any weather or season.
This fire pit consists of a straight-sided (or bell-shaped) hole
(about 8"-18" area) dug in compact soil (without rocks or roots;
not loose or wet dirt) with a sloping ventilation tunnel (on the
windward side) connecting the base of the pit to the surface;
burning a fire at the bottom of the hole will create a weak
vacuum, drawing more fresh air through the sloping vent tunnel,
which convection feedback cycle quickly creates an extremely hot
fire that's useful for warmth or cooking. The higher temperature
fire generated by this air intake system burns less fuel, boils
water faster, and cooks food more effectively; the opening at the
top may be overlaid with green sticks or a gridiron, or partially
occluded by a flat rock to serve as a stove top or "hobo
skillet". This fire pit will produce very little visible smoke
and flame, and being below ground level, the flames are protected
from blowing rain or snow, and gusty winds will actually enhance
the campfire.
-
dale :
-
a valley, especially a broad valley.
-
dally :
-
to bind by friction, as to tether or belay the trailing end of a
rope or line by loops or hitches; from "give it a turn" (Spanish:
("dale vuelt"). Also, to waste time, or to act playfully.
-
Dalton's law :
-
the scientific principle that the total pressure exerted by a
mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of
the gases of the mixture; this relationship is named after John
Dalton, who first devised it, and is also called "Dalton's law of
partial pressures".
-
Day-Glo® :
-
a trademarked name of pigments and other products that fluoresce
in daylight.
-
dayglow :
-
airglow observed during the day.
-
day-tripper :
-
someone who goes on an outing or excursion lasting all or most of
a day; also known as a "day hiker", "townie", or "tourist" ...
scorned as superficial by aficionados.
-
day off / day-off :
-
an unscheduled period of time; a period for rest and relaxation,
for attending to personal affairs and private business; a block
or interval when someone is not assigned to perform a duty or
accomplish a task, is not obligated to serve an assignment, is
not required to work or labor.
-
deadeye :
-
a two-holed disk rove with line or lanyard, used for tightening
or cinching attachments.
-
dead hang :
-
to hang limp, such that one's body weight is held by
ligament tension of the skeleton, rather than by one's muscles.
-
deadman / deadman anchor :
-
an object (eg: snow fluke, ice screw, picket, etc) buried in snow
to serve as an anchor for an attached rope; so-called because it
doesn't require the judgment of a belayer.
-
deadpoint :
-
the precise moment of equilibrium wherein the opposing dynamic
forces are momentarily balanced and the elements are at rest; the
stillpoint when energy or torque can be transferred without
compensation or adjustment. Also, a dynamic climbing technique
wherein the handhold is grasped at the apex (apogee) of upward
motion, which practice places the least stress on the hold and
minimal strain on the arms.
-
dead zone :
-
that region, both above and below sea level, where existence
cannot naturally persist nor be temporarily sustained without
supplementary life-support or augmentation.
-
death cloth :
-
informal reference by rescuers to all cotton clothing worn in
challenging or changeable outdoor situations, since cotton fabric
(which is comfortable and absorbent) does not wick moisture away
from the wearer's body, nor protect the wearer from wind, so
contributes to the onset of hypothermia.
-
death of a thousand cuts :
-
this catch-phrase refers to a traditional method of execution in
China, wherein a slow or lingering death of the condemned is
caused by the torturous infliction of many small wounds, none
lethal in itself, but fatal in their cumulative effect; also
expressed as "death by a thousand cuts" or "slow slicing", from a
classical allusion to the slow ascent of a mountain.
-
debouch :
-
to emerge from a relatively narrow valley upon an open plain, or
to flow from a small valley into a larger one; as derived from
'mouth'.
-
debris / débris :
-
accumulated loose fragments of rock; as derived from "break up
into pieces". Also, the remains of anything that has been
destroyed; rubble or ruins. [ety: French loanword]
-
deck :
-
the floor or surface of the ground. Also, slang for a climber
impacting the ground at the end of a fall.
-
decline :
-
a dropping angle or sinking slope, as a downward incline, or a
declivity.
-
declivity :
-
a downward slope of ground, as a descent.
-
deep play :
-
a catch-phrase for recreational activity that does not benefit or
reward the participant with advancement or profit or fame,
offering only excitement and enlightenment, since "fun does not
have to be fun"; exemplifies the proposition that "the way to
heaven is through hell", and sometimes sardonically expressed as
"Are we having 'fun' yet?!" Like adventure, it must be
experienced to be appreciated.
-
deep water solo :
-
a free climb on a bluff or headland with enough water under the
overhang to permit a safe fall.
-
DEET :
-
diethyltoluamide ingredient of the most effective insect
repellents.
-
defile :
-
a narrow passage, as between mountains.
-
Delectable Mountains :
-
situated within 'Emmanuel's Land' in John Bunyan's allegorical
The Pilgrim's Progress, from this World to that Which is to
Come (1678-84) being the place from where the Celestial City
may be sighted.
-
deliquesce :
-
to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air. Also, to
melt away.
-
dell :
-
a small valley, usually wooded.
-
Delrin® :
-
brand name of a hard, lightweight, and inflexible polymer that
was synthesized from formaldehyde by DuPont in 1952; initially
known as "synthetic stone", this material is used in
manufacturing cable spools, light housings, belt buckles, knife
handles, and the like.
-
Denali :
-
see Mount McKinley.
-
dene :
-
a sandy tract or low hill.
-
denouement :
-
the resolution of a situation, or the result of a doubtful series
of occurrences; derived from "to untie the knot".
-
descend :
-
to move or pass from a higher to a lower place, as to go or come
down. Also, to slope, sink, extend, or lead downward. [nb:
descending is statistically more dangerous than ascending]
-
descender / de'scendeur :
-
a hardware device that's specifically designed for and used when
descending a rope; purportedly stronger, safer, and simpler than
a carabiner, a descender typically has an aperture for attachment
to the climber's harness (to gear bag or litter) and an aperture
(or several) for interlacing the rope, providing resistance for
the delay in descent ... the configuration of some resembles the
numeral '8' (with a smaller and larger hole), so is called a
"figure-8 descender". [ety: French loanword] [nb: because the
figure of eight, from an outline of the numeral '8', can be
endlessly traced as a running motif without a break, it has been
historically adopted as the symbol for infinity (∞) in
mathematics and physics, astronomy and philosophy]
-
descent :
-
a downward inclination or slope; declivity.
-
detritus :
-
(forthcoming)
-
Devonian :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era,
405 million to 345 million years ago, characterized by the
dominance of fishes and the advent of amphibians and ammonites.
-
dew point :
-
the temperature at which dew begins to form; being the
temperature to which air must cool, at a given pressure and
water-vapor content, for it to reach condensing saturation.
-
dhal bhaat tarkaari :
-
a traditional Nepali meal of lentil soup (dhal), cooked rice
(bhaat), and mixed vegetables (tarkaari).
-
dial :
-
a plate or disk containing graduated markings, indicators, or
figures, which registers some fractional number or measurement by
means of a pointer. Also, a rotatable plate, disk, or knob used
for regulating a mechanism, setting a calibration, tuning a
frequency, or switching connections.
-
dialed / dialed-in :
-
slang for being very aware and fully informed about a course of
action or a route of approach; for having a complete
understanding of a particular problem or route, move or
technique.
-
diamond ring effect :
-
a celestial phenomenon, sometimes observed immediately before and
after a total eclipse of the sun, in which one of Baily's beads
is much brighter than the others, as if the ring around the moon
was setoff by a diamond solitaire.
-
Diamox® :
-
a diuretic, anti-epileptic agent, and carbonic anhydrase
inhibitor serving to suppress the onset of altitude sickness;
also known as Acetazolamide.
-
diapir :
-
a dome, or anticline, the upper regions of which have been
ruptured and penetrated by material squeezed up from below, such
as a plume or salt dome. [ety: French loanword derived from
'pierce']
-
diedre / dièdre :
-
an open, wide-angled, V-shaped corner with more than a ninety
degree angle between the rock faces. [ety: French loanword]
-
dihedral angle / dihedron :
-
an indentation formed by two intersecting planes, being the
inside corner of a wide-angled formation that's opposite of an
arete / arête; also called 'open book'.
-
dike / dyke :
-
a long, narrow, cross-cutting mass of igneous rock intruded into
a fissure in older rock. Also, a similar mass of rock composed of
other kinds of material, as sandstone. Also, an embankment,
barrier, or other obstacle, especially one made from excavated
material; as derived from 'ditch'.
-
dingleberry :
-
a gear bag or equipment pack that's attached by a tether or guy
from the harness; also called "dangleberry" or "dillberry".
Originated as field gear or operational equipment suspended from
a paratrooper's harness after the canopy has properly deployed;
later adopted by climbers incrementally hauling gear behind their
advance.
-
dip :
-
the downward angle of strata that results from geological forces.
-
direct aid :
-
a tension climbing technique that uses one or more belay ropes to
assist the climber up to the next point of protection.
-
dirt bag :
-
see climbing bum.
-
dog :
-
any of various mechanical devices, as for gripping or holding
something. Also, a projection on a moving part for steadily
advancing the motion, or for tripping another part with which it
engages.
-
dogbone :
-
see quickdraw.
-
dog it / dogging it :
-
slang for perfunctory, indolent, negligent, careless, or remiss.
[v: go to the dogs; cf: put on the dog]
-
dogs / doggies :
-
slang for feet.
-
dome :
-
a mountain peak having a rounded summit. Also, a large-scale
circular structural feature, or one with a hemispheric vault,
with flanks that gradually slope away from the center; an arched
hollow in the roof of a cave that's often formed by a breakdown
of mechanically weak rocks.
-
dope slope :
-
rhyming slang for the short slight hill where beginners are
taught how to move on skis; also called "bunny slope", "nursery
slope", and "idiot's slope" [idiotenhang (German)]. [nb: a
beginner's slope usually has an extensive flat 'run out' area at
its base since the first lesson is learning to balance while
standing upright and walking, whether on Alpine (downhill) or
Nordic (X-C) skis]
-
double bind :
-
the tying of a secondary knot in order to reinforce the primary
knot, as an overhand below a bowline, or half-hitches on either
side of a reef knot. Also, an inherent contradiction or dilemma,
especially when one obedience would entail another disobedience.
-
double blaze / double-blaze :
-
a pair of distinctive marks, aligned vertically, used to signal
an upcoming sharp turn in the trail to be followed.
-
double-dipsies / double-doodles :
-
rhyming slang for fooling around on a ski slope, especially when
performing a sequence of short, high-speed, parallel turns along
the fall line while Alpine (downhill) skiing; perhaps derived
from "doodlefool", "-fooler", "-fooling", or "-foolishness".
-
double fisherman's bend / double fisherman's knot :
-
a very secure knot that can be used to bend two similar pieces of
rope or webbing; also known as a "grapevine knot", it is prone to
jamming with heavy loads and can be difficult to remove. With
three turns on each overhand, it is called a "triple fisherman's
bend" or 'barrel knot' (qv), which is as strong as the rope and
is the only bend that should be used with synthetics (eg:
Spectra). The double or triple fisherman's bend is often used to
bend two lengths of rope that will be used for a continuous
rappel.
-
double hitch :
-
a Blackwall hitch with an extra upper loop passed around the
hook.
-
double rope / double ropes :
-
the technique of using two half ropes (qv).
-
down climb / downclimb :
-
to descend by climbing, instead of rappelling, after attaining
the top, apex, or summit.
-
dragrope :
-
a rope that's been attached to something and is then used to tow,
drag, haul, or hoist it. Also, the end of a rope that's hanging
loose or trailing behind its point of attachment; a trailing-end.
-
draw :
-
a small natural drainageway with a pitched shallow bed and
sloping sides; being a distinctive topographic terrain feature,
such as a gully, coulee, or ravine; this term purportedly derives
from its function: to draw water down the slope.
-
drift :
-
a heap of matter or material that's been driven or forced
together. Also, loose material, such as sand or gravel, that's
transported and deposited by glacial ice or meltwater. Also, an
approximately horizontal underground passageway (gallery).
-
driphole :
-
a hole in the floor of a cave that was formed by dripping water.
-
dripline :
-
a line on the ground at the entrance of a cave that's formed by
water dripping from the overhead rock; this dripline demarcates
the beginning of a cave in a defined survey.
-
drip spring :
-
see seep / seepage.
-
dripstone :
-
the general term for a secondary mineral deposit formed from
dripping water, as in a cave.
-
dromedary bag :
-
a large capacity water container that's portable, flexible, and
collapsible.
-
droxtal :
-
a tiny ice particle, formed by direct freezing of supercooled
water droplets with little growth directly from the vapor,
causing most of the visibility reduction in ice fog; the term
derives from a combination of the words drop and crystal.
-
drum :
-
a long narrow hill or ridge.
-
drumlin :
-
a long smoothly rounded hill, narrow or oval, composed of
underlying unconsolidated till or unstratified glacial drift;
introduced to the lexicon in 1833 as derived from Gaelic for
"littlest ridge or mound" (droimnín). An extended, oval
hill or ridge, longer than wide with one steep and one gentle
slope, that's composed of compacted sediment deposited and shaped
by glacial drift in the direction of encroachment.
-
dry freeze :
-
the occurrence of freezing temperatures without the formation of
hoarfrost.
-
dry sack / dry bag :
-
a 'bivy' or 'stuff-sack' (qqv).
-
dry tooling :
-
the use of ice tools when ascending an elevation containing
sections of both bare rock and ice or snow; the use of assistive
tools, such as crampons and ice axes, when ice climbing on both
snow and rock.
-
DTED :
-
Digital Terrain Elevation Data; a survey catalogue generated by
the SRTM mission, and made available to the public from the
USGS's National Center for Earth Resources Observation and
Science (EROS).
-
duckbill :
-
a ski boot sole extension using lightweight and flexible 50mm
plastic in one or another version of clamped toe pin binding
(often with the bale notched for either 7mm or 11mm) on Nordic
(cross-country) skis. [v: skate ski racing]
-
duck-walk :
-
to walk like a duck, as to scurry, scuttle, or waddle when
squatting with legs apart and feet turned outward, which posture
and gait is quite appropriate for maintaining one's balance
during some low-profile movements.
-
dulfersitz :
-
see abseil. [ety: German loanword / lehnwort]
-
Duluth pack :
-
a portage pack that rides low, so as to not interfere with canoe
carrying, and often includes a chest- or waist-belt and tumpline.
-
dune :
-
a sand hill or sand ridge formed by the wind, usually in desert
or beach regions.
-
dunnage :
-
baggage or personal effects.
-
dust devil :
-
a small whirlwind made visible by the dust and debris it picks up
while advancing, being common in dry regions and around
windbreaks; also called "willy-willy".
-
dust well :
-
a hollow in the surface of a glacier, formed by the melting
action of dust or soil deposits.
-
duvet :
-
a down-filled quilt or comforter, often with a removable cover.
Also, a padded, down-filled jacket. [ety: French loanword]
-
Dynamic® :
-
proprietary name of a high tech fabric developed by Schoeller
that is hard wearing, elastic, and breathable; composed of
Cordura, Lycra, and plyamide.
-
dynamic belay :
-
a method of stopping a long fall by using smooth braking to
reduce stress on the protection points and avoiding unnecessary
trauma from a too abrupt halt.
-
dynamic motion :
-
any rapid climbing technique wherein bodily momentum is used to
advance along the line of ascent ... as opposed to static
climbing, a technique wherein three-point suspension and slow but
steady controlled movement is the rule.
-
dynamic rope :
-
designed with elastic properties for shock-absorbency, which
lessens impact on both anchors and climbers; especially used by
lead climbers, as opposed to static rope.
-
dyno :
-
an aggressively dynamic move wherein the climber launches himself
so as to grab a handhold that would otherwise be out of reach,
such that both feet will briefly leave the rock face until after
the hold is caught; the uninitiated call this maneuver a "jump"
or "leap".
-
earthshine :
-
the faint illumination of the part of the moon that is not
illuminated by sunlight, as during a crescent phase, which is
caused by the reflection of light from the earth.
-
easy :
-
gradual; not steep or severe. Also, not forced or hurried, not
burdensome or difficult; moderate, comfortable, or easygoing.
-
edelweiss :
-
(leontopodium alpinum) a small composite plant having white
flowers and woolly leaves that grows in the high altitudes of the
Alps; often used as a symbol of mountaineering. Also, a liqueur
made in Italy that's flavored with extracts from alpine flowers;
term derives from "noble white".
-
edge :
-
the border or margin along which a surface terminates; a
delimiting rim, brink, or verge. Also, a thin rock ledge. Also,
to gradually or cautiously make one's way by moving sideways.
Also, a small margin of advantage, gained or acquired.
-
edging :
-
wedging the sole of a climbing shoe or boot onto a foothold,
especially for sideways advancement ... in the absence of a crack
or edge, smearing with the side of the climbing shoe or boot.
-
eggbeater / can-up :
-
slang for any hard or bad fall on skis, especially when the skier
tumbles or pinwheels out of control.
-
Egyptian :
-
a technique that reduces arm tension while holding a side grip.
-
eight-thousander :
-
any mountain with an elevation at or above 8,000 meters above sea
level, comprising fourteen such worldwide.
-
elevation :
-
the height to which something rises; its altitude above sea level
or ground level.
[nb: Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii, has a base-to-summit
height of 33,480 feet, but because its base is on the floor of
the Pacific Ocean, its height above sea level is only 13,784
feet; by comparison, Mount Everest, on the Tibetan plateau in the
Himalayas, far above sea level, has a base-to-summit height of
29,028 feet, and is rated as the highest mountain in the world]
-
eliminate :
-
the imposition of artificial restrictions, out-of-bound routes,
or prohibited holds and/or moves that are intended to increase
the difficulty and the challenge of bouldering.
-
eluvium :
-
a deposit of soil, dust, or the like that's formed from the
decomposition of rock, and is found in its place of origin. [cf:
alluvium]
-
embouchure :
-
the opening out of a valley into a plain. Also, the mouth of a
river.
-
eminence :
-
a projecting height or elevation.
-
enchainment :
-
the combination of two or more difficult routes that are strung
together as a singular enterprise; the conjunction of two or more
descents, often accelerated, as by glissading, skiing, or
paragliding to the base.
-
enormous :
-
that which greatly exceeds the common size, amount, extent,
magnitude, or degree;being beyond normal standards.
-
Eocene :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic epoch of the Tertiary Period
in the Cenozoic Era, occurring from 55 million to 40 million
years ago, characterized by the advent of the modern mammalian
orders.
-
eolith :
-
a chipped stone of the late Tertiary Period in the Cenozoic Era
that was once thought to have been flaked by humans but is now
known to be the product of natural agencies.
-
epic :
-
an ordinary climb rendered more difficult by the addition of
complicating or compounding factors, such as darkness, adverse
weather, climber injury or incapacity, equipment loss or failure,
and so forth; such adversity turns a challenge into a feat.
-
equipment weenie :
-
anyone more obsessed with the technical tackle and artful
accouterments of climbing than with the act or artistry of
climbing, as in form over function, often an overloaded novice
who seeks engineering solutions for the natural challenges to his
inexperience ... what should be an epic story of adventure
becomes instead a romance between a climber and his tools; also
called a "gearhead", "hardware junkie", or "tool freak".
-
erode / erosion :
-
the process (gnawing or eating away) by which the surface of the
earth is worn away by the action of winds, water, ice, agitation,
and other natural forces, with the remnant or residue deposited
downwind, downstream, or down slope.
-
erratic :
-
something, such as a boulder, that has been carried by glacial
ice and deposited some distance from its place of origin.
-
escalade :
-
to mount or surmount, pass or enter by means of ladders; as a
scaling by ladders, especially an assault on a fortification.
-
escarpment :
-
a long precipitous ridge of land or rock, commonly formed by the
faulting or fracturing of the crust; also called "scarp".
-
esker :
-
a serpentine ridge of gravelly and sandy drift, believed to have
been formed by streams running under or within glacial ice; as
derived from 'ridge of mountains' (Irish: "eiscir"), and commonly
called a "horseback".
-
etrier / étrier :
-
originally a series of loops (sometimes held open by aluminum or
wooden rungs) that're tied about eight to ten inches apart on a
climbing rope secured to an anchor, which are used as artificial
footholds when ascending a seamless rock face; later, a heavily
stitched webbing that lines up several triangular stirrups along
its length for climbing advancement without the availability of
natural holds on a featureless rock face ... sometimes called
'aider' or "sling stepladder", and used instead of an ascender
with sling. [ety: French loanword]
-
eugeosyncline :
-
a former marine zone, bordering an ocean basin, marked by very
thick deposits of sediment in which the products of volcanic
activity are associated with clastic sediments; also
eugeosynclinal.
-
EVA :
-
Ethyl Vinyl Acetate, which is often used to manufacture footwear
midsoles; see compression molding. [v: injection molding]
-
excursion :
-
a short trip or outing to some place, usually with the intention
of a prompt return. Also, a deviation or digression, as from a
planned journey. Also, a sally or raid; as derived from sortie.
-
expansion bolt :
-
a fastening screw with an untapered shaft that mechanically
expands within an unthreaded hole so as to increase its
resistance, which enhanced friction enables it to bear an
increased load as an anchor. [cf: molly bolt, toggle bolt]
-
expedition :
-
a journey made for a specific purpose; as derived from expedite.
-
exposed climb :
-
a climb from which a fall would be very dangerous, if not fatal.
-
exposure :
-
empty space below a climber, usually referring to a great
distance above the deck through which the climber could fall.
-
eXpyralon® :
-
proprietary name of a static kernmantle rope made of extruded
synthetic-fiber that has been calculated by the manufacturer
(Oops, LLC) to deteriorate after an elapsed period, then
disintegrating into ecologically safe debris; each bundle of rope
is clearly marked with its expiration date, and a warning about
using outdated rope on excursions or expeditions.
-
extender :
-
see quickdraw.
-
extremophile :
-
a primitive microorganism that can exist at both sub-zero and
boiling temperatures, in either acid or alkaline mineral salts,
and still viable after more than ten atmospheres of pressure,
some of which feed on and others of which convert their rock
habitats.
-
eye :
-
a noose or loop at the end of a ROPE or LINE, often woven or
"eye-spliced" and whipped for strength as a permanent feature, in
a towline, prolonge-knot join, or other toggle linkage. Also used
to form a stirrup-line. A knotted eye may be formed, by bowline
or other non-slipping knot, as an improvised sling or stirrup.
-
eye of the storm :
-
an opening in storm clouds that's relatively calm, especially an
area of low pressure in the centre of a tornado.
-
eye of the wind :
-
the direction from which the wind is blowing, being an expression
adopted from nautical parlance.
-
eye splice :
-
a loop made in a rope by turning back one end upon itself and
interweaving (splicing) its strands into the main body of the
rope; often finished with a binding overhand whip.
-
face :
-
a sheer unbroken vertical front, such as a big wall or cliff.
-
face climbing :
-
the ascent of a featureless vertical rock face using
finger-hold pockets, thin edging, and smears ... not crack
climbing.
-
fairlead :
-
a rigging guide or fitting for pulley, thimble, block, or capstan
which prevents chafing of the sheet or line.
-
fairy mound :
-
the mythical dwelling place of supernatural entities; a mound or
hill [sídh] inhabited by a race of preternatural beings.
-
fairy stone :
-
a fossil or other oddly shaped stone or crystal, including a
stone arrowhead. Also, a megalith or other stone monument of
ancient origin.
-
fall :
-
the part of the rope of a tackle to which the power is applied in
hoisting. Also, to drop unexpectedly or to descend
uncontrollably, without check or restraint, as by the force of
gravity. Also, that which collapses or topples, subsides or
abates, succumbs or forsakes.
-
fall factor :
-
the length of the fall divided by the amount of rope paid out.
-
fall line :
-
the natural path of descent on a slope, requiring the greatest
resistance for ascent; the course of optimal transition across or
between slopes. Also, the natural division between upland and
lowland, as from plateau to plain; being derived from the line
separating falling water (portage) from smooth water (navigable).
-
false summit :
-
a misreading of the terrain, wherein one feature is mistaken for
another; a misapprehension of the top of a mountain and the
conclusion of the climb, as by a too anxious anticipation.
-
fanny pack :
-
originating as a belt with pouches that was used to hold small
medical items, but was later developed into a zippered envelope
that was belted around the waist with snap hooks, and then was
expanded into a compact kidney or hip pack designed to carry
rescue and survival supplies, initially by EMT-trained
professional Ski Patrolmen, and subsequently by any outdoorsman
who "needs" more creature comforts than can be jammed into his
too many cargo pockets ... sometimes worn in lieu of a day pack
on short treks, for toting possibles and necessities while
canoeing, or when carrying self-defense items while jogging. Made
of various materials (eg: canvas, nylon, leather, etc) in a
variety of sizes, it's suitable for climbers who do not want to
wear a hardware sling or trail a baggage retrieval line. [aka:
bum bag / bum-bag (by Brits, Aussies, and Kiwis)]
-
fast :
-
held firmly, or firmly fixed in place; secure, closed, taut.
Also, permanent, lasting, resistant, or unchangeable. Also,
loyal, devoted, adherent.
-
fast ice :
-
ice that is grounded on or attached to the bottom of an area
covered by shallow water.
-
fault :
-
a break in the continuity of a vein or a fracture in the body of
rock, with displacement or dislocation of one element relative to
another along the plane of the fracture ("fault plane"). Also, a
defect, flaw, or imperfection.
-
fault cave :
-
an opening that's developed along a faulted rock fracture, by
preferential dissolution, and may have been augmented by abrasion
from solid particles transported in water.
-
fault line :
-
the intersection of a geologic fault with some plane of
reference, such as the surface of the earth.
-
FecoFile® :
-
(fee-ko-fyl) proprietary name of a capped section of polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) tubing that's designed to provide airtight and
watertight storage for human waste, as used during multi-day "big
wall" ascents and descents.
-
Ferrel's law :
-
the law that wind is deflected to the right in the northern
hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere, as derived
from the application of the Coriolis effect to air masses; named
after the American meteorologist W. Ferrel.
-
fid :
-
a long, smooth, tapered, wooden tool used to open the strands of
a rope or line for splicing.
-
field jacket :
-
a thigh-length lightweight coat or jacket with four cargo
pockets and a removable insulating liner that was introduced
during WWII as a practical alternative to the bulky overcoat or
greatcoat; it has been re-styled several times since its
inception (collar, epaulets, gussets, closures, etc), and is now
waterproof ... widely available as inexpensive surplus. [nb: not
to be confused with the battle jacket (Ike jacket) or bomber
jacket, the military-issue fatigue jacket or paramilitary bush /
safari jacket]
-
fifi hook :
-
(fee-fee hook) an attachment that's always secured to the front
of a novice's harness for either temporary or emergency clipping
into a piece of gear; this ready link builds confidence in an
inexperienced climber.
-
figure-eight / figure-8 :
-
a knot tied on a bight or on a bend in the shape of the numeral
'8', which is used to weight the trailing end of a rope, to
secure the rope to the harness, or to act as a stop at any point
along the length of the rope; sometimes called "savoy knot" or
"Flemish knot". Also, the most common shape for a descending
device (with a smaller and larger hole); usually called a
"figure-8 descender". [nb: because the figure of eight, from an
outline of the numeral '8', can be endlessly traced as a running
motif without a break, it has been historically adopted as the
symbol for infinity (∞) in mathematics and physics,
astronomy and philosophy]
-
figure-8 descender :
-
see figure-eight, descender.
-
figure four / figure-four :
-
metonymic allusion to an advanced climbing technique requiring
strength, agility, and a solid handhold, wherein the climber
hooks a leg over the opposite arm, then pushes down with that leg
to attain a greater vertical reach; considered preferable to a
dyno, and most useful on vertical or overhanging routes, it's
increasingly used on ice walls where ice climbers put a leg over
their embedded ice axe.
-
fingerboard / finger board :
-
a training aid used for strengthening a climber's hands, wrists,
forearms, and shoulders; a large piece of wood with individual
strips of wood attached as used by experienced climbers to
increase strength in their fingers by doing exercises without the
use of their legs or feet. [nb: potentially harmful to finger
tendons and ligaments if tried when not warmed up]
-
finger-hold / fingertip-hold :
-
a small but positive hold on a rock, with very little surface
area; a 'crimp' or 'nub'.
-
fingerlock :
-
a technique in crack climbing wherein the climber's fingers are
wedged (often painfully) into a small pocket or onto a thin edge
as a secure purchase on the rock.
-
firn / firn snow :
-
old snow, which by compact granulation, changes into ice;
literally 'before', meaning last year's.
-
firnification :
-
the process by which old snow changes into neve /
névé, or granular snow that's compacted into
glacial ice.
-
first ascent :
-
a climber's first successful completion of a route.
-
fish dance :
-
slang for the ludicrous antics or fantastic gyrations that are
performed in a vain attempt to regain composure after a climber
slips, stumbles, or falls off his perch.
-
fisherman's bend / fisherman's knot :
-
see double fisherman's bend, barrel knot, blood knot, triple
fisherman's bend, or grapevine knot.
-
fissile :
-
capable of being split, cleaved, or divided.
-
fissure :
-
a narrow opening produced by cleavage or separation.
-
fissure cave :
-
an opening that's developed along a narrow vertical cleft from
the splitting of rock under tension, solution or erosion.
-
fist jam :
-
wedging a hand (often painfully) into a crack or fissure.
-
five-fingered discount :
-
slang for theft or thievery; see camp robber.
-
fixed belay :
-
; as opposed to 'running belay'.
-
fixed pro :
-
protective aids or hardware (eg: bolt, nut, cam, piton, etc)
that's left permanently embedded in the rock. [nb: the rule of
thumb on protection is: if you didn't install it, then don't
trust it!]
-
fixed rope :
-
a climbing rope secured to a steep slope or cliff face by natural
or artificial anchors that's used as a hand or guideline to aid
climbers and trekkers while ascending or descending ... most
often used when a group is shuttling gear up or down the route.
-
flagging :
-
the practice of extending a limb so as to maintain one's balance,
instead of supporting some portion of one's bodily weight; often
useful to forestall barn-dooring.
-
flail :
-
to climb awkwardly, ineptly, or without composure; to make clumsy
or uncoordinated moves, especially as a result of fear or panic.
-
flake :
-
a stratum or layer of rock. Also, any small piece or mass,
especially a small, flat, thin piece that has become detached
from a larger piece or mass; a thin slab of rock detached from
the main face.
-
flamed / flamed-out :
-
slang for totally exhausted or utterly finished, as without any
reserves; cooked or burned-out / burnt-out. [v: wrecked]
-
flapper :
-
slang for a loose piece of skin, which is usually field-repaired
by applying adhesive tape / duct tape or SuperGlue, with or
without antiseptic.
-
flared chimney / flared crack :
-
the walls of a crack or chimney that widen or spread out as it is
exposed to the outside; the walls of a crack or chimney that are
not parallel, but form convergent planes as the fracture in the
rock deepens ... a crack or chimney with uneven sidewalls.
-
flash :
-
slang for the successful completion of a climbing route on one's
first attempt after receiving only a recent beta brief; also
called 'beta flash'.
-
flat sennit :
-
a rope made of three or more strands of yarn plaited together;
also called "common sennit" or "English sennit".
-
flip-flop :
-
slang for accomplishing something in parts, in increments, or in
portions; the practice of segmentally executing an outing,
especially an arduous venture, in sections or stages, in legs or
stretches, depending upon time constraints, skills acquired, or
other interruptions (eg: injury, weather, permits, etc).
-
float :
-
any loose fragment of rock that has been moved from one place to
another by natural action (eg: wind, water, heave, quake, etc),
and is found, isolated and exposed, lying on the surface of the
ground. Also, any mineral in suspension.
-
flowstone :
-
a layered deposit of calcium carbonate that's been left by thin
sheets of flowing water, as in a cave.
-
flume :
-
a deep narrow defile containing a mountain stream or torrent.
-
flute :
-
a usually insecure flake of rock or fin of ice; an unreliable or
untrustworthy edge.
-
fluting / fluted :
-
a set of parallel grooves or furrows sculpted into snow and ice
by persistent winds, concealing hazards and inhibiting traverse.
-
flux :
-
continuous change, passage, or movement, as a flow.
-
fly :
-
a flap forming the door of a tent. Also, a sheet, fabric or
otherwise, suspended horizontally about head height, or extended
from the ridgepole of a tent, that serves as an awning to provide
shelter from the rain or sun in an encampment.
-
foehn / föhn :
-
a warm dry wind descending from a mountain.
-
fogbow :
-
a bow or arc of white or yellowish hue that's seen against a fog
bank; a rainbow formed by fog droplets; also called "mistbow",
"seadog", or "white rainbow".
-
fogdog :
-
a bright or luminous spot that's sometimes seen in a fog bank.
-
follow / follow-on :
-
the route taken after the lead by successive climbers in the
assault party.
-
foot :
-
the lowest part, as the bottom or base of a hill; being the point
from which its elevation is measured.
-
foothill :
-
a low hill at the base of a mountain, or a region of low hills
below a mountain range, such as piedmont or plateau (mesa).
-
foothold :
-
a place of solid support for the feet; a place where a person may
stand securely; a reliable grip used by the climber's feet. Also,
a secure position, as a firm basis for stance or lodgement, for
further progress or development.
-
footprint :
-
the mark, often distinctive, of a track or spoor. Also, the
surface space occupied by something, such as a groundsheet or
tent.
-
footrope :
-
from sailing parlance, a rope suspended between two anchors to
give footing to a person traversing a rock face; also called a
"ratline". Depending upon the distance suspended, one or more
stirrup-lines may be used to support its load.
-
footwall :
-
a mass of rock lying beneath a fault plane. Also, the top of the
rock stratum underlying a vein or bed of ore.
-
fossil :
-
any preserved remains or imprint of prehistoric life, usually
from a former geologic age, such as petrified parts preserved in
stone or trace impressions preserved in strata.
-
foul :
-
obstructed or entangled, as a rope. Also, stormy or inclement, as
weather.
-
fourteener :
-
any mountain with an elevation at or above 14,000 feet (4,300
meters) within the contiguous United States.
-
fracture :
-
any break, split, or crack, as of bone or rock. Also, the
characteristic appearance of a broken mineral surface, especially
along fault lines.
-
frazil :
-
small cake-shaped pieces of ice floating down rivers; term also
used to describe sheet ice forming offshore.
-
free climbing :
-
dynamically ascending a route with hands and feet, without ropes,
hardware, or belay; climbing without artificial (unnatural) aids,
other than those employed for protection. [nb: although ropes and
anchoring devices are employed for protection, they are not used
to bear the weight of the climber or for upward progress]
-
free solo / free-solo :
-
dynamically ascending a route without ropes or hardware, aid or
protection.
-
freeze-dry / freeze-drying / freeze-dried :
-
a severe weather condition wherein the moisture evaporates in the
sub-zero temperatures, causing the fallen snow to diminish and
the ice to shrink, such that outdoor exposure feels worse than
the numeric registry implies, which enervation can debilitate the
participants, compromising their mission. Also, a process for
removing moisture from heat-sensitive substances, such as foods
and beverages, lyophilized serum and blood plasma, antibiotics
and the like, by first rapidly freezing the substance and then
subliming the frozen solvent in a high vacuum; developed (1938)
during WWII, this preservative technique allows freeze-dried
foods to be reconstituted without a loss of nutrition. [v: parch;
cf: cryobiology, cryogenics]
-
French Prusik :
-
the use of a Prusik knot (qv) tied in place above the descender
and secured to the climber's harness as an automatic self-belay
or self-arresting safety backup when rappelling; also called
autobloc / auto-bloc.
-
French rating system :
-
a scale of numbers and letters used to rate the difficulty of
climbing routes in mountainous terrain [ie: A0: French-free, A1:
easy aid, A2: moderate aid, A3: hard aid, A4: serious aid, A5:
extreme aid, A6: extremely severe aid; classes may be
subcategorized by plus or minus sign (eg: A3+ or A3-)]
-
freshet :
-
the sudden rise in the level of a stream, or a flooding that's
caused by heavy rains or by the rapid melting of snow and ice.
-
friable :
-
easily crumbled.
-
friction :
-
the surface resistance to relative motion, as of a body sliding
or rubbing against that of another; a climbing technique that
relies upon the resistance generated by the slope of the rock
surface and the climber's body, especially his hands and feet, to
support the climber's weight during ascent ... as opposed to the
use of cracks and fissures, holds and ledges.
-
Friend® :
-
proprietary name (by Ray Jardine) of a spring loaded camming
device (SLCD) that's used for anchor points in rock cracks;
sometimes used generically.
-
front point / front-pointing :
-
a method of ascending steeply vertical or overhanging ice by use
of the two forward and two frontal spikes on the mounted crampons
so as to gain purchase with the simultaneous assistance of a pair
of ice axes for proper balance.
-
frost :
-
the degree, state, or condition of coldness sufficient to freeze
water. Also, a thin film or covering of minute ice crystals,
formed from the atmosphere at night upon the ground and exposed
objects when they have cooled by radiation below the dew point,
and when the dew point is below the freezing point; also called
"hoarfrost", "silver frost", "silver thaw", "glaze", "rime", or
"verglas".
-
funicular :
-
pertaining to a rope or cord, or its tension. Also, worked by a
rope or cable or the like (eg: funicular railway).
-
funicular railway :
-
a short cable railway operating in very steep terrain, wherein
the ascending and descending cars are counterbalanced.
-
furo / ofuro :
-
a short deep Japanese bathtub, often provided with a seat, in
which a person sits upright while soaking in hot water.
-
futon :
-
a thin, quilt-like mattress that's placed on the floor for
sleeping, then either folded and stored, or used as seating at
other times; as derived from 'rush-mat seat' (Chinese).
-
gait :
-
a manner or style of perambulation; to walk or stroll, jog or
run, step or skip in a distinctive fashion.
-
gaiter :
-
a protective covering of cloth or leather for the ankle, from
instep to lower leg, that's worn over the cuff of the pants and
the shoe or boot; also called "legging". Also, a type of cloth or
leather shoe with elastic insertions at the sides. [cf: jodhpurs]
-
gallery :
-
an approximately horizontal underground passageway in a cave,
mine, earthwork, or fortification; also known as a drift. Also, a
raised, balcony-like platform or passageway running along the
interior or exterior wall of an earthwork, fortification,
building, or other structure.
-
Gamow bag :
-
(gam-off) a portable man-sized mini-environment that simulates
conditions at a lower altitude, as used for rescue in mountain
aid stations; invented by Igor Gamow, this inflatable pressure
bag can fully contain a person who needs help to alleviate the
symptoms of altitude sickness. Essentially a small portable
hyperbaric chamber, it can be inflated with a foot pump to
pressurize it, simulating a descent of over 1500m (up to 3000m)
in altitude. Initially developed as a capsule, called "the
bubble", to increase the strength and speed of athletes by
generating more red blood cells, it proved to be commercially
unsuccessful, so it was adapted for use by climbers, and later
sold to DuPont.
-
gantline :
-
a rope rove through a single (pulley) block that's hung from a
stanchion or other anchor, used as a means of hoisting tools or
workers; as derived from earlier "girtline", being a line for
girding.
-
gap :
-
a deep sloping ravine or cleft through a mountainous ridge, a
mountain pass; a low area along a ridge between mountains, as
derived from "chasm".
-
gardening :
-
a colloquialism for clearing loose rock or debris from a base or
perch to prevent a disturbance that may cause falling objects to
injure others during an ascent or descent. Also, the act of
moving loose material from a tight or awkward passage so as to
increase accessibility.
-
gargantuan :
-
that which is gigantic, huge, colossal, elephantine, or vast; as
derived from the amiable giant, noted for his enormous capacity
for food and drink, as depicted in Rabelais' Gargantua
(1534) and Pantagruel (1532) by Francois Rabelais.
-
garland :
-
a band, collar, or grommet, as of rope. Also, a set of gracefully
linked turns or loops, both right and left, made on a downhill
slope while skiing.
-
gaston :
-
a climbing handhold that's grasped from the side, with one's
elbow protruding or jutting out (akimbo); perhaps derived as an
allusion to the caricature of the exquisitely polite (yet
bumbling) Frenchmen, Alphonse and Gaston, who were intermittently
featured in cartoons and comedy skits by Frederick Burr Opper
from 1901 through 1937, always posed with elbows sharply extended
in an absurd parody of formality.
-
gate :
-
the part of a snap-link or carabiner that opens to admit the rope
or harness webbing or any of various protective hardware aids,
which is sometimes designed to lock.
-
geanticline :
-
an anticlinal upwarp of regional extent; also geanticlinal, from
earth [geo] + anticline.
-
gearhead :
-
anyone more obsessed with the technical tackle and artful
accouterments of climbing than with the act or artistry of
climbing, as in form over function, often an overloaded novice
who seeks engineering solutions for the natural challenges to his
inexperience ... what should be an epic story of adventure
becomes instead a romance between a climber and his tools; also
called an "equipment weenie", "hardware junkie", or "tool freak".
-
gegenschein :
-
see counterglow.
-
gelande :
-
a terrain jump performed while downhill skiing; as derived by
shortening [geldndesprung]. [ety: German loanword / lehnwort]
-
gelandelaufer / geländeläufer :
-
a participant in cross-country (X-C) or Nordic skiing. [ety:
German loanword / lehnwort literally meaning countryside +
runner]
-
gelid :
-
very cold, or icy; as derived from "frost".
-
gendarme :
-
a prominent rock outcropping; an isolated rock tower that's
usually situated along a ridge. Also, the pinnacle at Seneca
Rocks, WV. [ety: French loanword meaning 'soldier']
-
Geneva rappel :
-
a modified abseil / dulfersitz wherein only the hip and downhill
arm are used to generate friction, instead of the more complex
arrangement involving the hip, chest, shoulder, and back, which
reduced resistance offers less control but greater simplicity.
-
geodesic dome :
-
an hemispherical structure consisting of a curvilinear framework
wherein a grid of triangular or polygonal faces is projected so
as to form a rounded figure under tension, as developed by R.
Buckminster Fuller (1955).
-
geological survey :
-
a systematic investigation of the geology of an area, including
geophysics and topography.
-
geologic formation :
-
the process of depositing rock or mineral consisting of a
particular composition or origin, being a body of rocks classed
as a stratigraphic unit.
-
geologic time :
-
a consideration of historical geology as set in a succession of
eras, periods, and epochs.
-
geologist's hammer :
-
see rock hammer.
-
geology :
-
the science dealing with the physical history and dynamics of the
earth, its rocks and physical features, their composition and
characteristics.
-
geostatic :
-
pertaining to the pressure exerted by the weight of overlying
rock. Also, a construction resistant to such pressure.
-
gerry rail :
-
slang for a handhold or foothold that's large enough for the most
inexperienced of climbers.
-
getting schooled :
-
a colloquialism for learning something "the hard way", as by some
painful failure or humiliating setback, especially on a difficult
patch of rock; instruction in the "school of hard knocks". [v:
empiricism]
-
geyser :
-
a geothermic hot spring that intermittently spews fountain-like
jets of water and steam into the air; as literally derived from
'gusher', from one ("Icel Geysir") so-called in Iceland.
-
geyserite :
-
a variety of siliceous sinter deposited about the orifices of
geysers and hot springs.
-
ghat :
-
a mountain pass; also spelled ghaut. Also, a mountain range or
escarpment.
-
gigantic :
-
that which is very large or huge, as likened to a giant.
-
gill :
-
a ravine. Also, a brook or rivulet.
-
gimlet / gimblet :
-
a small tool used for boring narrow holes that consists of a
pointed screw shaft with a perpendicular handle. [v: auger; cf:
awl]
-
glacial cave :
-
an opening formed within or beneath a glacier or ice sheet.
-
glaciation :
-
to be affected by the actions of ice.
-
glacier :
-
an extensive mass of ice that has been formed by the accumulation
of fallen and compacted snow. A "valley glacier", which is
replenished from above, slowly proceeds or recedes along the
slope by incremental freezing or melting. A "continental glacier"
slowly expands or contracts from its central accumulation by
similar changes in temperature and precipitation.
-
glacier snake :
-
a scaly, elongated, limbless reptile with the general appearance
of a serpentine icicle, having a milky translucence that's
irregularly reflective when irradiated, being one of the
nonvenomous species, and rare enough to be considered extinct by
some glaciologists, but widely believed to be treacherous enough
to weaken an icefall or cornice by boring so as to insidiously
entrap any unwary travelers; its diet principally consists of
oxidized ozone and photosynthetic ice crystals. Anthropologists
believe that its eggs inspired the construction of the first
snowballs, and that the nest of the glacier snake motivated
arctic denizens to imitatively build the igloo for shelter.
-
glacis :
-
a gradual or gently angled rock slope. [ety: French loanword]
-
glaze :
-
a thin coating of ice, especially as "glaze ice" or "glazed
frost", being that coating of ice formed on terrestrial objects
when rain freezes on impact; also called "frost", "silver frost",
"silver thaw", "rime", or "verglas".
-
glissade / glissading :
-
a skillful glide over snow or ice when descending a mountainous
slope, as if on skis or toboggan, but improvised on feet,
buttocks, and/or back. [ety: French loanword]
-
glop :
-
any gooey or gelatinous substance, such as soft unappetizing
food; a slop, wad, or goop ... probably the origin of 'gorp'.
-
gnarl :
-
to twist into a knotted or distorted form, being anything
distorted or contorted with knots or protuberances; derived from
'gnarled'.
-
gnarled :
-
something bent, twisted, or knotted; derived as a variant of
'knurled'. Also, having a rough or rugged appearance, as being
weather-beaten. Also, being cantankerous, contentious, contrary,
ill-tempered, ill-humored, disagreeable, irascible, choleric or
splenetic.
-
gnarly :
-
that which is gnarled. Also, slang for something distasteful,
distressing, offensive, or gross. Also, by antiphrasis, slang for
something fascinating, diverting, gratifying, satisfying, or
agreeable.
-
gobie / gobies :
-
(go-bee) the ugly, crusty, flesh wounds on a rock climber's hands
from the repeated injuries incurred while jamming or wedging; the
lumpy encrustations of scabs over scabs resulting from the
repeated injuring of a climber's hands on rough rock surfaces
while crack climbing.
-
gobsmack / gobsmacked :
-
a Briticism for surprised, astounded, taken aback, shocked or
startled, as if having been suddenly struck in the mouth; among
Brit, Aussie, and Kiwi climbers, this exclamation refers to being
immensely impressed. [v: awesome; cf: gobful, gobshite]
-
golo :
-
a metal wedge.
-
gondola :
-
an open railway car with low sides that's used to transport cargo
or freight. Also, an enclosed cabin that's suspended from an
overhead cable for use in transporting passengers, as up and down
a ski slope.
-
G10® :
-
brand name designating an extremely durable material used to
fabricate lightweight, strong, and corrosion-resistant items
that're made of woven fiberglass saturated by epoxy resin, which
is then compressed and baked.
-
goonboards / goonie boards :
-
slang for primitive or homemade skis, which are usually short
specimens with little camber.
-
goop :
-
expressive slang since the Korean War-era for potted meat spread,
which has been privately purchased as a supplement to government
rations since the late 19th century.
-
Gordian rope :
-
alludes to the irregular tangles of kinks and loops that the rope
sometimes forms, which spontaneous arrangement resembles the
intricacy of the Gordian knot. [cf: Gordian worm (nematomorph)]
-
Gore-Tex® :
-
proprietary name of a breathable membrane (available in three
grades) that's used to line boots and outerwear as a waterproof
barrier against rain, sleet, snow, and other wet conditions.
-
gorge :
-
a narrow cleft with steep rocky walls, especially one through
which a stream runs. Also, a small canyon; as derived from
"throat" (gullet). Also, an obstructing mass, such as an ice
gorge.
-
gorp :
-
a mixture of nuts, seeds, raisins, chocolate chips, and processed
grains, that's eaten as a high-energy snack by hikers and other
outdoorsmen; being the generic term for trail mix or Granola, it
probably derived as a corruption of "glop", albeit as a
(mis-)interpreted acronym for: "Good Old Raisins and Peanuts".
[nb: called "scroggin" in Australia] [nb: people living above
12,000ft altitude must consume 11% more nutriments to compensate
for anoxia or hypoxia]
-
gouffre :
-
(goo-freh) a pit, pothole, cavity, maw, or shaft, having vertical
access. [ety: French loanword]
-
gouge :
-
fragments of rock that have accumulated along the walls of a
fault; a layer of decomposed rocks or minerals found along the
walls of a vein.
-
GPS :
-
Global Positioning System, being a geostationary SATELLITE
navigation system instituted in 1978 using 24 geosynchronous
satellites capable of great accuracy, and useful for rapid fixes
on land and at sea; a location plot requires triangulation, while
fixing altitude necessitates a fourth index.
-
grade :
-
an interval or step in a scale of value or calibration,
represented by a letter, number, or symbol; as derived from
"walk" or "moving step". Also, the measured inclination with or
from the horizontal, as in classifying the level of a slope; an
index of difficulty based upon physical features. Also, to taper
or reduce the angle of a slope, by natural or mechanical means,
such that progressive degrees pass more consistently. Also, a
step or stage in a course or process.
-
grade rating :
-
a relative scale (I-VI) that informs the trained climber of the
elapsed time necessary for the completion of the route. [ie: I:
several hours, II: about half of a day, III: about three-fourths
of a day, IV: long hard day, V: one and a half to two days, VI:
longer than two days]
-
gradient :
-
the measurable degree of inclination or declination of a slope,
or the calculated rate of change for an ascending or descending
fluid or moving body on such a slope. Also, an inclined surface,
grade, or ramp. Also, progressing by walking; stepping with the
feet as animals do.
-
grain :
-
the lamination or cleavage of stone and the like, its constituent
pattern of texture or markings; the irregular appearance of
granulation. Also, the smallest measure of weight in the American
system, equal to 0.002285 ounce (0.0648 gram); as derived from a
seed, being any small hard particle (eg: sand, gold, salt,
pepper, gunpowder, etc). [cf: against the grain]
-
grapevine knot :
-
a very secure knot that can be used to bend two similar pieces of
rope or webbing; also known as a "double fisherman's bend", it is
prone to jamming with heavy loads and can be difficult to remove.
With three turns on each overhand, it is called a "triple
fisherman's bend" or 'barrel knot' (qv), which is as strong as
the rope and is the only bend that should be used with synthetics
(eg: Spectra). The double or triple fisherman's bend is often
used to bend two lengths of rope that will be used for a
continuous rappel.
-
granny knot / granny's knot :
-
an incorrect version of a square knot, wherein the ends cross in
the same direction, which allows the bights to slip, producing an
insecure knot; also known as "lubber's knot", so called in
contempt. Also, any poorly made or unreliable knot, especially
one that's a tangle or confusion of interlacements.
-
Granola® :
-
the trademarked name of a breakfast cereal consisting of rolled
oats, nuts, dried fruit, brown sugar, and similar ingredients;
possibly inspired by the dry ingredients for making a fruitcake;
mistakenly used as a synonym for gorp or trail mix.
-
grapnel :
-
a device consisting of one or more hooks or clamps that's used
for holding or grasping; also called a "grapple", "grappling
iron", "gang hook", or "creep".
-
graupel :
-
a grain-like snow, or particles of snow that are irregular and
lumpy. [ety: German loanword / lehnwort]
-
gravical / gravication :
-
slang for the adrenaline flush brought on by an unimpeded view of
the distant ground from a significant height, often accompanied
by nervous sweating, difficult breathing, joint weakness, and
vertigo.
-
gravity :
-
the forceful attraction of all terrestrial bodies toward the
center of the planet; such 'heaviness' is a persistent and
inexorable resistance to departure; the earth's gravitational
field exerts pressure upon falling objects at a rate of
acceleration equal to about 32feet/second/second.
-
grease / greasy :
-
slang for any difficulty in acquiring and/or retaining a hold, as
when affected by an excess of slick sweat or by the slipperiness
of the rock.
-
green flash :
-
a green coloration, caused by atmospheric refraction of the
upper portion of the sun, that's occasionally seen as the sun
rises above or sinks below the horizon; also known as "Neptune's
wink" when observed at sea, and "zodiacal light" for its
occurrence in a narrow band called the 'zodiac' or plane of the
ecliptic.
-
Grigri® :
-
proprietary name of a self-locking belay device developed and
manufactured by Petzl; designed for safety and simplicity, having
an auto-locking feature that's engaged under load, it's deemed to
be most suitable ("idiot-proof") for beginners.
-
grip :
-
a strong, firm, or secure grasp; to seize and hold fast. Also,
something that seizes and holds, as a clutching device on a
suspended cable car or aerial tramway. Also, the handle of a tool
or the hilt of a weapon. Also, a small traveling bag or tote;
also called gripcase. Also, a firm or strong handshake; a special
mode of clasping hands, as amongst members of an in-group. Also,
possessed of a mental or intellectual hold that conveys ability
and competence, as when facing, controlling, or coping with one's
emotions.
-
gripped :
-
descriptive of someone who is frightened or scared, fearful or
intimidated, based upon the tense clasp or grip (over-gripping)
exerted upon the rock.
-
grit :
-
hard abrasive particles, as of sand or gravel. Also, a
coarse-grained siliceous rock, usu. with sharp, angular grains.
Also, the granular texture of stone, sandpaper, or other
abrasives, with respect to coarseness or fineness. Also, firmness
of character, or indomitability of spirit; mettle, fortitude,
intrepidity, temerity, vim, nerve, backbone, pluck, spunk, guts,
sand.
-
groom / groomed :
-
a slope or trail made neat and tidy, prepared and structured,
attended and accessible.
-
groove :
-
an indentation in the rock that's neither deep enough to be a
crack nor defined enough to be a corner.
-
grot-hole :
-
a colloquialism for a small insignificant cave with no further
leads, usually tight and difficult to manoeuvre.
-
grotto :
-
a cave or cavern; a subterranean chamber. Also, an artificial
cavern-like recess. Also, among cavers and spelunkers, a den,
lodge, or clubhouse for event planning and socializing.
-
ground man :
-
informal designation of the expedition organizer, who is
responsible for arranging funding and/or sponsorship, lodging and
transportation, purchase and transfer of supplies and equipment,
establishment and supervision of base camp(s), including any
rescue party or medical intervention; the ground man enables the
climbing team to concentrate on training, planning, and executing
their assault ... as with a coach, the ground man is not a
participating climber.
-
ground moraine :
-
detritus deposited beneath the encroaching ice during glaciation.
-
groundsheet :
-
a piece of waterproof fabric that's spread on the ground, as
under a sleeping bag, for protection against moisture (vapor
barrier) and to provide insulation; also called a ground cloth.
-
ground trogging :
-
the systematic search of ground surfaces for cave entrances; also
called "trogging".
-
grovel / groveling :
-
an obvious exhibition of poor style or bad technique while
climbing; to have been humiliated by a particular route, as
derived from "crawling face downward" in abject humiliation.
Also, a climbing route judged to be without any redeeming virtue.
-
guideline :
-
an Americanism for a rope or cord that serves to guide someone's
steps, as over rocky or unfamiliar terrain.
-
gulch :
-
a deep narrow ravine, especially one marked by a watercourse.
-
gulf :
-
a deep hollow, as a chasm or abyss. Also, any great or wide
separation. Also, something that engulfs or swallows up.
-
gullet :
-
a channel, ravine, or cut; derived from "throat".
-
gully / gulley :
-
a small valley or ravine, worn by flowing water and serving as an
intermittent drainageway; derived as an apparent variation of
'gullet' being a draw or gulch.
-
gumby :
-
slang for an inexperienced climber ... in some cases, this novice
is unsafe to other climbers, being a disaster waiting to happen.
-
gumbied :
-
a novice climber who's awkwardly splayed on the rock face ...
perhaps "frozen" in place by panic.
-
gurge :
-
a gorge, as derived from the swirl of a whirlpool.
-
gut :
-
a metaphoric allusion to any narrow passage, such as a defile
between hills.
-
gut bomb / gut-bomb :
-
a quantity of food, not particularly appetizing or nutritious,
that lays dormant in the consumer's stomach, patiently waiting to
explode!
-
guy :
-
a cord or line used to guide or retain (stay), as when
constructing a shelter; also called "guyrope" or "guyline".
-
gym climbing :
-
a man-made arrangement of climbing problems or difficulties, as
used in training students or challenging competitors, that
enables the rapid acquisition of confidence and experience with a
minimum of risk and inconvenience. While the first climbing wall
was built at Fort Lewis in 1943 to accelerate the training of the
10th Mountain Division during World War Two, indoor and outdoor
Artificial Climbing Walls (ACW) began to be commercially
developed for specialized training and exercise in 1987. Because
the difficulty of climbing walls can be standardized, they have
been used in Olympic competition since 1991.
-
gymnastics chalk :
-
see chalk.
-
HACE :
-
High Altitude Cerebral Edema, being a rapid swelling of the brain
that can be fatal; symptoms include: confusion, fatigue, fumbling
/ stumbling (ataxia), impaired speech, vomiting, hallucinations,
and impaired vision leading to paralysis, seizure, and
unconsciousness or coma; treat with bed rest after descending to
a much lower altitude.
-
Hacky Sack® :
-
the brand name of a beanbag, filled with foam or plastic pellets,
that serves as a gaming device in a recreational entertainment
wherein the beanbag is tossed from one body part to another in a
continuous motion, by one or more persons, without the beanbag
falling to the ground; also called "foot bag", which juggling
exercise is a celebration of nimble adroitness, of facile
dexterity, which may prove useful in other activities.
-
HAH :
-
High Altitude Hack, or Khumbu cough (qv).
-
hairpin :
-
sharply curved back, such as a U-shaped turn in a route or path;
derived by comparison with the slender wire device used by women
to fasten their hair or hold a headdress.
-
hair twister :
-
a device, sometimes called "tarabilla", that twists horsehair
into a cord when the block is rotated on the spindle; the
resulting cord is then braided or twisted together with other
such cords to form a rope.
-
half hitch / half-hitch :
-
a knot made by forming a bight and passing the end of the rope
around the standing part and through the bight.
-
half-moon :
-
the phase of the moon, at either quadrature, when only half of
its visible disk is illuminated.
-
half rope / half ropes :
-
best used for more complex ropework, or for when lower impact
forces on shared ropes will help to make the most of dubious
protection, or where abseiling is necessary; also called 'double
rope".
-
halo :
-
any of a variety of bright circles or arcs that are centered on
the sun or moon, which are caused by the refraction or reflection
of light by ice crystals suspended in the earth's atmosphere;
also called "nimbus" or "aureole".
-
hammock :
-
a knoll or hillock. Also, a tract or hillock of land elevated
above the general level of marsh or swamp lands; also called
"hummock". Also, a cord or fabric bed that may be secured or
suspended from one or two supports; originating as a section of
general purpose netting (typically used for sling loads) tied-off
with two short ropes (normally used as Swiss seats or gear
slings).
-
handhold :
-
a place of solid support for the hand(s); a secure or reliable
grip used by the climber's hands.
-
handle :
-
a strong, firm, or secure grasp; to seize and hold fast to a
substantial grip. Also, informal referent for a large
banana-shaped handhold; also called 'bucket', 'jug', or 'bomber',
as often provided on indoor climbing gyms (ACW). Also, the grip
of a tool or the hilt of a weapon.
-
hand traverse :
-
to cross a slope at a lateral angle or slant without any definite
footholds.
-
hangdog / hangdogging :
-
guilty of resting on a suspended rope or piece of protection,
especially while toproping or lead climbing on sport routes,
which is only suitable for a degraded or contemptible person.
-
hanging belay :
-
an uncomfortable belay on steep rock that's undertaken while the
belayer is suspended without a stance.
-
hanging rock :
-
an overlapping or overhanging rock that protrudes horizontally
from its supporting base; a section of outcropping rock that juts
sideways or extends laterally outward from a wall, which is its
only point of connection.
-
hanging valley :
-
a tributary valley whose lower mouth is set above the floor of
the main valley, which difference in alignment is often the
result of geologic movement or of glacial erosion; a subsidiary
valley separated from but debouching into the lower primary
valley; an elevated tributary valley that ends suddenly with a
steep cliff or waterfall where it meets the side of a larger,
deeper valley, usually as a result of differences in glacial
erosion or of flowing water cutting through different densities
of rock.
-
hanging wall :
-
a mass of rock overhanging a fault plane; a superincumbency. [v:
jut / jutting, beetle / beetling; cf: undercut / undercutting]
-
HAPE :
-
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, being an accumulation of excess
fluid that prevents effective breathing by interfering with the
proper exchange of air; a form of altitude sickness caused by
poor acclimatization, wherein symptoms include breathlessness,
congestion, pink sputum, cough, rapid pulse, elevated
temperature, bluish lips and nails (cyanosis), fatigue, impaired
judgement, and confusion leading to unconsciousness or coma;
treat with supplemental oxygen (if available) and bed rest after
descending to a much lower altitude. HAPE may be mistaken for
Khumbu cough (High Altitude Hack), bronchitis, asthma, or
pneumonia, which confusion may be resolved by descent.
-
harbor :
-
any place of shelter or refuge, such as a cold harbor, where
travelers may be housed or contained.
-
hard-and-fast :
-
to tightly tie, often with more than one knot, the trailing end
of a rope or line to a secure anchor or base; as "to make it
hard-and-fast", as derived from a nautical description of a ship
run aground, something that's unalterable, unchangeable.
-
hard-laid :
-
in ropemaking, describes the lay of a rope that is at a
relatively great angle to its axis; also called "short-laid".
Also refers to a tight or compact rope, as being "hard-spun".
-
hard line :
-
difficulty or hardship, hindrance or disadvantage, detriment or
drawback, bad luck or ill fortune; as derived from the boundaries
that delineate one's place or station, position or situation in
life [re: "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea,
I have a goodly heritage" Psalm 16:6]. Also, uncompromising
commitment or unyielding adherence; devoted or dedicated.
-
hardware :
-
all of the metal items, from carabiners and descenders to bolts
and pitons, used in technical climbing; as opposed to "software"
(eg: ropes, webbing, gloves, protective clothing, etc). Also,
dismissive slang for awards or distinctions (eg: medal, trophy,
plaque, etc), as when disdaining "hardware collecting" as
immature; a stylistic insult to competitors.
-
harness :
-
the combination of straps or bands and other parts that form the
working and safety gear of a climber, from which hardware is
suspended, and to which attachments are made; also called
'climbing harness' (qv).
-
harness hitch :
-
a knot forming a loop around a rope, especially one formed at the
end of a bowline.
-
Harney Peak :
-
a mountain in southwest South Dakota, and the highest peak (7242
ft) in the Black Hills.
-
harvest moon :
-
the phase of the full moon occurring nearest to the autumnal
equinox (22 September).
-
hasty rappel :
-
see abseil. [nb: the rope is straddled by the climber, then
looped around a hip, across the chest, over the opposite
shoulder, and down the back to be held with the downhill hand to
adjust the hip and shoulder friction so as to control the speed
of descent]
-
haul bag :
-
a large and often unwieldy container that holds supplies and
equipment, which is drawn up a slope after the climbers have
ascended, and are either pausing midway enroute, or are
establishing an overnight base, during which some of these items
(especially water and foodstuffs) will be used; sometimes called
a 'dingleberry' or "pig" / "pig bag".
-
haversack :
-
originally a single-strapped oat bag that was worn over one
shoulder, but this word was later used to refer to any bag that
was slung over one or both shoulders for carrying rations or
other supplies.
-
hawser :
-
heavy lines used in rigging and mooring; as distinguished from
"rope".
-
hawser bend :
-
a knot uniting the ends of two lines or cables.
-
headland :
-
a promontory that extends into a large body of water. Also, a
wilderness or untamed area that borders or delimits a cultivated
or civilized region.
-
head point :
-
the practice of toproping a hard route before leading it cleanly.
-
headwall / head wall :
-
the portion or sector of a cliff or sheer rock face that steepens
dramatically.
-
heap :
-
a group of things lying one on another. Also, a great number or
quantity; multitude. Also, to load or fill abundantly.
-
heat index :
-
a number representing the apparent effect of the actual
temperature and the relative humidity as perceived by humans,
which is obtained by combining these two variables into an
experiential temperature-humidity index; abbreviated 'H.I.'
-
heat tabs / heat tablets :
-
compressed fuel tablets or disks, usually pale-blue trioxin or
hexamine, used for re-heating canned food or for cooking
pre-packaged meals.
-
heave :
-
to lift or hoist. Also, to forceably throw something, especially
a weighted line (eg: heaving line). Also, to pull or haul on a
rope, line, cable, or the like.
-
heaving line :
-
a light cord or thin rope, with its trailing end weighted by a
knot, that's used to toss between footholds for transferring
larger cables; also known as a "messenger line" or "throw line".
-
heel hooking :
-
see hook.
-
helmet :
-
a protective shell covering the head as a defense against impact,
variously made of molded plastic or Kevlar, polystyrene or
leather, with or without a visor, sometimes leaving the ears
exposed; some chin-strap versions are designed to be worn over an
insulated head covering (eg: stocking cap, watch cap, balaclava,
etc); sometimes called "soup bowl", "brain bucket", and "skid
lid". [v: coif]
-
Henry's law :
-
a scientific principle stating that the amount of a gas that
dissolves in a liquid is proportional to the partial pressure of
the gas over the liquid, provided no chemical reaction takes
place between the liquid and the gas; this relationship is named
after William Henry, who first devised it.
-
herringbone :
-
a method of ascending a slope on skis by forming a series of
offset Vs in a track up the fall line, with the ski tips widely
spread and the heels nearly touching, while placing the skier's
weight on the inside edge of both skis.
-
hex nut / hexcentric nut :
-
an eccentric hexagonal nut attached to a wire loop that's used as
a protective device; a climbing nut is inserted into a rock
crack and it holds through counter-pressure; often just termed
"hex" or 'nut'.
-
highline :
-
a line loosely suspended between two anchors for the secure
conveyance of persons or goods, especially in rescue operations;
also called "slackline". Similar to a single-strand rope bridge,
but used for passive transfer by an attached guy line or tethered
hauling line that's regulated by a belay. A secondary safety line
may be run parallel or inferior to, but independent of, the
primary highline.
-
hiker box :
-
a container of lost, leftover, discarded, or donated items,
including freebie foodstuffs, which is usually located in an
animal-proof shelter, hut, or hostel.
-
hill :
-
a natural or artificial elevation of the earth's surface,
including downhill, uphill, hillside, hilltop; smaller than a
mountain.
-
hillock :
-
a small hill, such as kopje/koppie, and sarcastically as
molehill.
-
hip pack :
-
see fanny pack. [aka: bum bag / bum-bag (by Brits, Aussies, and
Kiwis)]
-
hitch :
-
a knot or lashing tied to an object, especially a temporary or
adjustable attachment that's secured by crossing itself; any of
various knots or loops made to attach a rope to something in such
a way as to be readily loosened; to temporarily tether by means
of a rope or strap. Also, to move, advance, or haul by short
pulls or jerks. Also, to snag or catch, as on a projection. Also,
an unexpected difficulty or delay.
-
hoarfrost :
-
a thin covering of minute ice crystals that forms at night upon
the ground and exposed objects from the atmosphere when they have
cooled (by radiation) below the dew point; also called "frost",
"glaze", "rime", or "verglas".
-
hochwende :
-
a stunt wherein a downhill skier turns halfway around in midair
after launching into a ski jump. [ety: German loanword /
lehnwort]
-
hockle :
-
the separation and kinking of the yarns of a rope through
twisting against the laid spin during use; a knob in a strand of
line cordage that spreads and weakens the spun yarn ... a
backspin kink that weakens the rope or line.
-
hog :
-
a scornful term of reproach, censure, or rebuke; to selfishly
[mis-]appropriate more than one's fair share, as with time or
resources, turns or access (eg: "line hog", "trail hog", etc).
-
hogback :
-
a long, sharply crested ridge, generally formed of steeply
inclined strata that are especially resistant to erosion; also
called "razorback".
-
hold :
-
a hand or foot support on rock(s); a place to temporarily cling,
grip, hang, jam, press, or stand during the process of climbing.
-
hole :
-
in non-technical usage, a remote valley surrounded by uplands and
replete with resources (eg: water, timber, game, etc); often
associated with an early explorer (eg: Jackson's Hole, Brown's
Hole, Pierre's Hole, Gardner's Hole, Firehole, Woods Hole,
Croaker Hole, etc). Also, any opening or gap, especially a hollow
place in a solid mass, such as a cavity or vacancy. Also, an
embarrassing position or awkward predicament.
-
hole in the wall :
-
a small place or a confined space, especially one that is dingy
or shabby. [cf: hole up]
-
Holocene :
-
noting or pertaining to the present geologic epoch, originating
at the end of the glacial period, about 10,000 years ago, and
forming the latter part of the Quaternary Period in the Cenozoic
Era.
-
hommock :
-
a ridge in an ice field; also called "hummock".
-
hondo :
-
the eye or loop, tied or fabricated, at the terminal end of a
rope or line; often used as a running knot when forming a lasso.
-
honed :
-
metaphoric allusion to being in peak condition, mental and
physical fitness, for climbing, trekking, or other arduous
outdoor activities; slang for being hale, hardy, robust, toned,
buffed, or prime.
-
hoodoo :
-
a pillar, column, or other upright of rock left by erosion,
usually of fantastic shape. Also, bad luck; or the person or
place associated with its occurrence.
-
hook :
-
a small metal hardware device (eg: bat hook, fifi hook, skyhook)
used in aid climbing. Also, a maneuver wherein the climber uses a
toe or heel, wrist or elbow at a twisted or arched angle so as to
make contact with a hold for improved balance, or for additional
support or leverage.
-
Hooke's law :
-
this law states that the stress on a solid substance is directly
proportional to the strain produced, provided the stress is less
than the elastic limit of the substance; formulated by Robert
Hooke, an English physicist.
-
hook 'n' loop fastener :
-
see Velcro.
-
hook 'n' pile fastener :
-
see Velcro.
-
hop wedel :
-
an especially fast and dynamic type of short parallel turns made
with the tails of both skis lifting off the surface of the slope
while skiing downhill.
-
horizontal ladder :
-
a ladder-like structure (approximately 12 to 20 feet long) that's
elevated above the ground (approximately 8 to 10 foot height) in
a generally horizontal plane for physical exercise, bodily
coordination, and muscular development, such that this apparatus
was widely installed on playgrounds for children and on obstacle
courses for military personnel; some variations include C-shaped,
S-shaped, inclined, and double-offset (like uneven parallel
bars). [v: brachiate / brachiation]
-
horn :
-
a large, pointed protrusion of rock that's useful as a handhold
or sling protection point.
-
horseback :
-
a low, natural ridge of sand or gravel; the common name for an
esker.
-
hostel :
-
an inexpensive lodge, often arranged barracks-style with bunk
beds, for the use of venturesome trekkers or budget-minded
travelers, which "guest house" or inn is sponsored and supervised
by a non-profit organization. [ety: hospital]
-
hot spot :
-
informal referent for a region of molten rock below and within
the lithosphere that persists long enough to leave a record of
uplift and volcanic activity at the earth's surface.
-
hot spring :
-
a thermal spring having water warmer than 98°F / 37°C,
which water is usually heated by emanation from or passage near
hot or molten rock.
-
huge :
-
that which is extraordinarily large in bulk, quantity, or area,
being something very great, massive, or gigantic; as derived from
"height".
-
hummock :
-
a knoll or hillock. Also, a tract or hillock of land elevated
above the general level of marsh or swamp lands; also called
"hammock". Also, a ridge in an ice field; also called "hommock".
-
hump :
-
a low rounded rise of ground, as a hummock. Also, a mountain or
mountain range. Also, to carry a load or burden on one's back, as
to "hump the rucksack". Also, to exert oneself in a great effort.
Also, to hurry or hustle.
-
hunter's moon :
-
any of the phases of a full moon occurring in the falltime
season, between the autumnal equinox (22 September) and the
winter solstice (22 December).
-
hurricane lamp / hurricane lantern :
-
a candlestick or oil lantern protected against drafts or winds by
a glass chimney. [cf: dark lantern]
-
hut :
-
a small dwelling of simple construction that's made from natural
materials, especially a roofed shelter with one or two sides left
open to the outdoors; sometimes containing sleeping platforms and
a stacked stone fireplace, as used for temporary housing.
-
hutment :
-
a partially prefabricated building, made of tent canvas stretched
over a wood frame with four-foot high wooden walls, a wood floor,
a wooden door at each end, and heated by a primitive wood/coal
stove; used in military and mining camps since the
Spanish-American War. Also, the grouping of such half-wood and
tent structures into a camp. [cf: rag house]
-
Hydrofil® :
-
proprietary name of a nylon fabric from Honeywell that's designed
to wick moisture away from the wearer's body so it can evaporate;
often used as an inner- or underlayer with an outer fabric.
-
hydrolaccolith :
-
a mass of ice, formed from water that found its way beneath the
surface, spreading laterally into a lenticular body, that when
frozen, this intrusion between two sedimentary beds forces
overlying strata to bulge upward, forming a mound.
-
HYOH :
-
(highyo) abbreviation forming a catchword meaning: Hike Your Own
Hike; being a philosophy of autonomy wherein each hiker sets his
own pace and determines his own goals, such that people who are
faster or slower, more adroit or more awkward, more energetic or
more leisurely cannot interfere with anyone else's experience of
the great outdoors ... this attitude applies equally to climbing
and canoeing and mountain biking.
-
hypothermia :
-
a subnormally low body temperature that's caused by exposure to
cold and wetness, the symptoms of which are sluggishness, apathy,
and reduced mental capacity.
-
hypoxia :
-
an abnormal debilitating condition in which the body's oxygen
intake or use is inadequate.
-
ibuprofen :
-
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that's used for reducing
local pain and swelling, as of the joints; commonly called
'vitamin A' and 'vitamin M' by climbers and trekkers. [ety:
ibuprofen: by contraction, rearrangement, and respelling of its
chemical name isobutylpheny propionic acid
(C13H18O2)]
-
ice :
-
the solid form of water (or another liquid) produced by freezing.
Also, informal term for anything frosted (eg: icing) or
crystallized (eg: diamond), especially when cold (eg:
unemotional). [v: "on thin ice" (precarious), "break the ice"
(begin), "cut no ice" (unimpressive), "on ice" (abeyance)]
-
ice ax / ice axe :
-
a mountaineering tool that's used like an alpenstock to anchor
belays or to probe for crevasses, and like a pickax to chop a
trail of steps or holds through snow or ice; having an adz-like
blade and a pick on the head of its long shafted handle, with a
spike on the other end. [cf: adz, tranchet, burin, celt]
-
iceblink :
-
a yellowish luminosity near the horizon or on the underside of a
cloud that's caused by the reflection of light from sea ice; also
called "blink", as derived from 'blink' meaning gleam, twinkle,
glitter, or shine.
-
ice cave :
-
an opening formed in permanent or seasonal ice, sometimes
excavated for survival.
-
ice creepers :
-
informal referent for crampons, being spikes or cleats fixed to a
frame or plate that's attached to the climber's boots to prevent
slippage on ice and crusted snow; also called "creepers".
-
ice-crystal haze :
-
a type of very light ice fog composed only of ice crystals (no
droxtals or water vapor) that's usually associated with ice
crystal precipitation, and is observable to altitudes as great as
7000m. Viewed from the ground, ice-crystal haze may be dense
enough to hinder observation of celestial bodies, sometimes even
the sun. However, when viewed from above, the ground is usually
visible and the horizon only blurred. For very sparse ice-crystal
haze during daytime, sunlight reflecting from crystal faces
produces sparkling in the air, which crystallization is commonly
known as "diamond dust".
-
icefall / ice fall :
-
a jumbled mass of ice in a glacier. Also, a mass of ice
overhanging a precipice. Also, ice falling from a glacier,
iceberg, or the like. Also, a steep glacial feature that produces
a series of dangerous crevasses and ice pinnacles, which tend to
forestall access to the uppermost slopes of a mountain.
-
ice feathers :
-
a delicate structure of crystals of ice that builds on the
windward side of objects; also called "frost feathers".
-
ice flea :
-
a species of dark blue springtail, resembling pepper or ashes
sprinkled on the icy surface. [cf: snow flea; v: sand fly, sand
flea]
-
ice fog :
-
a type of fog partly composed of suspended ice crystals and
droxtals, that occurs at very low temperatures, and usually in
clear, calm weather in high latitudes; because the sun is usually
visible, it may cause halo phenomena. Ice fog is almost always
present at air temperatures of -13°F/-45°C in the
vicinity of a source of water vapor, such as herds of animals,
volcanoes, the open water of fast-flowing streams or of the sea,
and especially products of combustion for heating or propulsion.
Ice fog is also known as "ice-crystal fog", "frozen fog", "frost
fog", "frost flakes", "air hoar", "rime fog", and "pogonip".
-
ice foot :
-
a belt of ice frozen to the shore, formed chiefly as a result of
the rise and fall of the tides.
-
ice hammer :
-
a compact and lightweight ice ax / ice axe that has a hammer and
a pick on the head of its short shafted handle, without a spike
on the other end.
-
ice piton :
-
a long, wide, serrated piton used as a protective device on ice.
-
ice screw :
-
a threaded spiral (corkscrew) piton, sized about 18-32cm in
length, designed for boring into ice as a belay, or as a base for
crevasse rescue.
-
ice storm :
-
a storm of freezing rain that generates a widespread formation of
glaze.
-
ice worm :
-
like the earthworm, this segmented worm burrows into ice and
generates a cast that's commonly identified as "corn snow"; since
its discovery, it has been commercially exploited by ski resorts
and other winter recreation areas ... in order to preserve the
gelid environment and to counteract this unconscionable
exploitation of the innocent ice worm, some ecologists have
formed an incongruous organization, Friends of the Ice Worm
(FIW), to publicize its desperate plight. The CIA reports that
some terrorist groups are now training radical glaciologists in
the subversive methods of setting avalanches so as to liberate
these enslaved ice worms by their revolutionary sabotage.
-
icicle :
-
a pendent mass of ice that's formed, and extended in a tapering
configuration, by the freezing (and re-freezing) of dripping melt
water. [v: stalactite]
-
icing :
-
a coating of ice on the surface of an object; also called
"frosting".
-
identification thread :
-
see rogue's yarn.
-
IFP :
-
Integrated Fixation Plate introduced by Fischer and Rossignol
[Turnamic (2016)], being a binding plate on cross-country
(Nordic) skis that allows toolless adjustment of ski boot binding
positions; this binding uses step-in locking for the boot, and
the securing lock closes or opens by turning a lever to the side.
The IFP Turnamic bindings can be used with all NNN / Prolink
boots, but the IFP plate will not accept NIS bindings because of
the new lock mechanism. Rottefella subsequently introduced
continuously adjustable MOVE Switch bindings which can be
installed in the IFP and NIS plates.
-
igloo :
-
a dome-shaped dwelling with a windproof entrance that's usually
built of blocks of hard snow, being a design pioneered by
Eskimos. [ety: Inuit loanword derived from 'house' (iglu)] [cf:
geodetic / geodesic dome]
-
igneous rock :
-
rocks produced under conditions involving intense heat, such as
crystallization from molten magma.
-
immense :
-
that which is exceedingly great, massive, or vast; literally "not
measurable".
-
incline :
-
a slanting deviation from the vertical or horizontal; as derived
from "bend" or "lean". Also, a rising angle or an upward slope;
an acclivity.
-
incut :
-
an indentation or depression recessed into the rock surface,
which may serve as a hold enroute.
-
indoor climbing :
-
a man-made arrangement of climbing problems or difficulties, as
used in training students or challenging competitors, that
enables the rapid acquisition of confidence and experience with a
minimum of risk and inconvenience. While the first climbing wall
was built at Fort Lewis in 1943 to accelerate the training of the
10th Mountain Division during World War Two, indoor and outdoor
Artificial Climbing Walls (ACW) began to be commercially
developed for specialized training and exercise in 1987. Because
the difficulty of climbing walls can be standardized, they have
been used in Olympic competition since 1991.
-
infall :
-
a structural collapse or morphological cave-in, such as a
downfall of a ceiling or of overhanging rocks.
-
inlet / inletted / inletting :
-
an indentation or depression, as altered by erosion or other
natural forces. Also, an opening or entry.
-
interfluve :
-
the land area separated by adjacent stream valleys; originating
as a back-formation from interfluvial (lying between rivers).
-
interknot :
-
to tie or knot together.
-
intermontane :
-
located between mountains or mountain ranges; sometimes
represented as "intermountain-mounétn".
-
International Orange :
-
a shade of bright orange, highly visible at a great distance and
in murky weather, that's been used since 1955 to color rescue or
emergency gear, safety devices and appliances, survey equipment
and vehicles, including boats and aircraft, hangars and control
towers; also known as "safety orange" or "blaze orange".
-
interstice :
-
a small or narrow space, especially a uniform interval between
things; as derived from "to stand or put between". Also, an
interval of time.
-
iron monger :
-
disparaging referent for someone with a perverse affinity for
pounding hardware (ie: bolts, pitons, copperheads, etc) into the
rock surface.
-
island :
-
an isolated hill. Also, any tract of land or landscape that's
different from its surroundings, exhibiting detached or isolated
characteristics.
-
ISO :
-
abbreviation for the International Standardization Organization.
-
isoclinal :
-
pertaining to or composed of rock strata of a structure or fold
that slants in the same or equal direction; dipping in the same
direction. Also, an isoclinic line.
-
isocline :
-
rock strata that slants in the same or equal direction;
originating as a back-formation from isoclinal. Also, an
isoclinic line.
-
isoclinic line :
-
an imaginary straight line connecting points on the earth's
surface having equal magnetic dip; also called "isoclinic" or
"isoclinal".
-
Jack Frost :
-
the personification of frost or freezing cold.
-
Jacob's ladder :
-
a flexible ladder consisting of rope, cable, or chain side-rails
and fixed wooden or aluminum rungs, as used on vessels and
aircraft, especially during SAR/CSAR operations; also called a
"caving ladder" or "scaling ladder", as derived from the Biblical
dream of a ladder ascending from earth to heaven. Also, a webbing
or rope ladder (etrier) deployed for rough-terrain insertions and
extractions of troops using transport "choppers"; employed
instead of cargo nets or rappel lines.
-
jam / jamming :
-
to tightly press, squeeze, or wedge one's body (or parts thereof)
between rock surfaces so as to secure a hold, attain leverage, or
enable motion, upwards or downwards. Also, to painfully press,
push, or thrust violently, as into a confined space or against
some object. Also, to bruise or crush by masochistic compression
or squeezing, such that extrication is often made difficult.
Also, to put or place in position with a violent gesture, or to
make something unworkable by causing its parts or components to
become stuck or blocked, caught or displaced. Also, the soft
pulpy residue that's deposited on the valley floor when a free
climber misses his hold, or when faulty gear conspires to defeat
an otherwise cautious climber, or when nature itself, abetted by
poor technique, succumbs to gravity, rendering another intrepid
mountaineer into a smear of unappetizing glop!
-
jam crack :
-
a rock opening that's wide enough to accommodate a hand, fist,
arm, foot, or elbow, or any combination thereof.
-
jerky :
-
a homemade or privately purchased food supplement to government
issued or commercially sold rations that consists of meat (eg:
beef, deer, turkey, goat, sheep, etc) that's been cut in strips
(ie: French cut) and preserved by dehydration (originally,
sun-dried); this Americanism is an alteration of 'charqui'
[quechua ch'arki (Spanish)] for jerked meat, which is also called
"biltong" or "leather" (eg: "fruit leather"). [cf: pemmican /
pemican]
-
jewelry rock :
-
any ore bearing precious metals (eg: gold, silver, platinum,
palladium, etc).
-
jib :
-
an especially small foothold, usually only large enough for the
climber's big toe, sometimes relying heavily on friction to
support the climber's weight.
-
jock itch :
-
slang for a fungal infection (ie: tinea cruris) of the skin in
the groin area, occurring most commonly among males, especially
in warm humid climates, characterized by itchy and often scaly
lesions.
-
jockstrap :
-
slang for an 'athletic supporter', being an elasticized belt that
crosses the lower abdomen with a cloth or mesh pouch for
supporting the male's genitals, which is worn as a protective
undergarment whenever men participate in sports or other
strenuous activities.
-
jug :
-
any large secure handhold; also called 'bucket' or 'bomber'.
Also, slang for a mechanical ascender, especially a Jumar.
-
jug / jugging :
-
slang for ascending a rope by means of mechanical devices; also
called 'Jumar/-ing' (regardless of the brand name of the ascender
employed, since the term is used generically).
-
jug handle :
-
any large secure handhold, which is so-called by allusion to the
oversized grip on a water jug; also called 'bucket' or 'bomber'.
-
Jumar® / Jumaring :
-
a mechanical ascender, or to ascend a rope by use of such
devices; it's a product brand name that's often used generically.
-
junglegym :
-
a playground apparatus consisting of a sturdy framework of
horizontal and vertical bars upon which children can climb;
formerly (1923) a trademark, it's also called "monkey bars".
-
Jurassic :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Mesozoic Era,
from 190 million to 140 million years ago, characterized by the
presence of dinosaurs and the advent of birds and mammals.
-
kaba / kabahor :
-
a small cubical building in the courtyard of the central mosque
in Mecca that contains a sacred black stone, which is the chief
object of Muslim pilgrimages.
-
karabiner :
-
see carabiner, biner, or snap-link.
-
karst :
-
an area of limestone terrane characterized by sinks, ravines, and
underground streams; generic use for a limestone plateau from the
name of the region north of Trieste.
-
keckling :
-
the winding of a small diameter rope around a cable or hawser so
as to prevent damage by chafing. Also, the small diameter rope so
used to bind.
-
Keprotec® :
-
proprietary name of a high tech fabric developed by Schoeller
that is extremely abrasion and tear resistant; composed of
Cordura, Dynafil TS-70, Kevlar, and polyurethane, which is then
impregnated with a finish that's impermeable to water, oil, and
dirt.
-
kernmantle :
-
a multi-strand synthetic-fiber rope constructed with a woven or
plaited sheath (30% of strength) surrounding an inner core (70%
of strength) of either parallel (static) or twisted (dynamic)
core strands. Static rope, being less elastic, transfers impact
shock to the climber more than dynamic rope; an equivalent static
rope has a lower strength rating and a shorter life-span, so are
less expensive. [ety: kernmantle: 'kern' (core) + 'mantle'
(cover)]
-
kettle / kettle hole :
-
a deep, cauldron-shaped depression in glacial drift; also called
'pothole'. [cf: gnamma hole / namma hole]
-
Kevlar® :
-
proprietary name of an aramid fiber (extruded long-chain
synthetic polyamide) used as a vital component in making durable,
lightweight fabrics for use in high-performance outdoor
activities.
-
Khumbu cough :
-
a common condition for most people who spend time at extreme
altitude (over 18,000ft/5500m) due to the increased exertion and
heavy breathing encountered in that low humidity and below-zero
environment; it manifests as a dry persistent cough that can
restrict breathing, which lung irritation may result in a cough
so violent that it will tear chest muscles or break ribs. Named
after the Everest region, where it was first documented, although
not limited to that area, it's also known as the "high altitude
hack" (HAH). This cough may be prevented by wearing a breathing
mask or balaclava, by regulating exertion and/or breathing, in an
attempt to keep the bronchial mucosa moist; but since the cough
is not the result of infection, antibiotics will have no effect.
-
kick turn / kick-turn :
-
a turn from a stationary position that's perpendicular to the
fall line in which a skier lifts one ski to a point where the
heel is nearly at right angles to the snow, then faces the ski
outward, sets it down in the direction to be turned, and swings
the other ski around so that both skis are again parallel.
-
kindling :
-
material that can be readily ignited, especially small pieces of
foliage or scraps of wood, that're used in starting a fire. Also,
fuel or any combustible matter that can be lighted into a blaze
by fire. [v: fuzz stick]
-
kinesthesia / kinesthesis :
-
the sensation in one's own body of the movement of muscles,
tendons, and joints; the "muscle memory" of learned patterns or
practiced acts is a survival mechanism during periods of stress
or environmental exposure when the mind is too enervated (as by
cold, hunger, exhaustion, etc) to think clearly.
-
kink :
-
twist, knot, difficulty.
-
klemheist knot / machard knot :
-
a webbing strap alternative to the Prusik knot / Prusik hitch,
which is tied with cord of a smaller diameter than the primary
rope, serving as a friction hitch when ascending or descending a
hanging rope; friction can be increased by adding additional
resistance wraps to the knot's construction, but this snubbing
hitch can be easily relocated by relieving the tension on the
knot and shifting the strain to the hanging rope; derived from
'clamp' [klem (Dutch)], and sometimes misspelled "kleimheist".
-
klettershue / kletterschuhe :
-
special rock climbing shoes with rubber sides and soles that are
designed to improve perchase, grip, or hold.
-
klettersteig :
-
["climbing step" (German)] see via ferrata.
-
klippe :
-
an erosional outlier of a bisected nappe.
-
kloof :
-
a deep glen or ravine; from Afrikaans for 'cleave;.
-
knap :
-
the crest or summit of a small hill or protuberance; as derived
from 'knob'. Also, to strike sharply, as to chip or break-off
rock flakes when shaping stone implements; to "knobble",
"scabble", or "skiffle".
-
knapsack :
-
a bag, made of various materials (from fabrics to leather),
that's worn on the back for carrying supplies and other necessary
items; also called a backpack or rucksack.
-
knee socks :
-
knee-length compression stockings, often with a cushioned insole
for padding, that're worn with knickers and gaiters for maximum
maneuverability while climbing; socks are usually worn in doubles
(silk and wool paired) to accommodate the need for padding and to
wick perspiration (or other moisture) away by repulsive capillary
action, so as to prevent the climber's feet from freezing.
-
knickers :
-
loose-fitting short trousers that're gathered-in at the knees;
derived by shortening of 'knickerbocker', a descendant of the
Dutch settlers of New York.
-
knicks :
-
slang for either 'knickerbocker' or 'bike shorts' (qqv).
-
knifeblade / knifeblade piton :
-
a long thin piece of tapered steel with an eye for attaching a
carabiner, rope, sling, or the like, which are used to fit into
cracks that are too narrow for even the smallest of cams or nuts.
-
knob :
-
a rounded hill, elevation, or protuberance on a ridge or
mountain; a projection or boss. Also, to knock off excess stone
preparatory to dressing; also called "knobble", "scabble", or
"skiffle".
-
knoll :
-
a small rounded hill or mound; as derived from 'summit'.
-
knot :
-
a constrictive interlacement for fastening; an interlacing or
entwining of a line or rope that's drawn tight into a knob or
lump and is used for binding or connecting one cord to another or
a cord to something else. All knots are temporary; and become
vulnerable or weak-points if not retied. Also, a group of persons
or a cluster of things, especially a blockage. Also, an involved
or difficult matter, an intricate or complicated arrangement,
such as a knotty problem.
-
know the ropes :
-
experienced, knowledgeable, masterly; to be familiar with or able
to execute a task. A nautical phrase from the days of sail, when
an understanding of the complexities of ropes, knots, and rigging
was essential for a seaman. This expression first appeared as a
reference to the ship's captain in "Two Years Before the Mast" by
Richard Henry Dana (1840).
-
knurl :
-
a small ridge or bead, especially one of a series, as used for
decoration or for obtaining a firm grip; also spelled nurl.
-
knurled :
-
having small ridges on the edge or surface of something; milled.
Also, having knurls or knots; gnarled.
-
Kraton® :
-
the brand name (GLS trademark) of a synthetic rubber
(thermoplastic polymer) that can be molded to form a handle that
provides a non-slip grip while retaining flexibility. [v:
gutta-percha, India rubber, para rubber]
-
K2 :
-
see Mount Dapsang.
-
laccolith :
-
a mass of igneous rock, formed from magma that did not find its
way to the surface, but spread laterally into a lenticular body,
and this intrusion between two sedimentary beds forced overlaying
strata to bulge upward.
-
lade :
-
to load with a burden; to put or place a burden on or in,
especially when oppressive. Also, to fill or cover abundantly.
-
lallygag / lollygag :
-
to spend time idly; to loaf or goof-off.
-
lambert :
-
the centimeter-gram-second (cgs) unit of luminance or brightness,
equivalent to 0.32 candles per square centimeter and equal to the
brightness of a perfectly diffusing surface emitting or
reflecting one lumen per square centimeter; abbreviated: L.
-
Lambert's law :
-
the law that the luminous intensity of a perfectly diffusing
surface in any direction is proportional to the cosine of the
angle between that direction and the normal to the surface, for
which reason the surface will appear equally bright from all
directions; also called "cosine law", named after the German
mathematician Johann Heinrich Lambert. [v: Beer-Lambert law of
optics; Willebrord van Roijen Snell law of refractive index]
-
lamp :
-
any of various devices furnishing artificial light, as powered by
electricity or fuel. Also, a container for burning an inflammable
liquid (eg: oil, gas, alcohol, etc) at a wick for illumination.
Also, any of various devices furnishing heat, ultraviolet, or
other radiation (eg: infrared lamp).
-
landfall :
-
the sighting of land; the approach to a sighted destination; to
sight, approach, and reach an objective. Also, a landslide or
avalanche.
-
landform :
-
a specific geomorphic feature on the surface of the earth,
ranging from large-scale features, such as plains and mountains,
to minor features, such as hills and valleys.
-
landloper :
-
a wanderer or adventurer; literally 'land-runner'.
-
landslide / landslip :
-
the mass of fallen detritus, including soil and rock, from a
steep slope; or the slide itself.
-
lantern :
-
a transparent or translucent case serving to enclose an
artificial light and to protect it from wind and weather, which
portable lamp may be powered by oil, gas, alcohol, or electric
cells (battery).
-
lariat :
-
a plaited grass rope, usually with a hondo spliced at one end,
originally made from maguey fibers (agave); derived from "to tie
again, tied to fit" (Spanish: "la reata").
-
lashing :
-
a binding or fastening with a rope or line. Also, the rope or
line so used.
-
lasso :
-
a long rope or line with a running noose at one end.
-
lateral moraine :
-
detritus deposited along the sides of an encroaching glacier; a
mass of unstratified drift marking the sideways advance of a
glacier or ice sheet.
-
lax :
-
loose or slack; not tense or taut, not rigid or firm. Also, not
strict or severe; careless or negligent. Also, not exact or
precise, vague or inaccurate.
-
lay / laid :
-
the quality of a fiber rope, characterized by the kind and number
of fibers in the strands, the angles formed by the strands, and
the direction and degree of twist (eg: 16-ply Z-laid manila).
-
layback / lieback :
-
to maneuver in a crack, chimney, or other opening by fully
extending the body, with the feet or legs opposite the hands or
arms, so as to ascend or descend by friction exerted by bodily
pressure as a span; also called 'bridge' or 'stem', being an
extremely strenuous method of climbing a crack wherein the hands
grip the sharp rock edge while the feet exert pressure against
the rock wall, lifting the body incrementally.
-
lead :
-
to begin or advance; to go first, or in advance of others who
follow. Also, an opening or direction that affords passage to a
place. Also, the direction of a rope or line.
-
lead / leads :
-
a series of incremental advances that are shorter than the length
of a single climbing rope.
-
leader :
-
the guiding or directing head of a group or team; if first on the
ascent, responsible for installing protection or anchor points
while being belayed from below. Also, any of various devices for
guiding a running rope; also called 'lead'.
-
lead fall / leading fall :
-
any fall from above the climbers last piece of protection; the
falling leader will fall at least twice the distance back to the
last point of installed protection, plus slack and rope stretch.
-
lean-to :
-
a small dwelling of simple construction that's made from natural
materials, supported at one side by trees or posts, and having an
inclined roof. Also, a structure with a roof of a single pitch,
with the higher end abutting a taller wall or larger building.
-
ledge :
-
a relatively narrow flat shelf of rock protruding horizontally
from a cliff or slope. Also, a reef, ridge, or line of rocks in a
body of water.
-
leotard :
-
a tight-fitting covering for the torso, from crotch to shoulders,
with either a scoop or crew neckline; this one-piece garment,
made of a blend of variously colored fabrics (including nylon,
polyester, polypropylene, cotton, and the like), styled with
full-length sleeves, half-length sleeves, short-sleeves, and
sleeveless models for various applications. Designed by Jules
Léotard, an acrobat, as a close-fitting shirt (maillot) in
the early 19th century, then circus and stage performers adopted
the fashion around 1886; this unisex garment has since been worn
in various renditions and competitions, including gymnastics,
wrestling, modern dance, ballet, rowing, figure skating,
bicycling, high jumping, pole vaulting, running, and so forth.
-
letter :
-
a difficulty distinction (a-d) that can be added as a suffix to
any Class 5.10 rating, or above (ie: 5.10-5.14), in the Yosemite
Decimal System (YDS) scale.
-
Lexan® :
-
a trademarked brand of hard, tough, transparent polycarbonate
resin that's used to make shatterproof windows, protective
goggles, and other practically unbreakable objects. [nb: a
preliminary treatment of polycarbonate (eg: Lexan) windows with
acetone / dimethylketone will sufficiently compromise its
inherent structure so that it will shatter under impact]
-
lichen :
-
a complex organism that's composed of a fungus in symbiotic union
with an alga, which has a greenish, gray, yellow, brown, or
blackish thallus [undifferentiated plant form] that grows in
leaf-like, crust-like, or branching forms on rocks, trees, and
their surroundings. Also, any of various eruptive [papules] skin
diseases resembling the growth of this plant, including blistered
chill blains.
-
lifeline :
-
a route over which supplies must be sent to sustain an area or
group of persons otherwise isolated.
-
line :
-
any thread, string, cord, guy, rope, cable, hawser, or the like
for various uses (eg: rappel, belay, bridge, tow); derivation
from 'linen rope'.
-
liquescent :
-
becoming liquid; tending toward a liquid state; melting.
-
liquid sunshine :
-
rain that falls while the sun continues to shine; also called
"sun shower".
-
lithic :
-
pertaining to or consisting of stone, or a stone artifact. Also,
pertaining to clastic rocks, either sedimentary or volcanic,
containing a large proportion of debris from previously formed
rocks.
-
lithology :
-
the physical characteristics of a rock or stratigraphic unit;
petrology.
-
lithophyte :
-
any plant growing on the surface of rocks.
-
lithosphere :
-
the crust and upper mantle of the earth.
-
little rico :
-
slang for the lower level of a portaledge (qv); also called "scum
pit" / "scumpit".
-
L*O*A*F*E*R :
-
the Loyal Order of Aching Feet and Exhausted Rope is an
unofficial association of military servicemembers, past and
present, which proclaims that qualified individuals, inducted in
an arcane ritual (including recitation of its recognizable
wilderness sounds: grin, growl, gasp, groan, gripe, grit)
involving climbing hardware, boots, and knots, shall be hung by a
carabiner until tired or retired, asserting that a member in good
standing is barely poised, mostly leaning, often lying, but ever
erect!
-
locking carabiner :
-
a protective sleeve, mechanical or automatic, that prevents the
access gate from opening once engaged, which safety serves to
reinforce the carabiner's gate (the weakest part of the device),
improve its security, and to ensure that the climbing rope is not
inadvertently released from the device.
-
lode :
-
a rich supply or abundant source. Also, a vein-like metalliferous
deposit, being any body of ore that's set-off from adjacent rock
formations. [v: mother lode]
-
log / logbook :
-
a record concerning the details of a trip, or the progress of an
activity, especially a sequential register of the details of an
accomplishment. [nb: a personal diary or private journal differs
from the "guest book", where all visitors are encouraged to
contribute comments and observations]
-
lollygag / lallygag :
-
to spend time idly; to loaf or goof-off.
-
Look Nevada® :
-
creator (1950) of the inverted-V toe-release binding, centered by
spring that let-go to the side under an excess of torque during a
fall on downhill (Alpine) skis; this fixed-toe binding was
usually combined with a normal Kandahar-style heel cable, and
before the end of the decade, was imitated by more than 35
manufacturers, including Marker.
-
loom :
-
something seen indistinctly at a distance or through a mist or
fog, as light below the horizon that's reflected in the sky; a
rising or portentous appearance.
-
loop :
-
a slack portion of cord, line, or rope that's doubled upon itself
by crossing so as to leave an opening, as used in constructing
some knots or executing belays.
-
loop knot :
-
a knot made by doubling over a line at its end and tying both
thicknesses into a square knot in such a way as to leave a loop;
also called "open hand knot".
-
Lorica® :
-
proprietary name of a highly durable synthetic leather that's
constructed of micro-fibers, making it water-repellant and
breathable.
-
low-angle :
-
a face climb that's less than vertical, as contrasted by an
overhang.
-
low-lying :
-
situated below the usual elevation or altitude, as when lying
near sea level or the ground surface.
-
lost arrow :
-
slang for a long, thin, tapered steel piton used to fit into
narrow cracks.
-
lubber's knot :
-
an improperly tied reef or square knot, one that's likely to slip
loose; also known as "granny knot" or "granny's knot", so called
in contempt.
-
luxate / luxation :
-
to dislocate, displace, or to put out of joint, such as a
shoulder.
-
Lycra® :
-
a brand of Spandex®, a fabric with elastic properties that's
made with polyurethane fibers for tight-fitting sports clothing;
a colorfully synthetic material from which climbing and biking
tights were made for wear by men and women.
-
macardy :
-
a long rope of twisted horsehair that's been pulled from the mane
or tail; also known as "McCarty", and is a corruption of the
Spanish word ("mecate") for "maguey-fiber rope".
-
magic knot :
-
an elaborate knot, large and intricate, seemingly reliable and
impervious, which, at the worst possible moment, spontaneously
fails and unaccountably comes untied ... like magic!
-
magnus hitch :
-
a variant of the taut-line hitch (qv) that's finished with a half
hitch tied in the opposite direction, making the knot less likely
to twist under a load.
-
mammoth :
-
that which is very large or enormous, as likened to the extinct
true elephant of the Pleistocene epoch. [cf: mastodon]
-
mantle :
-
the woven or plaited sheath serving as an external cover for a
multi-strand climbing rope [ety: kernmantle: 'kern' (core) +
'mantle' (cover)]. Also, something that covers, overspreads,
envelops, or conceals, such as "the mantle of darkness". Also, a
long, loose, cape-like garment; a sleeveless cloak. Also, an
incombustible hood that becomes incandescent with the addition of
fuel and gives off a brilliant light when encapsulating a flame.
[v: Welsbach mantle]
-
mantle rock / mantlerock :
-
the layer of disintegrated and decomposed rock fragments,
including soil, just above the solid rock of the earth's crust.
[v: regolith ("blanket rock")]
-
mantle shelf :
-
a narrow horizontal ledge that's often (closely) backed by a
steep wall. [cf: mantelshelf]
-
mantling :
-
a maneuver whereby the climber hoists himself onto a narrow ledge
(mantle shelf), which is often (closely) backed by a steep wall,
or onto a featureless summit lacking any holds for ascent
leverage; a move whereby a climber surmounts a rock feature by
pushing down on it, in the absence of any useful holds directly
above, instead of by pulling up on it.
-
mare's-tail :
-
a long narrow cirrus cloud formation having a flowing appearance.
-
Marker® :
-
a high quality inverted-V toe-release binding manufactured in
Germany that's coupled with either a pivoting heel tie-down or
cable-tension attachment to downhill (Alpine) skis.
-
marl :
-
to wind a rope or cable with marline, every turn being secured by
a hitch; as derived from "ensnare" (marlyn). Also, a friable
earth containing calcium carbonate and clay.
-
marline :
-
light cordage of two-fiber strands, laid in a left-handed twist;
also spelled marlin.
-
marlinespike :
-
a smooth, tapered, steel tool used to open the strands of a wire
cable for splicing; also spelled marlinspike.
-
massif :
-
a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more
summits; derived from "massive". Also, a band or zone of the
earth's crust, raised or depressed as a unit, and bounded by
faults.
-
massive :
-
that which consists of or forms a large mass, being of imposing
bulk, weight, or scale.
-
mat / matting :
-
a piece of plaited or woven fabric used as a cover or pad.
-
match :
-
the use of one hold for two of the climber's limbs or appendages,
or an exchange of limbs or appendages on a particular hold; a
hold shared by two limbs or appendages, or a hold where limbs or
appendages are swapped or changed over ... a hold grasped by both
hands, or shared by the feet placed side-by-side.
-
matte :
-
having a dull or muted finish; having a subdued or non-reflective
surface, as flat paint or lusterless metal.
-
mauvais pas :
-
a place that represents a particularly difficult mountaineering
passage, as literally derived from "bad step".
-
maw :
-
a formation that suggests an open mouth descending into a throat.
-
McGuire rig :
-
devised by SGM Charles T. McGuire, an SF sergeant serving with
Project Delta (Det B-52, 5th SFGA); this is an extraction method
for when helicopters cannot land, which utilizes the same
equipment for a rappel insertion. Originally the rig "string" was
conceived as a stirrup-line or sling-eye; it was later refined by
MSG Norman Donny as a quick connect for the integral Swiss seats
to be converted into body loops over existing field gear. Lifted
and moved like sling-loaded cargo, the team had to secure the
ropes during landing to prevent fowling of the helicopter rotors.
Adaptations to the basic technique occurred, such as safety wrist
straps and linking arms to prevent spinning. The major defect of
the McGuire rig was for wounded or unconscious team members, who
were liable to fall out of their hookup. The STABO full-body
harness, invented at the MACV Recondo School, remedied this
problem.
-
medial moraine :
-
a ridge of glacial drift formed by the junction of two converging
valley glaciers; the combined merge of lateral moraines
conjoining to deposit detritus down the center of glaciation.
-
megalith :
-
a stone of great size, especially those used in ancient
constructions as monuments.
-
Mercalli scale :
-
the Mercalli intensity scale is an empirical scale that's
subdivided into twelve categories (I-XII) that are used for
rating the effects of an earthquake (as opposed to its strength
or magnitude). The Mercalli estimates range from I (almost
unfelt) to XII (total destruction). Giuseppe Mercalli devised
this scale in 1902, and it was modified by Charles F. Richter in
1956. The effects of an earthquake depend on its depth, the
geology of the area around the epicenter, and many other factors.
-
mesa :
-
a land formation, less extensive than a plateau, having steep
sides and a relatively flat top; most common in arid and semiarid
regions.
-
messenger :
-
a smaller line used to haul a heavier line or cable across an
intervening space; also known as "messenger line", "heaving
line", or "throw line".
-
Mesozoic :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic era occurring between 230
million and 65 million years ago, characterized by the appearance
of flowering plants and by dinosaurs; situated between the
Paleozoic and Cenozoic eras, subsuming the Cretaceous, Jurassic,
and Triassic Periods.
-
metal sandwich ski :
-
construction wherein a non-metallic core is laminated with a
protective metal cover for improved resilience.
-
Metonic cycle :
-
a cycle of 235 synodic (conjunctive) months, very nearly equal to
nineteen years, after which the new moon occurs on the same day
of the year as at the beginning of the cycle with perhaps a shift
of one day, depending on the number of leap years in the cycle;
eponymously after Meton, the 5th century BC Athenian astronomer.
-
Mickey Mouse boot :
-
waterproof and insulated rubber boots, with traction sole and
ventilation ports, worn over regular issue combat boots for
protection in severe winter conditions; these are the military
version of insulated overshoes or galoshes, so-called do to their
exaggerated appearance. Mickey Mouse boots, which were colored
white for Arctic camouflage, and were designed to readily fit
onto cross-country (Nordic) skis, actually worked too well;
causing the feet of an active soldier to overheat, and risk
frostbite when the perspiration froze. This boot was developed
after the experiences of WWII and Korea, when the military issued
'shoepacs' as winter boots.
-
midnight sun :
-
see white night.
-
Mie scatter / Mie scattering :
-
the scattering of light by particles that are large relative to
the wavelength of the light; eponymously after the German
physicist, Gustav Mie.
-
military binding :
-
(forthcoming); primitive ...
-
military crest :
-
the distance below the top of a hill or ridge, which varies
depending upon the terrain, where people can move without being
silhouetted, and from which the other side can be observed;
sometimes called "shoulder", as distinct from the brink, brim, or
brow.
-
milk run :
-
misnomer for an "early start", which is properly identified as an
'alpine start' (qv); by contrast, this term refers to a routine
procedure or an ordinary event that's synonymous with dull,
humdrum, or monotonous ... the final end-of-the-day sweep is
generally an uneventful "milk run". [cf: early bird]
-
Miller index :
-
a numeric representation of crystalline structures; being one of
three integers giving the orientation and position of the face of
a crystal in terms of the reciprocals, in lowest terms, of the
intercepts of the face with each axis of the crystal; a schema
named after W.H. Miller, a British mineralogist.
-
millerite :
-
a mineral, nickel sulfide (NiS), occurring in slender,
bronze-colored crystals; a minor ore of nickel.
-
mineral :
-
any substance of the class of usually inorganic elements
occurring in nature, typically of definite chemical composition
and crystal structure, but sometimes including rocks formed by
these substances, as well as certain natural products of organic
origin. Also, any substance that is neither animal nor vegetable.
-
minus / - :
-
a difficulty distinction (+/-) that can be added as a suffix
to any Class 5.9 rating, or below (ie: 5.0-5.9), in the Yosemite
Decimal System (YDS) scale. Also, a difficulty distinction
(+/-) that can be added as a suffix to any aid climb
classification rating (ie: A#+/A#-).
-
Miocene :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic epoch of the Tertiary Period
in the Cenozoic Era, occurring from 25 million to 10 million
years ago, when grazing mammals became widespread.
-
mistral :
-
a dry, cold, northerly wind; also called "cierzo" and
"tramontana".
-
mix :
-
short for "mixed terrain" or "mixed technique" since a varied
environment of clear, snow, ice, and rock requires a variety of
equipment and methods to negotiate during a single excursion.
-
mixed climbing :
-
the ascent and descent of a route by various methods and
techniques, from free climbing to aid climbing. Also, the ascent
and descent of a route wherein various rock and weather
conditions are encountered, from scree and wall to clear and fog.
-
moat :
-
a crevasse that forms where the glacier shrinks away from a rock
formation.
-
mogul :
-
a snowy bump on a hillside that's been created by snowfall
covering underlying irregular terrain, or by traffic leaving
isolated high spots where the regular pathways (foot, snowshoe,
ski) compress the surrounding snow; as derived from 'hillock'.
[v: moguled: descriptive of a slope with many moguls; cf: mugel,
mugl, mugerl, mugal] [ety: Austrian loanword]
-
moleskin :
-
a strong, heavyweight cotton fabric with a suede-like finish
that's used for sportswear and work clothing, especially trousers
("moleskins"). Also, an adhesive-backed felt that's applied
remedially to parts of the feet that have been subject to
abrasion from footwear.
-
monadnock :
-
a residual hill or mountain standing well above the surface of a
surrounding peneplain; being algonquian for "isolated mountain".
-
monkey bars :
-
see junglegym.
-
monkey butt :
-
slang for the sore irritated condition in the private or nether
region of one's anatomy when compelled to persistently perform
activities with inadequate hygiene; an equal opportunity malady
that plagues men and women, walkers and riders, sitters and
standers, regardless of race or creed, color or national origin,
especially when creature comforts are complicated by climate
and rationing. This inflammatory condition (chafing) produces an
itchy redness that causes the victim to walk straddle or
bowlegged, reminiscent of a chimpanzee or baboon; this
uncomfortable malaise is also called "swamp ass", "dookie booty",
"bleacher butt", "roseate fundament", "red ass", "crotch rot",
and so forth.
-
monkey fist :
-
a casting knot (often a figure-8 on a bight) added
to the trailing-end of a line to lend weight and direction for
throwing.
-
monoclinal :
-
pertaining to or composed of rock strata of a structure or fold
that slants, dipping in only one direction.
-
monocline :
-
rock strata that slants in only one direction; originating as a
back-formation from monoclinal.
-
monofilament :
-
a single thread-like filament, generally large, of extruded
synthetic fiber.
-
monolith :
-
a single block or piece of stone of considerable size. Also, a
single block of stone that forms an obelisk, large statue,
column, or the like. Also, something having a uniform or
redoubtable character, a massive or inflexible quality.
-
monticule :
-
a subordinate volcanic cone. Also, a small mountain, hill, or
mound.
-
moonbow :
-
a rainbow created by the light reflected and refracted from the
moon; also called "lunar rainbow".
-
moondog :
-
a bright moon-like spot on a lunar halo; a mock moon;
also called "paraselene".
-
moonlight :
-
sunlight reflected from the surface of the moon, the earth's
natural orbital satellite, during its several phases, except new
and eclipse, including the incidence of moonrise and moonset.
-
moon pillar :
-
a halo phenomenon in which a vertical streak of light appears
above and below the moon; believed to be caused by the reflection
of moonlight by ice crystals with vertical axes.
-
moon shadow :
-
a dark silhouette formed by the light reflected from the disk of
earth's satellite, especially during the full moon phase.
-
moor :
-
a tract of open, peaty wasteland, common in high altitudes where
drainage is poor, often overgrown with heath and other shrubs,
which has usually been preserved for game.
-
moraine :
-
a ridge, mound, or irregular mass of unstratified glacial drift,
chiefly boulders, stones, gravel, sand, clay and other debris
carried and deposited during glaciation, typically exhibited as
sedimentary ridges accumulated at the edges or extremity of the
encroaching glacier; derived from a "rise in the ground" along
the pathway of the ice sheet.
-
moulin :
-
a nearly vertical shaft or cavity that's been worn in a glacier
by surface water falling through a crack in the ice.
-
mound :
-
a natural (eg: hillock or knoll) or artificial (eg: embankment or
bulwark) elevation of earth, as a heap or raised mass; derived
from "protection".
-
mount :
-
to go up or to get up on, as surmount, scale, climb, or ascend.
Also, to organize and launch a campaign, assault, or other
endeavor. Also, a mountain, often used as part of a place name.
-
mountain :
-
a natural elevation of land that rises, often abruptly, to a
summit, and attaining an altitude higher than a hill.
-
mountain demon :
-
see yeti.
-
mountaineering :
-
the sport of climbing mountains.
-
mountain rescue :
-
a mixed team of experienced climbers, trekkers, and skiers who
have acquired survival skills, learned evacuation techniques, and
undertaken emergency medical training so as to locate and rescue
outdoorsmen who are missing or injured in the wilderness,
especially under adverse conditions.
[nb: in mountaineering, injuries and fatalities arise primarily
from errors of technique and judgement by the climber, by rapid
climate changes, and by other localized risks, such as rock falls
or avalanches; the climber's experience, agility, fitness, and
endurance are important considerations in that the more frequent
the participation in the sport, then the greater exposure to
risk; however, as more experience is gained, there is a greater
ability to assess the prevailing conditions and potential risks;
when calculating jeopardy, it is important to distinguish between
trekking (or hill walking), indoor climbing (on an Artificial
Climbing Wall), and mountaineering (or rock climbing), since
there is little risk in the former two]
-
mountain shrapnel :
-
slang for pieces of rock and/or ice that have fallen from the
side of a mountain due to wind or temperature changes, especially
when these pieces shatter into splinters while bouncing down the
fall line.
-
mountain sickness :
-
a condition caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood that
affects some persons at higher altitudes, which is characterized
by headache, dizziness, malaise, shortness of breath, nausea,
loss of appetite, and disturbed sleep; also known as "altitude
sickness" or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
-
mountaintop :
-
the top of a hill or mountain; the apex, vertex, pinnacle,
summit, peak.
-
mountain walking :
-
various methods of crossing rocky terrain on foot.
-
Mount Antisana :
-
an active volcano in north central Ecuador near Quito, having a
height of 18,885 feet.
-
Mount Blackburn :
-
a mountain in the Wrangell Mountains of southeast Alaska, having
a height of 16,140 feet.
-
Mount Dapsang :
-
in northern Kashmir on the China-Pakistan border, it's the second
highest peak in the world at a height of 28,250 feet; named after
Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen, the British Army officer,
geologist and topographer, who first mapped "K2", which was the
second peak in the Karakoram range.
-
Mount Elbert :
-
a mountain in the Sawatch range of central Colorado and the
highest peak (14,431 ft) of the Rocky Mountains.
-
Mount Everest :
-
in the central Himalayas on the border of the Tibet region of
China and Nepal, being the highest peak in the world at a height
of 29,028 / 29,108 feet; named after surveyor George Everest, and
also known as Chomo-Lungma and Sagarmatha.
-
Mount Foraker :
-
a mountain in the Alaska range of central Alaska near Mount
McKinley, having a height of 17,280 feet.
-
Mount Fuji / Mount Fujiyama :
-
a dormant volcano on Honshu island in central Japan, and the
highest mountain in Japan, having a height of 12,395 feet;
affectionately known as "Fujisan".
-
Mount of the Holy Cross :
-
a peak in the Sawatch range of central Colorado , having a height
of 14,005 feet; so-called for its cross-shaped crevasses, which
are distinctive when snow-filled.
-
Mount Huila :
-
a volcano in central Colombia, having a height of 18,700 feet.
-
Mount Kazbek :
-
an extinct volcano in the central Caucasus Mountains between the
Georgian Republic and the Russian Federation, having a height of
16,541 feet.
-
Mount Kenya :
-
an extinct volcano in central Kenya, having a height of 17,040
feet.
-
Mount Kilimanjaro :
-
a volcanic mountain in northeast Tanzania, the highest peak in
Africa, and often described as the tallest above-ground and
above-water (or "free-standing") mountain in the world, having a
base-to-summit height of 19,321 feet.
-
Mount Logan :
-
a mountain in the Saint Elias Mountains of northwest Canada, and
the second highest peak in North America, having a height of
19,850 feet.
-
Mount Mansfield :
-
a mountain in northern Vermont and the highest peak (4393 ft) of
the Green Mountains.
-
Mount Marcy :
-
a mountain in northeastern New York and the highest peak (5344
ft) of the Adirondack Mountains.
-
Mount McKinley :
-
in the Alaska range of central Alaska and the highest peak in
North America, having a base-to-summit height of 20,320 feet;
named after William McKinley, the twenty-fifth president of the
United States, and also known as Denali.
-
Mount Mitchell :
-
a mountain in the Appalachian range of western North Carolina,
and the highest peak (6684 ft) in the eastern United States.
-
Mount Rainier :
-
a volcanic peak in the Cascade range of western Washington,
having a height of 14,408 feet.
-
Mount Saint Elias :
-
in the Saint Elias Mountains on the boundary between Alaska and
Canada, having a height of 18,008 feet.
-
Mount Sanford :
-
a mountain in southeast Alaska, having a height of 16,208 feet.
-
Mount Shasta :
-
a volcanic peak in the Cascade range of northern California,
having a height of 14,161 feet.
-
Mount Sorata :
-
a twin peaked mountain of the Andes in western Bolivia near Lake
Titicaca, consisting of Ancohuma, at a height of 21,490 feet, and
Illampu, at a height of 20,958 feet.
-
Mount Vancouver :
-
in the Saint Elias Mountains on the boundary between Alaska and
Canada, having a height of 15,700 feet.
-
Mount Whitney :
-
situated in the Sierra Nevada of eastern California and the
highest peak (14,495 ft) in the continental United States.
-
Mount Wrangell :
-
an active volcano in the Wrangell Mountains of southeast Alaska,
having a height of 14,006 feet.
-
mousing :
-
a knot, wrapping, or puddening, made of yarns, and placed on the
outside of a rope.
-
move :
-
a particular method or a specific technique applied to a given
situation so as to progress on a climb.
-
moving together :
-
a method of climbing on undemanding alpine ground wherein two or
more climbers advance at the same time with running belays
between them, and without the use of fixed belays.
-
mud pot :
-
a hot spring filled with boiling mud.
-
mukluk / mucluc / muckluck :
-
a soft knee-high boot made of canvas or hide that's double-soled
and lined with either felt or fur, as originally worn by Eskimos
in deep snow; derived as a corruption of sealskin fur (Yupik:
"maklak"), and suitable for wear with snowshoes or crampons.
-
multi-pitch :
-
a slope or climb requiring more than one belay, fixed or running,
to complete, and typically longer than one rope length.
-
multi-pitch climbing :
-
assault routes that are too long for a single belay
rope.
-
munge :
-
informal referent for dirt and vegetation found in rock cracks.
-
mungo / mongo / mongoe :
-
a fiber made from reclaimed wool, generally consisting of a
shorter staple and of a lower quality than shabby shoddy. Also, a
low-grade fabric made from this reclaimed fiber, usually in
combination with other fibers; reused or reprocessed woolen
fabric.
-
Munter hitch :
-
a simple hitch, also known as a friction hitch or an Italian
hitch, that's often used when a mechanical belay device is
unavailable; a belay knot through which the rope slides when
pulled in one direction, but brakes when pulled in the other
direction.
-
musette / musette bag :
-
a small bag or satchel with a shoulder strap, used for sundries;
also known as haversack.
-
nailing a route / nailing the route :
-
descriptive of aid climbing with hardware protection installed.
-
nail up / nailed up :
-
a route completely set with supporting hardware (eg: bolts,
pitons, nuts, copperheads, etc); also called "bolted in".
-
namaste :
-
a traditional Nepali greeting of Hindi and Sanskrit origin,
having the literal meaning of "I salute the God which dwells
within you."
-
nappe :
-
one of the two equal sections of a cone; as derived from napkin,
table cloth.
-
ne plus ultra :
-
Latin phrase meaning the highest point of development or
attainment; the acme or peak. Also, the most intense degree of a
condition or state; the utmost quality.
-
nero :
-
a contraction of a nearly zero day, wherein very little effort is
expended and only a small amount of progress has been made in
accomplishing one's goal.
-
neve / névé :
-
granular snow that accumulates in fields on high mountains, and
is subsequently compacted into glacial ice; permanent granular
ice formed by repeated freeze-thaw cycles; also called 'firn'.
-
new moon :
-
the phase of the moon when in conjunction with the sun, making it
generally invisible.
-
newton :
-
the base unit of force in the International System of Units (SI)
which is equal to the force that produces an acceleration of one
meter per second per second on a mass of one kilogram.
-
nightglow :
-
airglow observed at night.
-
night-sky light :
-
the faint glow of the night sky, which is caused by such
phenomena as airglow and zodiacal light; also called "permanent
aurora", "night-sky luminescence", "light-of-the-night-sky".
-
nimbus :
-
an aura or atmosphere surrounding someone or something; also
called "halo". Also, the type of dense cloud that yields rain or
snow.
-
nip :
-
an abrupt turn or twist in a rope. Also, to bind or seize a taut
rope to another rope.
-
NIS :
-
Nordic Integrated System, a cross-country (Nordic) ski binding
wherein an integrated binding plate on the top of the ski to
which the bindings attach, allows adjustment in the field with a
metallic NIS key, as manufactured by Rossignol, Madshus, Alpina,
and Rottefella since 2005; the NIS is fully compatible with NNN
boots and bindings, such that NIS skis allow installation of
non-NIS bindings. The initial design of the NIS plate used a
movable insert for position adjustment. the Rottefella
"Xcelerator" bindings provides an increased power transfer from
ski boots with a matching "Xcelerator" patterned sole, which
includes the "QuickLock" mechanism for tool-less position
adjustment in the field. In 2007, Fischer abandoned SNS and
entirely switched to NIS.
-
NN :
-
Nordic Norm; see rattrap.
-
NNN :
-
New Nordic Norm, a cross-country (Nordic) ski binding wherein two
ridges extend backward from the toe latch, matching corresponding
channels in the ski boot, which is clamped in place by a metal
bar or bail; of the several varieties of NNN, including a more
rugged backcountry version, none is interchangeable with any
other, including previous models by the same manufacturer.
-
no-hands rest :
-
a foothold rest that doesn't require the assistance of the
climber's hands, either for balance or support; also called
'picknick stop'.
-
nook :
-
a corner, especially a secluded or obscure corner. Also, any
small recess, especially a remote or sheltered spot.
-
Nordic :
-
designates cross-country (X-C) skiing, wherein only the toe of
the boot is secured, as originated in Scandinavia; distinguished
from alpine (downhill or slalom). [nb: National Ski Patrol
established 1940]
-
norther / norte :
-
a storm or gale of cold from the north; also called "blue
norther", "nor'easter", or "northern". [nb: similar regional
winds around Alaska include Knik, Taku, Stikine, Matanuska, and
Squamish]
-
northern lights :
-
(aka: aurora borealis, aurora polaris, northern aurora) see
aurora.
-
NSAID :
-
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (eg: ASA, APC). [v:
acetaminophen / paracetamol (para-acetamidophenol)]
-
NTN :
-
New Telemark Norm, a heel-free cross-country (Nordic) ski binding
featuring lateral release, increased lateral rigidity, tunable
performance, and free-pivot touring functionality; developed
(2007) by Rottafella in two versions: Freeride (lift-assisted
skiing) and Freedom (touring), with different spring cartridges
available to match the binding to the skier's weight and skiing
style.
-
nub :
-
a small or shallow hold that can only be gripped by a few fingers
or by the tips of the toes.
-
nubbin :
-
a small projection of rock, such as a crystal protrusion, that
can be used as a hold.
-
Nubuck® :
-
proprietary name of a full-grain leather that's been abraded and
treated to achieve a soft, supple, and water-resistant finish.
-
nunatak / nunataq :
-
a mountain or rock that protrudes through an ice field; a hill or
mountain that's been completely encircled by a glacier. [ety:
Inuit loanword]
-
nut :
-
an angular metal wedge, variously sized, that's attached to a
wire loop, and serves as a protective device; a climbing nut is
inserted into a rock crack and it holds through counter-pressure;
probably originated by adaptation from stocks at an auto supply
or hardware store.
-
nut key :
-
an accessory device that's used to remove jammed nuts and other
protective equipment from a route; also known as a 'cleaning
tool'.
-
nylon :
-
a yarn fiber of extreme toughness, strength, and elasticity
that's formed from extruded thermoplastic polyamides; coined in
1938 by the DuPont Chemical Company.
-
objective danger :
-
any potential harm or hazard that's endemic to the location or
inherent in the situation, such as falling ice or avalanche,
rotten rock or failed gear, and not contingent upon the climber's
inexperience or exhaustion.
-
observation deck :
-
an elevated platform situated so as to provide visitors with a
panoramic view of their surroundings, usually uncovered and open
to the sky, whether this spectacular outlook area is built onto
touring ships or tall buildings, cliff faces or mountain aeries.
-
off belay :
-
the verbal communication by the climber notifying the belayer
that the rope is free, and the belayer is now relieved of
responsibility; also expressed as "Off rope!" ... and especially
in a training situation, the belayer will reply to the climber's
call by reporting: "Off belay!".
-
offset :
-
at an angle to something; being off-centered or out of balance.
Also, in a fault, the magnitude of displacement between two
previously aligned bodies. Also, a flat or sloping projecting
ledge on a wall, buttress, or the like, produced by a reduction
in thickness above; a counterbalancing setoff.
-
offwidth crack / off-width crack :
-
an irregular or inconsistent vertical opening in a rock face; a
fissure opening too broad for either hardware (ie: piton,bong,
nut, cam, etc) or the jamming of a hand and arm, foot and leg,
but much too narrow to wedge the climber's body (ie: chimney) ...
such irregularity is awkward and fatiguing to climb, and very
difficult to protect.
-
ojo caliente :
-
an early 19th century Southwestern Americanism for a hot spring.
[ety: Spanish loanword]
-
Oligocene :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic epoch of the Tertiary Period
in the Cenozoic Era, occurring from 40 million to 25 million
years ago.
-
omphalos :
-
any navel-shaped stone that may symbolize the umbilicus or
central point, and may function as a cult object in some
religions (especially the stone in the ancient Greek temple of
Apollo at Delphi, believed to mark the center of the world).
-
on belay / belay on :
-
the verbal communication notifying the climber that the belayer
is setup and ready to assist as required; the belayer is relieved
of responsibility when the climber calls: "Off belay!" or "Off
rope!" ... and especially in a training situation, the belayer
may then reply to the climber: "Off belay!" [nb: United Kingdom
climbers prefer the "Climb when ready!" call]
-
on-sight / on-sight flash :
-
a clean, first-time ascent of a climbing route without prior
practice or foreknowledge (beta).
-
open book :
-
metaphoric allusion to the inside, wide-angled, corner formation
of rock faces that's spread open more than ninety degrees.
-
Ordovician :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era,
from 500 million to 425 million years ago, notable for the advent
of fishes.
-
ore :
-
any metal-bearing rock; a native mineral or metal that can be
mined at a profit.
-
oread :
-
in Greek mythology, any of a group of nymphs presiding over
mountains and hills.
-
orography :
-
the field or branch of physical geography dealing with mountains;
also called "orology".
-
ostria :
-
a warm southerly wind on the (Bulgarian) coast that's considered
to be a precursor of bad weather.
-
outcropping :
-
an emergence or protrusion, as of exposed strata; also called
"cropping out" or "outgrowth".
-
outdoor idler :
-
sardonic allusion to a long-haul trekker who wanders the remote
backwoods, subsisting at isolated campsites, simply for the
untrammeled experience; after such protracted time, extended
distance, and irregular exposure, it's difficult to differentiate
this wilderness habitué from the normal assortment of
shiftless vagrants, disreputable vagabonds, and inconsequential
derelicts, except that this hinterland denizen has a home and
occupation awaiting him beyond his countryside perambulations,
regardless of his rough odor or nomadic appearance. [v: ski bum,
surf bum, scuba bum, climbing bum]
-
outfall :
-
the outlet, discharge, or drainage of a river or other
watercourse, whether surface or subterranean.
-
outhouse :
-
a small, simple, wooden outbuilding setup nearby a backwoods
shelter,that's to be used as a primitive toilet with a composting
dump hole; also called 'privy'.
-
outside corner :
-
a protruding acute angle of rock; the sharp intersection of two
rock faces that project forward or outward at an acute angle.
-
overhand knot :
-
a simple knot of various uses, wherein the running end of the
cord or line passes through a loop; unless used in combination,
this knot may slip; also called "single knot" or "thumb knot".
-
overhang :
-
a projection extending out over something below; a suspended
upper part over something beneath; a superincumbency in which a
section of rock or ice is angled beyond the vertical. [v: jut /
jutting, beetle / beetling; cf: undercut / undercutting]
-
overhead :
-
the ceiling-like interior surface of a compartment, cave, or
other opening inlet into rock.
-
pac boots / pacs :
-
protective cold weather boots for field wear during wintertime
that consists of a rubber shoe-like outer sole sewn to a
waterproofed leather upper or legging that laces closed over a
felt liner (removable for drying); developed in the early 20th
century as the Canadian or Maine hunting boot, it can be fitted
to snowshoes and crampons as well as to early military-style
cross-country (Nordic) skis.
-
paint pot / paintpot :
-
a spring or pit filled with colored mud that's boiling; derived
by association with an artist's container of paints or set of
palette colors.
-
pajamas / pyjamas :
-
a cotton or silk outfit of loose-fitting trousers and jacket
that's worn when working by both sexes in the Orient; a style of
clothing that was introduced in the 19th century to Western
civilization as lounging or sleeping attire; as derived from
"legged garment" (Hindi).
-
Paleocene :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic epoch of the Tertiary Period
in the Cenozoic Era, from 65 million to 55 million years ago, a
time of mammalian proliferation.
-
Paleozoic :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic era occurring between 570
million and 230 million years ago, when fish, insects, and
reptiles first appeared; situated between the Proterozoic and
Mesozoic Eras, subsuming the Permian, Carboniferous, Devonian,
Silurian, Ordovician, and Cambrian Periods.
-
palisade :
-
(usually palisades) a line of cliffs.
-
pan :
-
a natural depression in the ground, as one containing water, mud,
or mineral salts. Also, an artificial depression in the ground,
as made for evaporating sea water so as to obtain salt.
-
pancake :
-
to be flattened, as by impact during mishap; as derived by
metaphoric allusion to a thin bread or flat cake that's made from
batter (sometimes unleavened) and fried on both sides using a pan
or griddle (also called hotcake, griddlecake, flapjack, slapjack,
battercake, buckwheat cake, johnnycake, jonakin, flannel cake,
journey cake, funnel cake, hoecake, crepe, latke, corn cake,
ashcake, oatcake, bannock, waffle, flatbread, fritter,
friedcake).
-
panic bear :
-
slang for a frantic novice who's desperately searching for
footholds while clinging to handholds ... such intense scrabbling
and laborious scraping has been known to erode rock faces with
imperishable ruts!
-
paraglide /-ing :
-
A flight activity, also called 'parapente', involving the use of
an airfoil or a ram-air inflated wing (resembling a "square"
parachute) in surface lift-off gliding. Flights are typically
initiated by foot-launching from a hill or from a ground-based
tow.
-
paraselene :
-
a bright moon-like spot on a lunar halo; a mock moon; also called
"moondog". [cf: parhelion]
-
parhelion :
-
a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a mock sun: usually one
of two or more such spots seen on opposite sides of the sun, and
often accompanied by additional luminous arcs and bands; derived
by alteration of "beside the sun", also called "sundog" [cf:
paraselene].
-
parka :
-
a coat or jacket made of materials that protect against very cold
temperatures, usually straight-cut with a hood; adopted from
Aleut or Yupik usage through Samoyedic Russian. [nb: George Ingle
Finch created the first wintertime parka containing quilted
pockets of duck (eiderdown) or goose down insulation that were
covered by a windproof silk balloon fabric, which was worn during
an expedition (1922) to Mount Everest]
-
pass :
-
a relatively narrow route across a low point or depression in a
mountain barrier; any restricted passageway through an obstacle.
-
partial pressure :
-
the pressure that a gas in a mixture of gases would exert if it
occupied the same volume as the mixture at the same temperature.
[cf: Dalton's law, Henry's law] [nb: it requires more time and
fuel to cook at higher altitudes because the boiling point
(212°F/100°C) of water is more difficult to attain as the
atmospheric pressure decreases, leaving the food desiccated and
partially cooked, so a small sealed container is needed to
increase the pressure (which also increases the boiling point)
for efficient food and beverage preparation, enabling a higher
temperature to be reached before boiling occurs (water at 15psi
boils at 252°F/125°C); although pressure cookers (aka:
waterless cooker) reduce cooking time by a factor of three, they
also prevent the escape of air and liquids below a preset
temperature, which conserves their contents from evaporation ...
one of the earliest models was called a "steam digester",
invented by physicist Denis Papin in 1679; commercial kitchens
use large volume "pressure canners" ... WARNING: as with boiling,
the use of contaminated water in pressure cooking will not
cleanse its impurities, since distillation requires evaporation
(and condensing) to achieve potability; cf: osmotic (or reverse
osmosis) filtration]
-
party climb :
-
a group of several persons who are roped together so as to
cooperatively ascend a cliff or mountain; a group that shares the
expenditures (fiscal, physical, etc) and risks (including
sacrifice of a personal goal or attainment of a group
achievement) inherent when climbing a challenging face or summit.
-
party ledge :
-
a relatively large and level perch that's suitable for a group to
alight upon for rest or staging during a long or difficult climb.
-
pathfinder :
-
an Americanism for a person who finds a way or who makes a route
through uncharted territory, often serving as a guide into
unexplored regions for others to follow; someone who devises a
new approach to a known difficulty.
-
payment / pay one's dues :
-
the fatigue and injuries inherent with the empirical method of
learning; instruction in the "school of hard knocks".
-
peak :
-
the pointed top of a mountain or ridge.
-
peak-bagging :
-
the systematic acquisition of designated summits, deemed most
desirable by their height or challenge, especially via prescribed
routes or under prescribed conditions; a disagreeable form of
trophy-hunting, scalp-collecting, or ticket-punching.
-
pebble :
-
a small rounded stone, especially one worn smooth by erosion.
Also, a transparent colorless rock crystal that's used for the
lenses of eyeglasses. [v: calculus]
-
pediment :
-
a gently sloping rock surface at the foot of a steep slope,
usually thinly covered with alluvium.
-
peel :
-
slang for fall, fall-off, fall-down.
-
pegboard :
-
a thick board featuring a series of large-bore drilled holes,
with matching moveable pegs, that's mounted vertically against an
interior wall in a gymnasium as a device for exercise, for
training strength and coordination ... in the post-WWII era, it
was an early form of artificial climbing wall (ACW). The pegboard
design was adapted from board games at the end of the 19th
century, leading to a commercially manufactured
Peg-Board™, being a brand of perfboard or
hardboard into which small pegs or hooks could be inserted for
the display or stowage of various objects.
-
pelican hook / slip hook :
-
a hook-like device that's used for holding the link of a chain,
the eye of a grommet, or the like, which consists of a long
shackle with a hinged rod held closed with a sliding ring.
-
pendu / pendule :
-
short form of pendulum swing or pendulum traverse (qqv). [ety:
French loanword]
-
pendulum swing :
-
the uncontrolled oscillations subsequent to a fall while
suspended on a rope from a secure anchor.
-
pendulum traverse :
-
a maneuver whereby the climber makes a deliberate swing on a taut
rope across a seamless rock face so as to attain a remote hold in
order to advance along a different tack.
-
peneplain :
-
an area that's been almost entirely reduced to a plain by
erosion; also spelled peneplane.
-
perch :
-
any place for a person to alight or rest upon, usually a high or
elevated position.
-
Perlon® :
-
the European name for nylon; when used as rope, its ease of
handling, high strengtth, and elasticity make it a good choice
for climbing.
-
Permian :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era
occurring from about 280 million to 230 million years ago, a time
of mass extinctions and a profusion of amphibian species.
-
petrogenesis :
-
the origin and formation of rocks.
-
petroglyph / petrograph :
-
a prehistoric drawing or carving on rock ... the world's earliest
graffiti, as created by ancient taggers of original art. [cf:
chromolith, lithochromy]
-
petrography :
-
the description and classification of rocks, especially by
microscopic examination; a branch of petrology.
-
petrology :
-
the scientific study of rocks.
-
pick :
-
a heavy manual tool mounted on a wooden handle that consists of a
metal head that curves on one or both sides to a tapering point,
which is used to break-up soil, ice, rock, and the like.
-
pickax / pickaxe :
-
a pick or adz (qqv).
-
picket :
-
a long, tubular rod that can be quickly driven (as by an ice
hammer) into snow so as to establish a ready anchor in an
otherwise featureless landscape.
-
picknick stop / pique-nique stop :
-
a foothold rest that doesn't require the assistance of the
climber's hands, either for balance or support; also called
'no-hands rest'. [ety: French loanword]
-
pied a plat / pied à plat :
-
a crampon technique wherein the climber advances on high-angle
ice with feet flat on the ice; as opposed to front-pointing.
[ety: French loanword]
-
pied assis :
-
a crampon technique wherein the climber rests on high-angle ice
with one foot tucked under the buttocks, toes pointed straight
down-slope. [ety: French loanword]
-
pied d'elephant / pied d'éléphant :
-
a short, usually hip-length sleeping bag, which is typically used
in conjunction with a down-filled jacket (duvet). [ety: French
loanword]
-
pied en canard :
-
a crampon technique wherein the climber walks on moderate-angle
ice with toes pointed outward ... literally "duck footed". [ety:
French loanword]
-
pied marche :
-
a crampon technique wherein the climber walks on low-angle ice
with toes pointed straight ahead. [ety: French loanword]
-
piedmont :
-
a plateau of rolling terrain or foothills situated between
mountains and plains.
-
pig / pig bag :
-
slang for a 'dingleberry' or 'haul bag' (qqv).
-
pigtail :
-
the short segment or portion of the running end of the rope
between the safety knot and the terminal end.
-
pike :
-
a hill or mountain with a pointed summit; being a Briticism
derived from any sharply pointed projection or 'pinnacle'.
-
Pikes' Peak :
-
in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado, having a height of
14,108 feet.
-
pile :
-
a great or lofty accumulation that's tumbled or heaped and lying
together in an assemblage; a large collection or aggregate.
-
pillar :
-
a rock obelisk, stone upright, or other monolithic structure of
natural construction, relatively slender in proportion to its
height, and of any shape in section, serving as a support or
standing alone, as in a monument; a post or shaft. [cf: cone,
spire]
-
pinch hold :
-
a hold that's literally secured by pinching.
-
pinch point :
-
the place where the anchor device is secure and holds against
directional force.
-
pink point / pinkpoint :
-
to complete a lead climb without falling or resting on the rope
("hangdogging") by using previously emplaced protection from
bottom to top.
-
pink time :
-
the period of diffused light, during sunrise or sunset, when the
sun is below the horizon, which periods of daybreak ("false dawn"
/ dawn) or nightfall (evening / dusk), formally known as
"nautical twilight", are optimal for navigation; normally
classified as: Beginning Morning Nautical Twilight (BMNT), Ending
Morning Nautical Twilight (EMNT), Beginning Evening Nautical
Twilight (BENT), and Ending Evening Nautical Twilight (EENT).
-
pinnacle :
-
any lofty peak or summit; as the highest point of a mountain, or
the towering part of a rock formation.
-
pisolite :
-
limestone that's composed of rounded concretions that are about
the size of a pea.
-
piss up a rope :
-
to indulge or engage in a futile or pointless act, like "fly a
kite"; also expressed as "spit up a rope". Also, to perform a
difficult act, or to attempt something impossible, that will not
change anything, like "push a rope uphill". Also, to go away and
do something else or bother someone else, like "piss-off".
-
pit :
-
a hole or cavity, hollow or indentation in the ground, such as a
well, shaft, or excavation.
-
pitch :
-
a section of rock between two belay points, which is no greater
than the length of one climbing rope (150ft / 65m). Also, a
steeply sloping or angled place on a mountainside where it is
difficult to find a belay. Also, that part of a challenging climb
secured by a belay, either single or multiple (multi-pitch).
Also, slang for making a technical or assisted climb. Also, a
section of a climb between two stances. Also, to pave, bank, or
revet with small stones.
-
piton :
-
a metal spike or peg of steel or aluminum with an eye for
attaching a carabiner, rope, sling, or the like, and serving as a
belay point or anchor when inserted in a rock crack or other
narrow opening; a type of flat or angled ringbolt that's
available in various shapes and sizes. [ety: French loanword]
-
piton catcher :
-
a clip-on leash or tether that's fastened to a piton during
insertion or extraction, so as to avoid its inadvertent loss.
-
piton hammer :
-
see rock hammer.
-
plastic ski boots :
-
hard plastic ski boots were introduced by Lange (1966) as a way
of improving standard leather ski boots, with the plastic sole
piece (ie: 75mm) being standardized so as to allow toe-and-heel
bindings to clip on, and in fact, allowing any binding or ski to
be adapted to the needs of the skier; plastic has the advantages
of being much firmer than leather, of not changing shape over
time, and of having predictable friction characteristics, whether
wet or dry. The use of highly flexible plastics allowed for a
sole that was very strong torsionally, but still had excellent
flexibility lengthwise, allowing the heel to rise as required by
cross-country (Nordic) systems.
-
plateau :
-
a land area having a relatively level surface that's considerably
higher than adjoining land on at least one side; also called
"tableland".
-
plate binding :
-
a metal plate that's firmly clipped to the sole of the ski boot,
with a binding that clamps onto the plate, which plate could be
easily removed for walking around when not skiing; introduced
[BURT Retractable, Spademan, etc (ca1972)] to offset the
deficiencies of fixed heel-and-toe downhill (Alpine) ski
bindings, made more inconsistent by the materials and wear of
various types of ski boots, a problem resolved by the
displacement of plastic boots, which better fit all extant
bindings. [v: Teflon anti-friction pad (1972)]
-
platy :
-
as a result of uneven cooling, thin flat sheets of split igneous
rock that often resembles strata.
-
Pleistocene :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic epoch forming the earlier half
of the Quaternary Period in the Cenozoic Era, beginning about two
million years ago and ending ten thousand years ago, the time of
the last Ice Age and the advent of modern humans.
-
Plexiglas® :
-
the trademarked brand name of a lightweight, transparent plastic
material (methyl methacrylate) that can be molded or cut to form
tempered shields, prescription lenses, and many other objects.
-
Pliocene :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic epoch of the Tertiary Period
in the Cenozoic Era, occurring from ten million to two million
years ago when mammalian life was proliferating and climatic
cooling had begun.
-
plumber's candle :
-
a short, unscented, long-burning, utility candle with a cotton
wick that offers greater illumination than tapers.
-
plume :
-
a deep-seated upwelling of magma within the earth's mantle; also
called 'mantle plume'.
-
plunge step / plunge stepping :
-
an aggressive stride pattern for descending on hard snow or on
steep-angle ice.
-
plus / + :
-
a difficulty distinction (+/-) that can be added as a suffix
to any Class 5.9 rating or below in the Yosemite Decimal System
(YDS) scale. Also, a difficulty distinction (+/-) that can
be added as a suffix to any aid climb classification rating (ie:
A#+/A#-).
-
plus-fours / plus fours :
-
very loose-fitting short trousers that're gathered-in at the
knees for wear by men engaged in some outdoor sports (eg: golf,
climbing, X-C skiing, etc); popularized in the 1920s, their name
derives from the addition of four inches of cloth to ordinary
knickers in order to obtain the desired freedom of movement ...
when climbing, these slightly longer and baggier wool knickers
are usually worn with knee-socks and gaiters.
-
pocket :
-
an indentation or depression recessed into the rock surface,
which is usually measured by the total number of fingers that can
be crammed into it.
-
Pocket Rocket® :
-
the tradename of an MSR stove, which referent has become generic
for any small foldable canister stove top.
-
pof :
-
an alternative chalk made from pine resin, which is popular in
France, but discouraged (if not actively forbidden) elsewhere
since it deposits a thick, shiny resin layer on the affected
rock, and friction can only be restored by using more pof.
-
pole plant / pole-planting :
-
when the skier sets his downhill ski pole slightly ahead of the
midline of his skis so as to aid in closely pivoting around it in
a tight turn.
-
polyester :
-
a polymer fiber with good dimensional stability.
-
polyethylene / polythene :
-
a vinyl polymer of ethylene that's been used since the interwar
era to make plastic containers, packaging, electrical insulation,
and the like; abbreviated PE.
-
polypro / polypropylene :
-
a plastic polymer of propylene that's used chiefly for molded
parts, electrical insulation, packaging, and wicking fibers for
wearing apparel.
-
PolySprong® :
-
proprietary name of an extremely dynamic kernmantle rope made of
extruded polymer fibers that are so elastic that aggressive
rappelling can actually launch the descender back up to the top,
above the point of anchor; the manufacturer (Weee LLC) recommends
that this springy rope be used only by certified professionals.
-
polyurethane :
-
a thermoplastic polymer elastomer that's used in the manufacture
of clothing fibers, insulation, packaging, and resins;
abbreviated PU, and also called thermoplastic urethane (TPU).
-
poma lift / platter pull :
-
a plastic or rubber disk-shaped device positioned at the end of a
vertical bar that's designed to carry a single skier up a slope
by placing the disk between the skier's legs while the vertical
bar is suspended from a motor-driven overhead cable; the platter
pull is permanently fixed to the overhead cable at set intervals
by webbing straps, ropes, or cables. [ety: eponymously after
Pomagalski] [nb: to suddenly release (snapping-off) the poma disk
or T-bar lift when dismounting at the top of the hill is not only
discourteous, but could endanger anyone standing nearby or
following, as the erratically swinging device moves unpredictably
after departure]
-
poncho :
-
a pull-on waterproof garment, with hood and closures, made of
rubberized cloth or treated nylon, that's worn instead of a
raincoat, fitting over field gear and individual weapon; made
warmer by the addition of a poncho liner secured to the inside by
cord ties, and used as a groundsheet beneath a sleeping bag.
Known since the American Civil War as a "rubber blanket"
or "rubberized blanket", this outerwear was adopted from the
Mexican-American War campaign.
-
poncho liner :
-
camouflage-patterned insert of layered nylon for the military
rain poncho, that was used as a blanket in Southeast Asia during
the era of the Vietnam War, which kept the user warm even when it
was soaking wet; affectionately known as a "woobie" or "wubbie"
as an item of "creature comforts" during the era of the Gulf
Wars.
-
popper :
-
slang for a snap fastener that's used as a closure or adjustment
on a garment.
-
portaledge :
-
a lightweight and compact hanging tent system that's designed to
be deployed (erected and suspended) from anchors on a rock face,
providing its occupant with a secure and weather resistant
bivouac, as used on multi-day "big wall" ascents and descents.
-
positive :
-
the surface of a hold facing upwards, or away from the direction
it is pulled, thus facilitating its use.
-
posthole / postholing :
-
an arm, leg, or torso-sized hole punched through the icy surface
crust of deep snow when snowshoes or skiis are not or cannot be
used; such postholing can precipitate an avalanche.
-
pothole :
-
a hole or pit formed by erosion or the extremes of weather. Also,
a hole cut into submerged bedrock by the erosive action of sand
and gravel that's whirled about by eddying water; a cylindrical
pit formed by the abrading action of the detrital material in the
rocky channel of a turbulent or eddying stream, being often found
in formerly glaciated regions where whirling columns of meltwater
sank well-like holes (moulins) through the ice. Also, a vertical
cave entrance at ground level; a cave that opens vertically from
the surface of the ground.
-
potholer :
-
slang for a caver, especially someone who explores submerged
passages, culs-de-sac, or wells.
-
Precambrian :
-
noting or pertaining to the earliest era of earth history, ending
570 million years ago, during which the earth's crust formed and
life first appeared in the seas; succeeded by the Paleozoic Era.
-
precipice :
-
a cliff with a nearly vertical or overhanging face; as derived
from "steep place". Also, any situation of great peril; as
derived from "headlong".
-
pressure breathing :
-
forcefully exhaling so as to facilitate oxygen (O2)
/carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange at altitude; also known
as the "Whittaker wheeze".
-
Primaloft® :
-
proprietary name of a synthetic microfiber insulation that uses a
combination of ultra-fine and multi-diameter fibers to form an
effective material, resilient and resistant.
-
Primus® stove :
-
a trademarked brand of portable oil stove used by campers,
hikers, and other outdoorsmen for cooking and heating.
-
privy :
-
a small, simple, wooden outbuilding setup nearby a backwoods
shelter,that's to be used as a primitive toilet with a composting
dump hole; also called 'outhouse'.
-
problem :
-
the path taken by a climber when bouldering; being the same as
'route' when rope climbing on a mountain.
-
progress capture loop :
-
a friction hitch, such as a Prusik knot, that's directional, and
is used to retain or restrain while under tension.
-
Prolink® :
-
a Salomon NNN-compatible cross-country (Nordic) ski binding
system that was developed (2016) to commercially compete with
European brands (eg: Rotefella, Fischer, etc) ; the Salomon
Prolink® binding is lighter and can replace the NNN system by
using pre-drilled holes directly on the skis (as opposed to a
built-in ski-mounted NIS or IFP plate), and ostensibly delivers a
superior snow feel, even when paired with boots having thicker
soles.
-
prolonge knot :
-
a trefoil knot consisting of three overlapping loops, formed by a
single rope passed alternately over and under itself at
crossings; also called "sailor's breastplate".
-
prominence :
-
a protuberant projection or a conspicuous height; as derived from
"jutting out", as something that's prominent, such as a
promontory, precipice, or peak.
-
promontory :
-
a high point of land or rock projecting beyond the shoreline over
water; a "headland". Also, a projecting bluff or plateau
overlooking a lowland. Also, any conspicuous elevation; eminence.
-
proprioception :
-
an awareness of one's own body, its orientation and movement, as
related by sensory nerve endings [proprioceptors] located in
muscles, tendons, and the inner ear; used for proper positioning
and proper interactions with external objects, including balance,
exertion, extension, hyperextension, and recovery.
-
protection :
-
the hardware equipment used in aid climbing; also called "pro".
Also, the setting of anchors and other safety devices that are
intended to arrest a fall.
-
Proterozoic :
-
noting or pertaining to the latter half of the Precambrian Era,
from about 2.5 billion to 570 million years ago, when bacteria
and marine algae were the principal forms of life on earth;
succeeded by the Paleozoic Era.
-
Prusik clip :
-
a locking device that, when attached to the standing rope,
assists the climber to ascend the suspended rope, rather than the
rock; used in lieu of a mechanical ascender.
-
Prusik knot / Prusik hitch :
-
a friction loop using an accessory cord that can be used to
ascend a hanging rope, as a self-belay safety, or as a
supplemental belay safety; eponymously after Karl Prusik (1931)
that's also [mis-]spelled prussik, prussic, prussick, and the
like. Unlike mechanical ascenders, the use of this knot will not
damage the primary line, but it does not work well under icy
conditions. [nb: for best effect, the girth of the cord used to
tie the Prusik knot should be smaller than the diameter of the
standing line; furthermore, this friction hitch works as well on
one rope as on two ropes, even if of different diameters]
-
pseudo lead / pseudo leading :
-
a practice climb wherein the climber ascends a wall using a
toprope while trailing a disconnected secondary rope so as to
acquire the experience of clipping-in like a leader; the
imitation clipping-in is performed on the disconnected secondary
rope, and doesn't affect any anchors or belays on the toprope.
-
puddening :
-
a quantity of yarns, matting, or oakum, used to prevent chafing.
-
pulka / pulkka :
-
a small sleigh that's shaped like the front half of a canoe (or
rowboat) in which a single rider sits upright with his back
against a vertical support and legs stretching forward; in
Lapland, this boat-like sledge (called an 'ahkio'and 'akja' in
Finnish) is traditionally reindeer-drawn. [v: slipe, toboggan]
-
pulley :
-
a grooved wheel set in a housing that supports or guides a moving
rope or cable, allowing its force to be transmitted; such a wheel
or combination of wheels in a block, or such wheels or blocks in
a tackle, arranged so as to increase the force applied to the
line that rides in the groove in its edge; term derives from
"little pivot".
-
pulp :
-
the soft pulpy residue that's deposited on the valley floor when
a free climber misses his hold, or when faulty gear conspires to
defeat an otherwise cautious climber, or when nature itself,
abetted by poor technique, succumbs to gravity, rendering another
intrepid mountaineer into a jam of unappetizing glop!
-
pumped / pumped-up :
-
to infuse with enthusiasm, competitive spirit, energy, and the
like; to heighten, increase, or strengthen, as by expanded
engagement or intensified effort. Also, a "flexed" condition of
overworked muscles caused by an accumulation of lactic acid (a
product of anaerobic glucose metabolism), which condition makes
the affected muscles relatively unresponsive and weak; such
severe fatigue can feel like a "burn" due to the body's inability
to flush the built-up toxins and refresh the muscles with
oxygenated blood; a period of rest and massage will restore
strength and agility to the affected muscles.
-
Purcell Prusik :
-
a foothold friction hitch used in caving and rescue work, wherein
the regular Prusik is doubled so that the longer second loop can
be stood in (like a stirrup), so that the climber's hands are
free to handle other chores; the foothold loop can also be rigged
by hanging a webbed sling (runner) from the Prusik loop with
either a carabiner or a locking overhand hitch.
-
Quaternary :
-
denoting or pertaining to the present period of earth history,
forming the latter part of the Cenozoic Era, originating about
two million years ago and including the Recent and Pleistocene
Epochs; also called the Quaternary Period or System.
-
quickdraw :
-
consisting of a sewn-through doubled webbing strap with a loop on
each end for a carabiner that allows the climbing rope to run
freely through bolt anchors, chocks, or other installed
protection while leading; also called extender, quickie, or
'draw. The configuration of two carabiners connected by some
stiff sewn loop webbing, between five and fifteen inches in
length, is commonly called a "dogbone", and may be individually
constructed or commercially purchased to suit various
applications.
-
R :
-
a rating (R/X) that can be added as a suffix to any Class 5
designation in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), indicating the
existence of a run-out on that climbing route; on portions of
this route, the placement of intermediate protection is not
possible, such that if a fall occurs, the climber will impact the
ground.
-
rack :
-
the assortment of protection and aid climbing hardware that's
carried by a climber in order to achieve the summit. Also, the
accessory loops on a vest or harness where protection and aid
hardware is attached for ready use when needed.
-
rad :
-
slang for extreme; as a truncation of 'radical', this expression
is generally positive or good.
-
raincoat :
-
a waterproof or water-repellent coat that's worn over a person's
clothing as protection against fog, mist, rain, sleet, or snow.
-
ramp :
-
an ascending (or descending) ledge; a rock ledge that slopes at
an angle off the horizontal.
-
randonee :
-
a ski binding used in Alpine touring wherein the toe of the ski
boot is fixed in place but the heel of the boot may be either
fixed (as in downhill skiing) or unfixed (as in cross-country
skiing).
-
range :
-
a series of mountains forming a single system.
-
rappel / rappelling :
-
descent by sliding along the length of a rope, down a steep slope
or vertical structure (eg: bridge, building, etc) or from an
aerial platform; a method of descent whereby the climber lowers
himself down steep spaces on a doubled rope (for retrieval at the
end of each pitch), most often conducted by use of some
descending device (eg: carabiner/snap-link, figure-8, brake-bar).
Originally a method of body or "hasty rappel" (more formally
called 'abseil' or 'dulfersitz') which, after doubling around an
anchor and woven around the body, permitted the rope to be
retrieved and re-used after descending its length. Numerous tied
'Swiss seats' and sewn harnesses were later invented, culminating
in the full-body STABO rig; which is suitable for both ascent and
descent, including recovery of wounded or unconscious teammates.
A specialized downward-facing or inverted descent (often called
"Australian" because it is performed while the body is upside
down) is used with caves and buildings. Rappel training normally
includes methods for ascending an attached rope, including Prusik
loops, cam-ascend devices, anchors, and etriers. [ety: French
loanword meaning 'recall']
-
rappel point :
-
the anchor or hardware sling to which the doubled rappelling rope
is secured.
-
rap ring :
-
a welded circlet from which the rappel rope is suspended, instead
of an anchor or descender or carabiner.
-
rating scale :
-
a system used to rate the difficulty of climbing routes in
mountainous terrain, with some routes receiving several
designations, depending upon the difficulty of various sections
within that route; including: Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), aid
climbing classification rating, grade rating, Australian rating
system, Brazilian rating system, British rating system, French
rating system, and UIAA rating system.
-
ratline :
-
see footrope.
-
rattrap / rat-trap :
-
a cross-country (Nordic) ski binding wherein a metal bar or bail
clamps the toe of the ski boot into place, where it nests with
three pins (originally four pins) protruding asymmetrically
(oriented for left and right boots) from a base plate, so as to
fix the boot in position and prevent it from sliding rearwards
(out of the binding); this toe-hold tension binding (or bale and
cable binding) can be released by pressing down on the clip with
the tip of a ski pole. This binding is also known as 75mm, Nordic
Norm, and 3-pin.
-
ravine :
-
a narrow steep-sided valley, typically eroded by running water.
-
Rayleigh scatter / Rayleigh scattering :
-
the scattering of light by particles that are very small in
relation to the wavelength of the light, and in which the
intensity of the scattered light varies inversely with the fourth
power of the wavelength; eponymously after J.W.S. Rayleigh
(1935).
-
razorback :
-
a sharp narrow ridge or range of hills; also called "hogback".
-
RDS :
-
informal military abbreviation for Rapid Deceleration Syndrome,
being the malady that occurs at the end of a long unchecked fall,
often accompanied by loud screaming, and resulting in a soft
pulpy residue of unappetizing glop!
-
rebolt / rebolting :
-
the replacement of existing bolts on a current aid climb.
-
Recent / Recency :
-
denoting or pertaining to the present epoch, originating at the
end of the glacial period, and forming the latter half of the
Quaternary Period; also called Holocene (in the Cenozoic Era).
Also, of or belonging to a time not long past.
-
recessional moraine :
-
deposited detritus marking a temporary halt in the general
retreat of a glacier.
-
red flash :
-
a red coloration of the lower portion of the sun, occasionally
seen as the sun rises above or sinks to the horizon.
-
red point / redpoint :
-
the completion of a lead climb while placing one's own
protection, without falling or resting on the
rope ("hangdogging").
-
reef / reef knot :
-
a square knot, wherein the ends cross in different directions,
coming out alongside the standing parts, which allows the bights
to tighten, producing a secure knot that's used for tying things
down; also called "flat knot".
-
reeve :
-
to pass a rope or line through a ring, hole, slot, or the like,
as to rig or rove; derived from 'reef' (to make secure with tie
downs). Also, to fasten by placing around or through something.
-
regolith :
-
the layer of weathered rock and soil overlying bedrock; also
called 'mantle rock'.
-
rendezvous :
-
a place designated for assembly or meeting; an agreement to
gather at a certain time and place; the meeting itself, as
derived from "betake yourselves".
-
rendezvous start :
-
departing later in the day than originally planned, instead of
postponing the launch for bright and early the next day; being an
attempt to approximate the intended schedule without falling
behind before the trip actually begins.
-
rent :
-
an opening made by rending or tearing, as a fissure.
-
rest step :
-
the practice of relaxing or resting the unweighted uphill leg by
briefly pausing with the climber's weight on the knee-locked
lower or rear leg so as to save effort or conserve energy between
each stride.
-
retie / retied / retying :
-
to tie something (ie: cord, rope, webbing strap, etc) together
again, as in a knotted interlacement. [nb: not "re-..."]
-
retro-bolting :
-
the addition of extra or supplementary bolts on a current aid
climb.
-
reverse slope :
-
on the backside and below the top of a hill, opposite the front
or facing slope, but oriented in the same direction, as used for
protection or concealment.
-
R horizon :
-
bedrock that's immediately underlying layers of soil.
-
riata :
-
a braided rawhide rope, usually with a hondo spliced at one end;
derived from "to tie again, tied to fit" (Spanish: "la reata").
-
rib :
-
a slightly protruding rise or small horizontal ridge on a rock
face; a singular corrugation, wale, welt, or fret.
-
Richter scale :
-
the Richter magnitude scale, developed in 1935 by Charles F.
Richter, is a logarithmic scale, ranging from 1 - 10, that's used
for measuring earthquake intensity (magnitude). The Richter
magnitude is computed from the measured amplitude and frequency
of the earthquake's shock waves received by a seismograph,
adjusted to account for the distance between the observing
station and the epicenter of the earthquake. An increase of 1.0
in the Richter magnitude corresponds to an increase of 10 times
in the amplitude of the waves, and to an increase of about 31
times more energy released by the quake. The Richter scale
measures the intensity of the earthquake itself, not the
intensity of the earthquake's effects, which are estimated by the
Mercalli scale.
-
ridge :
-
the long and narrow upper edge, raised angle, or crest of a hill,
vault, or something similar; as derived from "spine". Also, a
long narrow elevation of land, as a chain of hills or mountains.
-
ridgerunner / ridge-runner / ridge runner :
-
slang for a volunteer who monitors the access routes and woodland
trails in parks and forests as augmentation to the official
government patrolmen, checking environmental resources and
natural habitats, lending aid and advice to hikers, climbers, and
campers visiting the area.
-
rift :
-
a fissure or cleft. Also, a fault, especially one causing an open
space or clear interval.
-
rig :
-
(forthcoming);
-
rim :
-
the outer edge or boundary, which is often curved; as derived
from a ridge or raised strip of land.
-
rime :
-
a thin crust of ice coating exposed surfaces; an opaque coating
of tiny, white, granular ice particles, caused by the rapid
freezing of supercooled water droplets on impact with an object;
also called rime ice, glaze, glazed ice, frost, silver frost,
hoarfrost, or verglas.
-
rimrock :
-
rock forming the natural boundary of a plateau or other rise.
-
ringbolt :
-
a bolt with a ring fitted in an eye at its head.
-
riprap :
-
an embankment or berm, wall or foundation, made of broken stones
and pieces of rock, often irregularly assembled.
-
rivet :
-
a short metal stud that's tapped into a drilled hole and
connected to a short sling or hanger on aid climbing; a rivet
will hold the bodily weight of a climber, even when set in very
shallow holes.
-
roche moutonnee / roche moutonnée :
-
a rounded rock outcrop, glacially eroded, usually one of a group,
resembling a sheep's back; literally "fleecy rock". A spur formed
into a rounded outcropping by glacial erosion, which
characteristically presents a smoother up-ice side and a rougher
(scored or striated) down-ice side; also called 'sheepback'.
-
rock :
-
an aggregate classified by its chemical structure and formation;
mineral matter of variable composition and character that's been
formed or transformed, assembled or reassembled in masses by
natural processes, such as heat or sedimentation; including
basalt, granite, lava, limestone, mudstone, obsidian, sandstone,
shale, slate, soapstone, traprock, and so forth. [v: agglomerate,
conglomerate, metamorphose] [nb: exposed limestone rock in the
desert can contain an abundance of water that's held in under
pressure by a crust that forms on its surface, such that if the
crust is suddenly cracked apart, the water may gush forth]
-
rock-bound :
-
hemmed-in, surrounded by, or covered by rocks. Also, oriented or
directed toward rocks and boulders, mountains or climbing.
-
rock drill :
-
a steel shaft of various diameters with a star-shaped point
that's used to bore relatively short holes in stone or masonry by
striking the end with a hammer while rotating the tip; such a
narrow hole is intended to accept an anchor bolt, a connector
secured by wedges, a load of explosives, and so forth. [cf:
gimlet, auger, sinker, drifter, stoter, jackhammer]
-
rock dust :
-
those minute particles that result from the natural or mechanical
pulverization of rocks and stones; especially a crushed limestone
that's sprayed on surfaces in mines to make coal dust
incombustible in the event of a gas explosion.
-
rockery :
-
a rock garden of plants grown among stones, or of stones arranged
artistically; an aesthetic arrangement of plants and/or stones
that's intended to inspire meditation, to evoke creativity, or to
instill tranquility.
-
rock garden :
-
a rockery; also represented as a "Zen garden" or "tray
landscape".
-
rock hammer :
-
a lightweight tool used to break-off samples and to crack-open
specimens, the implement consisting of a chisel-like cross-peen
wedge opposite the smallish striking head surmounted on a short
handle; this compact tool serves to expose rock structure, to
clean crevices of debris, and to pound climbing hardware into
rock openings; also called "geologist's hammer" and "piton
hammer".
-
rock hound / rockhound :
-
a recreational collector of rocks, fossils, and minerals; an
amateur geologist.
-
rock jock :
-
rhyming slang for a mountaineering enthusiast.
-
rock rash :
-
a generalized phrase for the abrasion or chafing of skin
resulting from close contact with hard or unyielding surfaces,
usually gravity slippage or tension friction.
-
rock rat :
-
rhyming slang for a mountaineering enthusiast.
-
rock-shelter :
-
a shallow cave, natural depression or recess, or any other
unimproved sanctuary or primitive dwelling; a den or lair.
-
Rocky Mountains :
-
a system of mountains in western North America forming the
continental divide ("Great Divide"); also known as the "Rockies",
"Stony Mountains", "High Stonies", or "Shining Mountains"; the
highest peak in the contiguous states is Mount Elbert (14,431ft),
the highest peak in Canada is Mount Robson (12,972ft), and the
highest peak in Alaska is Mount McKinley (20,320ft).
-
rogue's yarn :
-
informal reference to the insertion of a distinctively different
yarn into the ropes and lines of cordage so as to identify the
manufacturer in case of defect, or to identify the source in case
of theft; also called "identification thread", being a strand of
yarn of a distinctively different color, fiber or twist, unique
to each producer, that's introduced along the full length of
ropes and cords sold to the military.
-
rolling hitch :
-
a knot similar to a clove hitch but taking one more turn around
the object to which the line is being bent; a hitch on a fixed
object composed of two round turns and a half hitch, so disposed
as to jam when a stress is applied parallel to the object on
which the hitch is made; also called "Magnus hitch".
-
roof :
-
slang for a large rock overhang in which an almost horizontal
forward projection somewhat resembles an eave or ceiling; a
superincumbency. [v: jut / jutting, beetle / beetling; cf:
undercut / undercutting]
-
roof climbing :
-
a recreational form of free climbing wherein young people scale
the exterior of a multi-story building so as to summit its
rooftop; a challenging pastime that became popular among urban
and cloistered collegians from the early 20th century onwards.
[cf: base jumping]
-
the roof of the world :
-
an allusion to Tibet (Thibet), or the Tibet Autonomous Region of
the People's Republic of China (pinyin: Xizàng or
Zàngqu), which has an average elevation of 16,000 feet.
Also refers to the Himalayas or Himalaya Mountains.
-
rope :
-
any type of line (eg: kernmantle, laid, braid, plait, twine) that
can be used to attach, connect, tether, secure, restrain, haul,
lift, or other useful purpose, which is available in static or
dynamic, wet or dry varieties; a basic item of climbing equipment
consisting of the physical life line connecting the climber to
the rock and the belayer. Also, slang for marijunana, as to
"smoke a rope", due to ropes having once been made from hemp,
manilla, sisal, and other bast fibers.
-
rope bridge :
-
a temporary traverse, using one (.), two (I), or three (V)
strands of rope with a retrievable tension-knot (eg: butterfly
knot), for small unit crossings of difficult or time-consuming
water courses or ravines; derived from ancient Chinese catenary
or suspension-archbridges. Rope bridges have existed, with bamboo
slides or cradles, in China and Tibet since AD20; and by
technomigration in the Andes from ca1290. Relative tensile
strength of materials: hemp @8,000psi; bamboo @26,000psi;
silk @65,000psi; steel cable @256,000psi.
-
rope burn :
-
a skin abrasion resulting from the heat of friction generated by
the movement of a rope against the skin; caused by the loss of
control of a rope, by entanglement in a rope, or by poor handling
or casting technique.
-
rope jumping :
-
an extreme sport wherein someone jumps from an object using a
rope and other basic items of climbing equipment. [cf: bungee
jumping / bungee cord jumping]
-
rope of sand :
-
the proverbial "weak link", being a tie or connection, join or
union that is essentially unreliable, and so virtually worthless.
-
rope tow :
-
a machine-driven endless loop of spliced rope that runs
continuously so as to transport skiers uphill on a ski slope by
simply grasping the rope and allowing themselves to be pulled
uphill; often augmented at increments by power rollers to keep
the sagging rope from cutting into the hill, or performed in
stages that allow less experienced skiers a shorter or easier
downhill run.
-
ropewalk :
-
any rope bridge, or a crossing by rope bridge. Also, any assisted
climb or traverse made low-risk by supportive hardware; used in
the same sense as "cake walk", meaning easy or simple. Also, a
long narrow path or building where ropes are made.
-
ropeway :
-
a system for carrying passengers in a cable-car and freight in
capsules that operate along overhead cables; a tramway or
telpherage.
-
rottefella :
-
Norwegian for 'rattrap' (qv), being a spring tension binding for
cross-country (Nordic) skis that was adapted from a couple of
hardware store rat traps by Bror With (1927), with the success of
this design demonstrated at the Saint Moritz Winter Olympics
[Sankt Moritz, Switzerland (1928)], its popularity lasted
two-thirds of a century ... the Rottefella company has since
developed other ski binding innovations.
-
rotten :
-
yielding or friable due to disintegration or decomposition, such
as breakable rock that will not accept hardware protection, or
cannot bear the climber's weight; and by extension, anything bad
or corrupt, unreliable or unsatisfactory.
-
rotten ice :
-
ice that's pitted or honeycombed from melting.
-
rottenstone :
-
a friable stone resulting from the decomposition of a siliceous
limestone.
-
round turn :
-
a wrap of rope or line around an object one-and-a-half times so
as to reduce the load over a small diameter (less than 3"), or to
relieve knot tension by increasing friction.
-
route :
-
the path of a particular climb, especially when using ropes on a
sheer rock face. Also, a predefined set or series of moves.
-
rove / reeve :
-
to pass strands through an opening, or a line through a hole or
ring, preparatory to fastening them or making them secure. Also,
to wander.
-
royal christie / royal christy :
-
a skiing turn in which the skier, traversing across the slope
with skis parallel, then executes a skidding stem christie turn,
except that the unweighted ski is held off the ground (or with
only the ski tip gently riding along the slope) until the turn is
completed, and the skis are again positioned parallel.
-
RP :
-
the original brass nut or taper, being a small and effective form
of protection for clean aid.
-
rubber ice :
-
thin ice that shifts, cracks, or groans when crossed on foot.
-
rubble :
-
rough fragments of broken stone formed by geological processes.
Also, the broken bits and pieces of anything, as from quarrying
or bombing.
-
ruck / rucksack :
-
a backpack capable of carrying large heavy loads; modern packsack
styles have varied from external frame, interior frame, and no
frame, with the ancient Greek RUCKSACK being a backpacked
wickerwork basket.
-
rucking :
-
a type of interdisciplinary training that melds power walking
with upper-body tension by speed walking while carrying a
weighted backpack over varied terrain for an extended distance;
an exercise modality (burning three times as many calories as
straight walking) that has practical applications for
outdoorsmen, but has lately become a form of long-distance
competition. [nb: rock climbers can substitute the weighted
rucksack by rigging a shoulder harness with overlapping Swami
belts from which a pair of dumbbells are suspended by oversized
snap-links]
-
rule of thumb :
-
any rough or practical method of procedure, being an allusion to
simple handspan or hand's-breadth measurement estimates. Also, a
general principle or guideline based on experience or practice,
as opposed to a precise scientific calculation. [eg: the first
joint of the adult thumb measures almost exactly one inch; the
'hand' is an unconventional unit of measure equivalent to four
inches, while a 'handspan' is a non-standard measure
approximating eight to ten inches; cf: ell, cubit]
-
Rum Doodle :
-
any mythic mountain climbed by an unsuitable or incompetent
party, based upon a parody of classic technique entitled "The
Ascent of Rum Doodle" by W.E. Bowman (1956); this cult book has
also inspired a climber's registry and eatery in the Himalayas,
as well as the formal identification of an Antarctic elevation
measuring 153 feet.
-
run in / in run :
-
the measured distance on a ski jump from the starting position to
the take-off launch point.
-
runner :
-
slang for a sling loop of sewn webbing in various sizes. Also, a
webbing component, together with anchors and carabiners, for an
on-demand safety belay of a lead climber.
-
running belay / running-belay :
-
a method of using carabiners as an on-demand safety restraint, in
combination with pitons or slings secured to the rock, so as to
protect the climbing leader on a pitch; also called "runner", as
opposed to 'fixed belay'.
-
running-end :
-
the loose or working end of a rope or line; also called "running
part", as opposed to standing-end.
-
running knot :
-
a knot made around a rope so as to slide along a part of the same
rope, thus forming a noose ('running noose') that will tighten as
the rope is pulled; a slipknot.
-
running noose :
-
a loop formed in a cord or rope by means of a slipknot, which
binds tighter as the moving line is pulled; also called "slip
noose".
-
run-off :
-
something that drains or flows off surfaces, as rainwater or
snowmelt.
-
run out / run-out / runout :
-
the length of rope extended for maneuver and advancement between
belays by the climbing leader. Also, an inordinate span between
two points of protection; the portion of a route between the last
point of protection and the top anchor, typically a fairly
low-grade slab. Also, an inordinately long portion of a route
having minimal protection, often dangerously distant. Also, a
clear open area, usually flat or slightly sloping, situated at
the base of a hill, where skiers can mount their skis, adjust
their bindings, practice movements or maneuvers, and dissipate or
deplete their excess speed from downhill skiing; in ski jumping,
the expansive distance from the take-off launch point to this
landing and recovery area.
-
rugose / rugosity :
-
rough, with wrinkles or ridges, especially a hold-sized area of
rock that has a rougher texture than its surroundings.
-
RURP® :
-
proprietary acronym for Realized Ultimate Reality Piton, designed
by Yvon Chouinard, being a postage stamp sized miniature piton.
-
saddle :
-
a high pass situated between two peaks that's larger than a col;
a ridge connecting two higher elevations, being a distinctive
topographic terrain feature that's also called "saddleback".
Also, any supporting member for a suspended line or cable, as
when bridging.
-
safe :
-
the call made to the belayer and other climbers that the person
ascending or descending is off of the line; the term "clear" is
also used to inform others that the rope is no longer being used.
-
Saf-Ski® toe binding :
-
a proprietary Alpine (downhill) ski binding, invented by Hjalmar
Hvam (1937) while recovering from a broken leg acquired during a
skiing accident, releases the slotted ski boot from the metal
clip toepiece with its pyramidal top when the angle of
intersection becomes too acute, but was forced out of the market
(1966) by escalating insurance rates.
-
Sagarmatha :
-
the Nepali name of Mount Everest, meaning "Mother Goddess of the
World".
-
sailor's hitch :
-
see taut-line hitch.
-
sailor's knot :
-
see carrick bend.
-
Saint Bernard of Menthon :
-
venerated in the Latin church as the patron saint of alpinists,
mountaineers, mountain climbers, skiers, and other upland
travelers; also known as 'Bernard of Montjoux' and 'Bernard of
Aotha'. After starting a patrol that cleared robbers from the
Alps, he established hostels and hospices for traveling pilgrims.
The breed of large dogs, trained to search for victims who were
lost in the mountains, is named for this saint. Saint Bernard is
usually represented as a robed rescuer with a white dog who's
using his crosier as an alpenstock in a mountain setting.
-
Saint Christopher :
-
the "Christ-bearer" was once a saint and martyr of the Greek and
Latin churches, but the patron saint of travelers was dropped
from the liturgical calendar in 1969; he was the protecting saint
against floods, fires, and earthquakes, and his image was
believed to keep the viewer from harm.
-
salt dome :
-
a domal geologic structure formed by upward movement of a salt
mass; associated with subterranean pools of oil and gas.
-
sandbag :
-
where a rating doesn't accurately represent the true difficulty
of a climb, to down-play or soft-pedal the difficulties of a
prospective ascent in order to induce a dubious partner to
undertake the venture.
-
sandstorm :
-
a windstorm, as in a desert, that blows along great clouds of
sand; variously known as "haboob", "sirocco", "leveche",
"harmattan", "brickfielder", and "Santa Ana".
-
sasquatch :
-
a legendary humanoid creature, imposingly large and impressively
agile, grossly hairy and malodorously rank, that's reputed to
inhabit the hinterlands of North America, from the mountain
forests of the Pacific Northwest to the trackless wetlands of the
subtropical Southeast; also known as swamp creature or highland
bigfoot, skunk ape or mountain demon.
-
saxifrage :
-
a small flowering herb that grows wild in the clefts of rocks; as
derived from "stone-breaking" plant.
-
scale :
-
to ascend, progress, or advance by steps, stages, intervals,
increments, or other graduated series. [v: Quebec, Chapultepec,
Saint Lo] Also, to subdivide a rating system into increments that
can best identify the severity of some particular terrain, or can
best designate the difficulty of progressing through that
terrain. Also, a proportional adjustment that places any
representation into its proper perspective (eg: mapping). Also, a
series of marks laid down at determinate distances, as along a
line, for purposes of measurement or computation. Also, a
graduated line, as on a map, representing proportionate size; the
ratio of distances on a map to corresponding values on the
surface of the earth. Also, a progression of steps or degrees.
-
scaling ladder :
-
see Jacob's ladder.
-
scarp :
-
a line of cliffs formed by the faulting or fracturing of the
earth's crust; a steep slope, also called an "escarpment".
-
schist :
-
any of a class of crystalline metamorphic rocks whose constituent
mineral grains have a more or less parallel or foliated
arrangement.
-
schralp :
-
a surfing loanword, being a compliment for performing
extraordinarily well under difficult circumstances. Also, slang
for flaying the skin off of one's hands while actively engaged.
-
schuss :
-
a straight downhill ski run performed at high speed. [ety: German
loanword literally meaning 'shot']
-
schusser / schuss-boomer :
-
a rash or reckless high-speed skier; also called boomer or
basher. [cf: schuss-boomee: skier hit by a reckless skier]
-
schussing :
-
in downhill (Alpine) skiing, to proceed at high speed; in
cross-country (X-C) skiing, to proceed directly or expeditiously,
without hesitation or delay.
-
schwag :
-
slang for terrible rock conditions.
-
scoria :
-
a cinder-like basic cellular lava; as derived from "dung".
-
scrabble :
-
frantic scratching or clawing with the hands, as to struggle in a
disorganized manner; to scramble.
-
scramble / scrambling :
-
a quick climb or progression over rough and irregular ground
without the use of ropes; to climb quickly using both hands and
feet, as to clamber.
-
screamer :
-
slang for a long terminal fall, unchecked by a Prusik knot
safety, anchors, or belays.
Also, slang for a nylon webbing construction that consists of a
single large loop sewn together in multiple places, making a
shorter length secured to the climber's harness, which sewn
(daisy chain) sections are intended to rip out in a continuously
tearing series in the event of a fall, absorbing some of the
stress energy by incrementally parting, and decelerating the
fallen climber, while the descent is still under control.
-
scree :
-
a steep mass of loose rock or broken gravel (variously ranging
from fingertip to fist sized, typically rounded but sometimes
fractured) laying on the slope of a mountain, especially at its
base; as derived from 'landslide'.
-
screw-on :
-
a small artificial hold of various shape, size, or color that's
screwed onto the climbing wall (ACW) so as to augment a route in
a climbing gym.
-
scumming / scuzzing :
-
slang for gaining purchase on a rock by any means, regardless of
how tenuous, awkward, or aesthetically displeasing.
-
scum pit / scumpit :
-
slang for the lower level of a portaledge (qv); also called
"little rico".
-
second :
-
the climber who follows the leader or first ascender up a pitch,
belaying from below while the lead advances; roles may reverse
between pitches.
-
section traveler :
-
a trekker or climber who undertakes the accomplishment of a
significant or substantial goal in parts or portions by
segmentally interrupting the effort with breaks for weather or
resupply, so as to return to family or work obligations; also
called flip-flop, and juxtaposed to through travel.
-
sediment / sedimentation :
-
mineral or other organic matter that's deposited by air, water,
or ice; the insoluble matter that settles, after suspension, to
the bottom of a liquid; as derived from 'sit'. [v: silt, lees,
dregs]
-
sedimentary rock :
-
rock formed by the accumulation or deposition of sediment.
-
seep / seepage :
-
moisture that slowly flows through permeable rock, its pores and
crevices, so as to form a pool from filtered ooze; also known as
a "drip spring", wherein liquid percolates through porous matter.
-
self-arrest :
-
the use of a planted ice axe or picket as a fixed belay in the
event of a slip or fall. Also, an automatic safety backup
performed by a Prusik installed above the descender when
rappelling. Also, a method of stopping a controlled glissade.
-
send :
-
informal referent for cleanly completing a climbing route.
-
sennit / sennet / sinnet :
-
a flat, braided cordage that's formed by plaiting strands of yarn
(or other fibers); used as cord for incidentals and accessories.
-
serac / sérac :
-
an ice pinnacle or other large irregular protrusion formed in
crevasses and on mountain faces by the melting and movement of
ice, such an inherently unstable tower or block of ice can
collapse and cause avalanches; this glaciation resembles a kind
of white cheese, hence this term derived from 'whey' [serum].
-
75mm :
-
see rattrap.
-
sewing machine leg :
-
the involuntary vibration or juddering, jittering or shivering of
one or both lower appendages resulting from cold outside
temperatures, fatigue, or distress; such spasms affect balance
and control, making the climber subject to accident or injury;
also called "scissor leg", "Elvis Presley syndrome", and "disco
knee".
-
shaft :
-
a vertical enclosure or a well-like passageway that connects to
the surface. Also, a sloping excavation that leads or extends to
the surface. Also, a long pole or handle forming the body of
various tools and weapons, and serving to balance or manipulate
them.
-
sharp end :
-
the leading point where difficulties are first encountered along
the route; the end of the rope ahead of the belay, where safety
is not assured.
-
sheepback / sheepback rock :
-
see roche moutonnee / roche moutonnée.
-
sheer :
-
very steep perpendicular or vertical extension; precipitous.
Also, unmixed, unmitigated, unadulterated, unalloyed.
-
sheet :
-
a more or less horizontal mass of rock, especially volcanic rock
intruded between strata or poured out over a surface. Also, any
broad thin material or surface, as ice or plastic. Also, a thin
line or cord used in reeving and adjusting tackle, or in the
adjustment and securing of large flats or sails; and like the
hawser, is never called a "rope".
-
sheet bend :
-
a knot tied between two ropes by forming a bight in one and
passing the end of the other through the bight, around it, and
under itself; also called "becket bend", "netting knot", "mesh
knot", "weaver's hitch", "weaver's knot".
-
shelf-life / shelf life :
-
the term or period during which a stored commodity, such as food,
remains effective, useful, viable, or suitable for consumption.
-
shelter :
-
any protective cover or refuge from storms or danger; a simple or
primitive dwelling that will shield the occupants from adversity
... especially a hut, lean-to, hide, or shebang.
-
shelter-half :
-
the individual section that's paired when assembling a pup tent
for the temporary housing of two persons and their equipment;
being a low small shelter supported by sectional poles that's
pegged to the ground with pickets; the shelter-half can also
serve satisfactorily as a lean-to for single occupancy, and it
also serves as a groundsheet when a tarp or poncho is not
available.
-
Sherpa :
-
a tribal name for the Nepalese people of Tibetan descent who
serve as porters on climbing and trekking expeditions in the
Himalayas; originally 'shar pa' for "people from the east", being
those who migrated over the Nangpa La Pass, near Mount Cho Oyu.
Also, generic term for anyone working as a porter, regardless of
ethnic status or geographic location.
-
shin / shinny :
-
to climb by holding fast with the hands or arms and legs and
drawing oneself upward.
-
shingle :
-
small waterworn stones or pebbles; also the bedded area where
these small stones or pebbles are washed up and lie in a loose
mass.
-
shoddy :
-
a fiber made from reclaimed wool, generally consisting of a
longer staple and of better quality than inferior mungo. Also, a
low-grade fabric made from this reclaimed fiber, usually in
combination with other fibers; reused or reprocessed woolen
fabric. Also, anything of inferior quality or workmanship.
-
shoepac / shoepack :
-
a heavy, waterproof, cold weather boot that laces closed and is
often lined with a double insole; derived as folk etymology for a
moccasin with an extra sole, from Delaware Indian pidgin for
'shoe' (seppock).
-
Short-ee Skis® :
-
proprietary name of very short skis (2-5ft), especially sized for
children, created by Clif Taylor as an aid in teaching Alpine
technique to beginners, as well as for dramatic use by stunt
performers on downhill slopes; also informally known as "shorty"
or "shortie" skis.
-
short fixing :
-
a maneuver whereby the leader continues to climb beyond the last
fixed rope belay, using self-belay methods, while the second
cleans the pitch while catching up with the leader so as to
establish a new fixed rope belay point, which incremental staging
continues until the route is completed.
-
short roping :
-
a form of simultaneous climbing (simul-climb) wherein a pair of
climbers, connected by a short line on a tibloc, advance up the
route together with the leader inserting protection and the
second cleaning the pitch; the tibloc prevents the second from
pulling the leader down if a slip occurs.
-
shorty skis / shortie skis :
-
fully featured short downhill skis, usually having stiff camber,
that are adopted for their compactness and versatility.
-
SI :
-
the abbreviation for the International System of [physical]
Units, which includes meter (length), kilogram (mass), second
(time), ampere (electric current), kelvin (temperature), mole
(amount of substance), and candela (luminous intensity).
-
side grip :
-
a vertical hold that requires a sideways pull (horizontal hand
grip) to be effectively gripped; also called "side pull".
-
side-step / side-stepping :
-
a method of ascending a slope on skis by side-stepping up the
fall line, moving the uphill ski first and then drawing the
downhill ski alongside, while keeping both skis parallel and
perpendicular to the line of descent.
-
siege :
-
an extended assault on a mountain by moving laboriously upward
through a series of progressively higher camps, which tactics
include the use of supplemental oxygen, previously cached
equipment dumps, and the employment of high-altitude porters to
transport supplies and setup camps.
-
sierra :
-
a chain of hills or mountains, with the peaks suggesting the
teeth of a saw.
-
Silurian :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era,
occurring from 425 million to 405 million years ago, marked by
the advent of air-breathing animals and terrestrial plants.
-
silver frost :
-
glaze; also called "silver thaw", "hoarfrost", "frost", "rime",
or "verglas".
-
silver thaw :
-
glaze; also called "silver frost", "hoarfrost", "frost", "rime",
or "verglas".
-
simul-climb :
-
see short roping.
-
single knot :
-
a simple knot wherein the end of the cord or line passes through
a loop; unless used in combination, this knot may slip; also
called "overhand knot".
-
single pitch :
-
the entire climb secured by a solitary belay, either from above
or below, and typically shorter than the length of one rope.
-
single rope :
-
the use of less complicated techniques while sport climbing on
lower-grade traditional routes.
-
sink :
-
a low-lying, poorly drained area where water collects, some of
which may percolate or evaporate.
-
sinkhole :
-
a drain formed in soluble rock by erosion, which serves to
conduct surface water to an underground passage. Also, a
depressed area in which drainage collects.
-
sirdar :
-
(sur-dahr) the Sherpa term for the lead climber, the head of a
climbing party, or the mountain guide on a trek.
-
sit start / sit down start :
-
beginning a climb from a seated position so as to fit in extra or
additional moves, especially when assaulting an Artificial
Climbing Wall (ACW) in a gym; denoted as SDS in some topo guides.
[cf: supine start in competitive rope climbing]
-
Sisyphean :
-
any futile or hopeless task, any unavailing or meaningless
endeavor; as derived from the punishment imposed upon Sisyphus
for either divulging the secrets of the gods, or for defying the
will of the gods. According to ancient legend, Sisyphus is
condemned to endlessly toil at the heartbreaking job of rolling a
huge stone up a hill, until at the top, it always rolls back down
from the summit to the base, whereupon he must push it back up
again.
-
sketching :
-
slang for when a climber's nervous feet are moving so fast on the
rock face that they seem to be drawing a picture, like a cartoon
animal that scribbles its escape route and disappears into it;
probably derived from the expression: "Sketch this (hard climb)!"
or "Sketch this (tense situation)!".
-
ski binding :
-
in the early days of skiing, a device consisting of an overlap
set of lace-up side panels forming a cup-like toepiece that
secures the skier's boot to the ski, which was augmented by a
heel lashing to prevent separation of the boot from the ski; this
arrangement was adopted from a similar snowshoe binding, which
could accommodate various sized protective cold weather boots,
including shoepacs and mukluks. Fritz R. Huitfeldt invented
(1894ff) several secure metal toe bindings, including crescent
hooks and L-brackets, which allowed the heel to move freely;
these changes included replacing twisted birch with leather
straps (1897), then adopting the Hoyer-Ellefsen toggle tension
lever (1904) as a replacement for strap buckles. Marius Eriksen
introduced (1920) pre-formed metal plates that were screwed on
top of the ski in imitation of the Huitfeldt-style binding, then
Mathias Zdarsky introduced a long metal plate under the sole of
the ski boot, hinged at the front to allow the heel to rise, with
the heel attached by a short strap at the back, making a very
firm mechanical connection. The rattrap binding (1927) eliminated
the heel strap and fixed the toe of the ski boot in place by
marrying holes in the sole of each boot with matching pins on the
mounting plate that also secured the boot toe with a tension bail
or clamp. The introduction of the cable binding permitted the
Christie turn to become routine on downhill ski runs, whereupon
Guido Reuge, a Swiss racer, introduced (1929) steel clips in the
sides of both skis below the boot heel, which enabled the ski
boot heel to be clamped down by running the cable through these
guides during downhill portions of the ski run ... the product
was called "Kandahar", after the international Kandahar Cup ski
races in Afghanistan. Guido Reuge then replaced the heel strap
with a metal cable encircling the heel and connected to a spring
at the front of the toepiece, which arrangement (1932) provided
even, self-adjusting tension as the ski boot moved through its
range of motion. A plate binding, which is a metal plate that's
firmly clipped to the sole of the ski boot [BURT Retractable,
Spademan, etc (ca1972)], that interfaced by clamping the plate
with a binding, to offset the deficiencies of fixed heel-and-toe
downhill (Alpine) ski bindings, which were made more inconsistent
by the materials and wear of various types of ski boots, was a
problem that was later resolved by the displacement of plastic
boots, which better fit all extant bindings, including Nordic /
cross-country (X-C).
-
ski boot :
-
a heavy, thick-soled, ankle-high shoe used for skiing in cold
weather, often having padding and supporting straps or laces,
sometimes grooved or mounted with hardware so as to accommodate
one or another type of ski binding; originating as insulated
footwear (eg: mukluk, shoepac, etc), then becoming a leather or
plastic (1966) appurtenance to an integrated ski system ...
because boots weren't consistent, and wear made them more
inconsistent, safety requirements mandated an amalgamation of
boot, binding, and ski.
-
ski bunny / snow bunny :
-
a beginner (on the "bunny slope"), especially a child or a
female.
-
skid lid :
-
slang for helmet (qv).
-
skijoring :
-
a sport in which a skier is pulled over snow by an animal (eg:
dog, horse, etc) or a machine (eg: snowmobile, tractor, etc), in
a manner similar to water skiing behind a motorboat.
-
ski lift :
-
a device that carries skiers up a slope that typically consists
of chairs or bars suspended from a motor-driven overhead cable.
-
skillcraft :
-
any of the particular climbing techniques that may be essential
in a specific situation; talent or ability, especially mechanical
or manipulative, which has been acquired by training or
experience; any combination of available proficiencies, being
masterly and well suited in application, apt and adroit in
execution.
-
skillset / skill set :
-
that necessary aggregate of climbing techniques enabling safe and
successful climbs; that combination of masterly abilities which
defines proficiency; that variety of manual arts and physical
techniques that are available for development or implementation;
those facilities and dexterities that may be used when trouble
shooting and problem solving.
-
skins :
-
truncation of 'climbing skins' (qv).
-
Ski Patrol / Ski Patrolman :
-
an expert skier and climber, and certified Emergency Medical
Technician, who's employed to ensure that the outdoor winter
environment is relatively safe, and who performs rescue and
recovery operations using first aid supplies, litters, sleds, or
toboggans; easily recognizable in a rust-colored parka with
goggles, gloves, and fanny pack. [nb: National Ski Patrol (NSP)
established in Stowe, VT (1938); chartered by Congress (1980)]
-
ski pole :
-
a slender pole or tapering rod, used in pairs and sized to fit
under the arms, as used by skiers to assist their balance,
maneuver, and propulsion, with a metal point below a basketwork
ring at the lower end, and with a hand grip and wrist loop at the
upper end; the basketwork ring functions like snowshoes in
preventing the pole from sinking too deeply into the snow, and
the metal tip is angled to keep it from getting stuck when firmly
planted. [nb: the skier's hand is inserted through the wrist
thong from below so that the excess webbing will be included when
the grip is grasped (from above)]
-
skyglow / sky-glow :
-
the illumination of the night sky, or parts of it, as most
commonly caused by artificial light (or "light pollution"), which
creates a disruptive "light dome" over populated areas and
commercial venues, but may also be caused by natural sources of
diffuse nighttime light, such as airglow and zodiacal light in
the upper atmosphere; this unpolarized "bright night" effect is
enhanced by dense cloud cover and snow or ice covering the
ground, which results in obscuring stellar observation by reduced
albedo contrast, and light trespass tends to negate nocturnal
adaptability resulting in relative misorientation and
disorientation.
-
skyhook / sky hook :
-
a metal hook used in aid climbing, which device is placed over an
edge or flake; also known as a "cliff-hanger" or "aidhook" ... to
be mysteriously whisked away, as by allusion to the Fulton
Recovery System. Also, slang for the trawl-like Fulton Recovery
System, designed by Robert E. Fulton, for use as an aerial
retrieval of ground packages or extraction / exfiltration of
special operatives from enemy territory in a clandestine manner.
-
skylight :
-
an opening in the ceiling, overhead, or roof of an underground
cave, tube, or tunnel that admits air and light into the
subterranean area; a "window" onto the earth's surface, which is
often an inaccessible aperture in the hemispherical vault of a
concave dome.
-
skyline :
-
to highlight or silhouette personnel or equipment, as when
standing on or traversing a crest, instead of a defile. Also, the
division or separation of earth and sky at the horizon.
-
slab :
-
a relatively low-angle (significantly less than vertical) section
of rock, usually with few large features; a smooth rock face of
varying angles (usually 30°-70°).
-
slab climbing :
-
moving on a smooth sheet of rock that lacks large handholds by
using friction and balance with the climber's body held away from
the rock surface so as to maneuver around and up the slab;
climbing rock that is less than vertical by emphasizing balance,
footwork, and using very small features or rough spots on the
rock for friction.
-
slack :
-
not tight, taut, firm, or tense; lax or loose, as to lessen or
play-out a rope. Also, a part of something, as a rope or tarp,
that hangs loose, without strain upon it; the "trailing end" of a
rope. Also, slow, sluggish, or indolent. Also, inactive, weak, or
dull. Also, negligent; careless; remiss. Also, a depression
between hills, in a hillside, or in the land surface. Also, a
morass, bog, or marshy ground; a hollow or dell, sink or swale
with soft, wet ground at the bottom.
-
slackline / slack line :
-
that part of a rope or other line that hangs loose, without
strain upon it. Also, a line loosely suspended between two
anchors for the secure conveyance of persons or goods, especially
in rescue operations; also called "highline". Also, a new sport
that has developed since the early 1980s from the practice of
balancing on chain and walking on flat webbing straps, either low
("trick-lining") or high ("highlining" with safety leash), that's
more informal and dynamic than high-wire walking; such
recreational 'slacklining' should not be confused with the field
expedient mountain rescue technique.
-
slack packing / slack-packing / slackpacking :
-
when the individual quantity of personal gear and equipment, food
and tools, which loadout is normally borne by each climber or
trekker, is instead shuttled from stage to stage by others using
physical strength or mechanical advantages so as to spare the
primary person undue "wear and tear", fatigue or stress, in
advancing toward their objective; the practice of ferrying excess
weight by phased intervals so as to make the trip more pleasant
... the sectional traveler usually carries a day pack or fanny
pack to avoid being stranded or inconvenienced enroute while
servitors or porters, pack animals or lift vehicles bear the
major portion of the load. [v: Sherpa]
-
slag :
-
the scoria from a volcano. Also, the more or less completely
fused and vitrified matter that's separated and removed (from a
steel bath) during the reduction of a metal from its ore; also
called 'cinder', as derived from 'dross' (German: schlacke).
Also, waste left over after the re-sorting of coal.
-
slake :
-
to loosen or slacken; to make less tense, tight, or taut. Also,
to quench, allay, mitigate, abate; to make less active, intense,
or vigorous.
-
slalom :
-
any set of obstacles requiring someone to swerve in order to
navigate a through course; a winding and zigzag ski course
demarcated by poles that form gates and barriers around which the
skier twists and turns. [v: giant slalom]
-
slam tan :
-
the pattern of tanned skin produced by extended outdoor exposure
while wearing protective gear, such as a helmet and goggles,
kneepads and wristbands, as exhibited by climbers and other
extreme sportsmen ... this tan pattern becomes amusingly obvious
when the individual changes attire, or is naked.
-
slant :
-
to veer obliquely or angle away from a given level or line, as to
fall to one side from the perpendicular; being a diagonal athwart
the slope, as derived from "stagger".
-
slats / boards :
-
slang for skis.
-
SLCD :
-
spring loaded camming device (eg: "Friend" by Ray Jardine) used
for anchor points in rock cracks.
-
sled :
-
a small platform mounted on runners used as a vehicle for cargo
or passengers when traveling over snow or ice; also called a
"sleigh" or "sledge". [v: slipe, toboggan] [nb: as a safeguard
when traveling alone, a musher will drag a trawl or lifeline
after the sled so as to avoid being abandoned on the trail in
case of accident; the dead-man's throttle cutoff switch on a
snowmobile obviates this precaution]
-
sledge :
-
a vehicle mounted on runners and typically drawn by draft
animals, that's used for conveying cargo and passengers over
rough terrain, snow or ice; also called a "sled" or "sleigh". [v:
slipe, toboggan] [nb: as a safeguard when traveling alone, a
musher will drag a trawl or lifeline after the sled so as to
avoid being abandoned on the trail in case of accident; the
dead-man's throttle cutoff switch on a snowmobile obviates this
precaution]
-
sleigh :
-
a light open vehicle mounted on runners that's typically drawn by
draft animals, as used for conveying cargo and passengers over
snow or ice; also called a "sled" or "sledge". [v: slipe,
toboggan] [nb: as a safeguard when traveling alone, a musher will
drag a trawl or lifeline after the sled so as to avoid being
abandoned on the trail in case of accident; the dead-man's
throttle cutoff switch on a snowmobile obviates this precaution]
-
slickenside :
-
a rock surface that has become more or less polished and striated
by slippage along a fault plane.
-
slide knot :
-
a knot formed by making two half hitches on the standing part of
the rope, the second hitch being next to the loop, which can then
be tightened.
-
sling / sling-eye :
-
a short strap, band, or the like, forming a loop of various
lengths by which something may be suspended or carried. Also, a
length of nylon webbing which is either sewn or tied into a loop
and is used in conjunction with the rope and anchors to provide
protection; also called a 'runner'. Also, a rope, chain, net, or
the like used for hoisting cargo, or for holding it while it's
being hoisted.
-
sling ladder / sling stepladder :
-
see etrier.
-
slipknot / slip knot :
-
a knot that slips easily along the cord or line around which it
is made; a knot that allows the rope or cord around which it is
tied to slip easily, as for adjustment or constriction.
-
slip lasting :
-
the method of footwear construction wherein the upper is sewn
into a sock, then slipped onto the last (foot form) for
attachment to the sole; a slip lasted shoe does not normally have
an insole, deriving its stiffness from the midsole, so is less
rigid than a board lasted shoe, giving the wearer greater
sensitivity to the terrain underfoot.
-
slipnoose / slip noose :
-
a noose with a knot that slides along the rope, thus forming a
noose that tightens as the rope is pulled.
-
slippery slope :
-
a dangerous and irreversible course, being figurative usage for
the literally unstable and uncertain slope from which there is no
recovery.
-
slope :
-
an inclined angle or direction along a vertical or horizontal
plane, being an upward or downward deviation from the horizontal
or vertical; as distinguished from an oblique slant.
-
sloper :
-
slang for a friction handhold with very little positive surface.
-
slopes :
-
the hills, foothills, or bluffs of a mountain or mountain range.
-
slot :
-
a narrow gap or defile caused by drainage or erosion.
-
slot canyon :
-
a long narrow ravine with steep sides that was formed by erosion
and is the watercourse for an intermittent stream; vulnerable to
flash flooding, it can be a longitudinal deathtrap for hikers and
climbers. Found predominantly in areas of low rainfall, slot
canyons are significantly deeper than wide (1w by 30d), typically
cut into sandstone or limestone, granite or basalt.
-
slurry :
-
a thin mixture of an insoluble substance suspended in a liquid.
-
slush :
-
partly melted snow. Also, liquid mud; watery mire. Also, waste or
refuse, especially from cooking. Also, a mixture of grease and
other materials used for lubrication.
-
smear / smearing :
-
a climbing technique that utilizes friction to secure stable
movement by maximizing body contact with the rock surface in the
absence of any useful footholds or handholds. Also, the soft
pulpy residue that's deposited on the valley floor when a free
climber misses his hold, or when faulty gear conspires to defeat
an otherwise cautious climber, or when nature itself, abetted by
poor technique, succumbs to gravity, rendering another intrepid
mountaineer into a jam of unappetizing glop!
-
snake :
-
to move or maneuver in a circuitous manner, as by twisting,
turning, or winding. Also, to draw or drag something, as by a
rope or cable.
-
snap hook :
-
a small utility coupling device of metal or thermoplastic with a
spring-loaded gate, which is typically non-locking and not
intended for load-bearing stresses.
-
snap-link / snaplink :
-
informal referent for biner / carabiner, due to its automatically
closing spring-loaded gate ... typically a non-locking hinged
metallic oval.
-
snarg :
-
slang for a type of tubular ice screw that's inserted by
hammering.
-
snatch block :
-
a block that can be opened on one side, allowing it to be placed
on a line that's already in use; a block that can be opened to
receive the bight of a rope at any point along its length.
-
snow banner :
-
a panel-like spray of snow being blown off a mountaintop.
-
snow blindness :
-
an impairment of vision, typically temporary, marked by topical
grittiness and reduced acuity, photophobia with a reddish tinge
to perception, which painful malady is caused by exposure to
extremely high-intensity light, such as that reflected off of a
snow field under a bright sun; this inflammation, which
temporarily dims or distorts eyesight, is properly known as
'keratitis'. [cf: erythropia/erythropsia, iritis, conjunctivitis]
-
snowblink :
-
a white luminosity on the underside of clouds that's caused by
the reflection of light from a snow surface; also called "blink",
as derived from 'blink' meaning gleam, twinkle, glitter, or
shine.
-
snow boat :
-
informal referent for a boat-like rescue sled, typically made of
aluminum.
-
snowbound :
-
shut in or immobilized by snow, as in a storm or accumulation.
-
snow-broth :
-
melted snow. Also, a mixture of snow and water; any ice-cold
liquid slurry.
-
snow bunny / ski bunny :
-
a beginner (on the "bunny slope"), especially a child or a
female.
-
snow cave :
-
an opening formed in or made of perpetual or seasonal snow,
sometimes fabricated for survival.
-
snow cover :
-
a layer of snow on the ground. Also, the amount of an area that
is covered by snow, usually given as a percentage of the total
area. Also, the depth of snow on the ground.
-
snow devil :
-
a small whirlwind made visible by the loose snow and ice it picks
up while advancing, being transient, though a not uncommon
occurrence in certain topographies.
-
snowdrift :
-
a mound or heap of snow driven together by the wind; also called
"snowbank". Also, snow driven before the wind.
-
snowfield :
-
a large and relatively permanent expanse of snow.
-
snow flea :
-
(hypogastrura nivicola) a species of dark blue springtail,
resembling pepper or ashes sprinkled on the snow, especially near
foliage, since they live in soil, in mosses, or in leaf litter,
feeding on decaying organic matter, bacteria, fungi, algae,
pollen, and rotifers; they are sometimes found on or near ponds,
since they are small and light enough to walk on water. Although
snow fleas lack wings, they can catapult themselves (like other
springtails) by releasing two tail-like abdominal projections
(furcula); passing from nymph in the spring through several
moltings to attain adulthood by winter. [cf: ice flea; v: sand
fly, sand flea]
-
snow fluke :
-
an angled aluminum plate that's attached to a coated metal cable,
which acts as a deadman anchor when properly positioned and
connected.
-
snow line :
-
the line beyond which there is perpetual snow and/or ice; also
called the "permanent snow line". In the mountains, the altitude
above which snow does not melt during summer, and below which
snow extends during winter. Also, the latitudinal line marking
the limit of the fall of snow at sea level. The location of the
snow line is affected by the quantity of snowfall, the steepness
of the slope upon which the snow rests, the exposure of an area
to the sun and prevailing winds, the type and velocity of winds,
and the presence or absence of large bodies of water.
-
snowmelt :
-
water from melting snow and ice, especially a quantity thereof.
-
snowmobile :
-
a motorized vehicle with one or a pair of revolving treads in the
rear for propulsion and moveable skiis in the front for steering;
any type of mechanical over the snow vehicle, as used by
mountaineers. The first snowmobile was invented in 1920 from an
automobile chassis that was fitted with tractor-treads and skis
by Virgil D. White; another early snowmobile was the "Eliason
motor toboggan". [nb: as a safeguard when traveling alone, a
musher will drag a trawl or lifeline after the sled so as to
avoid being abandoned on the trail in case of accident; the
dead-man's throttle cutoff switch on a snowmobile obviates this
precaution]
-
snowpack :
-
the accumulation of winter snowfall, especially in mountain or
upland regions; the layer of snow on the ground. [nb: on the
average, 10" of snowfall is equivalent to 1" of rain]
-
snow pellets :
-
frozen precipitation consisting of crisp, white, opaque ice
particles, round or conical in shape (2-5mm), and usually of
brief duration; also called "soft hail", "tapioca snow", or
"graupel" (grain).
-
snowplow :
-
a skiing maneuver in which the skier pushes the heels of both
skis outward so that they are far apart but with the tips
touching, forming an arrowhead or chevron, and with the inside
edges of both skis angled downward, as when decelerating or
stopping on a downhill slope; also called "stem" or "wing".
-
snow ramp :
-
a ridge of snow build-up that's distinct from its surroundings
and not attributable to the underlying terrain, as having been
caused by temperature and pressure effects; such a configuration
may be enhanced and augmented so as to serve as a launch platform
for ski jumping.
-
Snow Ranger :
-
an expert skier and mountaineer who's employed by the U.S. Forest
Service to advise, protect, and regulate the civilian skiers on
National Forest lands, and to guard their safety by posting
warnings and eliminating hazards (eg: avalanches, cornices, etc).
-
snowscape :
-
a landscape covered with snow; the appearance of an area that's
completely snow covered.
-
snowshoe :
-
basket-like footgear that's worn when walking on deep snow to
prevent sinking (ie: postholing); constructed of a lightweight
(eg: wood, metal, plastic) frame ranging from one- to six-feet in
length in various shapes (eg: round, oval, triangular, oblong)
that's strung with a tough openwork mesh and attached at a
central crossbar. [nb: the snowshoe and ski, known from cave
drawings to exist before 6000BC, antedates the invention of the
wheel (ca3500BC)]
-
snowshoe binding :
-
originally, a leather strap buckled over the toe of a rugged
outdoor boot that was augmented by a leather heel lashing so as
to prevent separation of the boot from the toe housing; this
arrangement could accommodate various sized protective cold
weather boots, including shoepacs and mukluks. More modern
housings have imitated the innovations employed on cross-country
(Nordic) ski bindings.
-
snowslide :
-
an avalanche consisting largely or entirely of snow; also called
"snow-slip".
-
SNS :
-
Salomon Nordic System, a cross-country (Nordic) ski binding
that's similar to NNN, except it has one large ridge and the toe
bar is shorter; there are three variations: SNS Profil (one large
central ridge extending backwards from the toe latch with one
metal bar on the boot toe), SNS Pilot (one large central ridge
extending backwards from the toe latch with two metal bars on the
boot toe for better stabilization), and SNS-BC or SNS X-Adventure
(stronger design used for back country skiing). SNS is marketed
by Amer Sports under their Salomon and Atomic brands. The
predecessor was simply called Salomon Nordic System (SNS), and
consisted of a "U-shaped" metal bar protruding from the front of
the ski boot.
-
snub :
-
to suddenly stop a moving rope by cinching it up against a solid
object; to abruptly check the paying-out of a running line by
making it fast to a fixed point.
-
soft hail :
-
see snow pellets.
-
software :
-
all of the non-metallic items, from ropes and webbing to gloves
and protective clothing, used in rock climbing and field
trekking; as opposed to "hardware" (eg: carabiners, descenders,
bolts, pitons, etc).
-
solar constant :
-
the average rate at which the earth receives radiant energy from
the sun, equal to 1.94 small calories per minute per square
centimeter of area perpendicular to the sun's rays, which is
measured at a point outside the earth's atmosphere when the earth
is at its mean distance from the sun.
-
solar cycle :
-
the variation of sunspots, prominences, flares, and other solar
activity through an eleven-year cycle; also called solar activity
cycle.
-
solar day :
-
in conventional instances, the period of time from sunrise to
sunset; but scientifically, the time interval between two
successive transits by the sun of the meridian directly opposite
that of the observer, being the 24-hour interval from one
midnight to the next or following midnight.
-
solar fogbow :
-
a bow or arc of white or yellowish hue seen in atmospheric
refraction.
-
solifluction :
-
meaning "soil flow", being the deformation and shifting of the
ground from long term stresses; commonly known as "creep".
-
solo climbing :
-
climbing alone, or by oneself; setting and cleaning one's own
protection on a solitary ascent up a route.
-
solution hole :
-
a depression in the earth's surface that's caused by the
dissolving of substrate, which is primarily composed of calcium
carbonate.
-
SOS :
-
the international abbreviation for "Save Our Ship" or "Save Our
Souls", usually broadcast over radio or telegraph in morse code,
as a distress call for rescue. Also, abbreviation for "Safety On
Skis", a program promoted by the National Ski Patrol.
-
soup bowl :
-
slang for helmet (qv).
-
sous-sherpa :
-
European or Western designation of an assistant Sherpa (qv).
-
southern lights :
-
(aka: aurora australis, southern aurora) see aurora.
-
spa :
-
a warm water or hot water mineral spring, especially one used to
restore a person's health. Also, the locality wherein such
mineral springs exist, often developed as a resort hotel; a
toponym after the famous health spa situated in the province
southeast of Liège Belgium since the Roman Empire. Also, a
hot tub used for warm-water hydromassage therapy, usually by more
than one person.
-
spaghetti :
-
any thin cord, line, or rope, such as para-cord; derived from
'twine' ("spago"), originally a long threaded lichen. Also, any
disorderly or untidy condition, such as tangled rope, imitative
of cooked noodles.
-
SPAM® :
-
trademark for a canned loaf of chopped and compressed pork
shoulder with ham that's pre-cooked for either hot or cold
consumption; originating in 1936 as "spiced ham", then renamed in
1937 as SPAM. Hormel was the first manufacturer to produce canned
hams ["Flavor-Sealed Ham" (1926)] but since it required
refrigeration, SPAM was developed to extend shelf-life and to use
more of the discarded meat. Named as the result of a contest (won
by Ken Daigneau), SPAM is a portmanteau word derived from "SPiced
hAM"; its name has also been interpreted as an abbreviation of
"Specially Processed American Meat" or "Shoulders of Pork And
haM" ... some WWII soldiers referred to SPAM as "SPecial Army
Meat", "ham that didn't pass its physical", and "meat loaf
without basic training". Distributed to British and Russian
allies under the Lend-Lease Act, with surpluses issued to Asians,
GIs were sometimes obliged to eat it at all three meals each day,
nonetheless SPAM remains popular worldwide as an inexpensive but
nourishing food. Since its inception, this so-called "miracle
meat" or "poor people food" is now offered in several different
versions, including: Classic, Spread, Garlic, Black Pepper,
Jalapeno, Hot & Spicy (Tabasco flavor), Hickory Smoke, with
Bacon, with Cheese, with Honey, Less Sodium, Lite (pork shoulder,
ham, and mechanically separated chicken), and Oven Roasted
Turkey.
-
Spandex® :
-
proprietary name of a fabric with elastic properties that's made
with polyurethane fibers for tight-fitting sports clothing;
derived as an anagram of 'expands', and also brand named
Lycra®.
-
specter of the Brocken / Brocken specter :
-
an optical illusion that was first observed on the Brocken (the
highest peak of the Hartz range in central Germany) in which
shadows of the spectators, greatly magnified, were projected on
the mists around the summit of the mountain opposite.
-
speel / speil :
-
to climb, ascend, or mount; as derived from Scottish.
-
spelaean / spelean :
-
pertaining to or inhabiting caves.
-
speleologist :
-
a person who studies and explores caves.
-
speleology / spelaeology :
-
the study and exploration of caves.
-
speleothem :
-
any secondary mineral deposit formed in a cave, commonly of
calcite, aragonite, vaterite, or other secondary minerals,
including stalactites and stalagmites of lava or ice; as derived
from "cave deposit".
-
spelunk :
-
to explore caves as a hobby; originating as a back-formation from
spelunker, spelunking.
-
spelunker :
-
a person who explores caves as a hobby.
-
spill :
-
an accidental throw or fall, especially while moving. Also, to
scatter, strew, or disseminate in a disorderly manner. Also, to
accidentally cause something to fall, or be made to wastefully
shed some contents; to be released from or to escape containment.
Also, to divulge information, often volubly. Also, a slender
piece of wood (splinter) or of twisted paper that's used to
ignite a candle or lamp.
-
spindrift :
-
snowflakes or ice crystals blown off the surface into the air by
a gust or eddy. Also, snowflakes and ice crystals circulating in
the air after being disturbed by an avalanche.
-
spine :
-
chine or arete / arête.
-
spire :
-
a tall, tapering, sharply pointed summit, peak, or other apex.
Also, the highest point or summit.
-
splash cup :
-
an indentation, depression, or cavity in rock caused by dripping
water. [v: conulite]
-
splattage :
-
slang for the flattening of copperheads into small cracks in the
rock face. Also, slang for the pulverized remnant of a fallen
climber.
-
splice :
-
to unite or reinforce rope by interweaving or darning strands
with a marlinespike or awl. Also, the union, joint, or junction
made by such woven interlacement.
-
split :
-
a crack or fissure caused by cleaving, fracturing, splitting,
parting, or other separation.
-
sport climbing :
-
a form of technical climbing wherein gymnastic style, ability and
strength, are emphasized more than exploration or exhilaration;
where self-reliance and the inherent dangers of exposure are less
significant than an elegant execution on well-protected routes
with pre-placed bolted-in anchors ... such sport climbing lends
itself well to competition.
-
sports bra :
-
in an anodyne response to women complaining about breast pain and
discomfort when engaged in exercise or sports, a Vermont
physician recommended "a jockstrap for their breasts", which
offhand comment inspired a couple of women to sew some jockstraps
together as an experiment in 1975 ... sports medicine scientists
have been studying the problem ever since. Contrary to popular
opinion and conventional wisdom, breast compression (which only
inhibits one axis of movement) is not as successful as
encapsulation (which inhibits three axes of movement), wherein
the seamless breast cups are undergirded by a strong elastic
bellyband and supported by a crossover harness or back panel. Now
available in degrees of support, from mild to maximal, depending
upon level of activity, and it's been found that breathing is
neither impaired nor constricted by any level of support ... some
brassiere cups are reinforced so as to protect the breasts during
contact sports and combatives. [nb: some female athletes have
been wearing a sports bra as their sole top cover since the 1990s
with either bike shorts or yoga pants as their bottom cover]
-
spotting :
-
a term borrowed from gymnastics, wherein an aide or associate
prevents a colleague from landing awkwardly or falling off a
perch and injuring themselves; an alternative to belaying when
bouldering.
-
sprag :
-
a pole attached to the rear of a sled or sledge, like the sweep
on a flat-bottomed boat, wherein it acts as a brace against
rolling downhill. Also, slang for a hand position where the
splayed fingers and thumb are opposed.
-
spur :
-
a ridge or line of elevation projecting from or subordinate to
the main body of a mountain or mountain range; a rock or snow rib
on the side of a mountain; a distinctive topographic terrain
feature that extends or projects. Also, something that sharply
projects, resembling or suggesting a spike or gaff.
-
Spylon® :
-
proprietary name of a nylon fabric that's breathable and
extremely wear resistant.
-
squall :
-
a sudden violent wind, often accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet;
as derived from "shriek".
-
square knot :
-
a common knot, wherein the ends cross in different directions,
coming out alongside the standing parts, which allows the bights
to tighten, producing a secure knot that's used for tying things
down; also called "reef knot" or "flat knot".
-
squeeze :
-
a colloquialism for a small or narrow opening that's passable
with effort. Also, to wriggle or push through a small or narrow
passage.
-
SRT :
-
abbreviation for Single Rope Technique, as used when abseiling
and prusiking.
-
SRTM :
-
Shuttle Radar Topography Maping; a space-based mission in
February 2000 that utilized Interferometric Synthetic Aperture
Radar (IFSAR) data to survey most of the earth's surface. The
findings were conformed and error checked, with the finish
protocols designed to detect artifacts and voids, to fill minor
omissions by interpolation, to verify cell consanguinity for
image continuity, and to standardize uniform variables,
generating the most accurate global survey to date. Among the
unclassified public domain digital data products is the Digital
Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) catalogue, which has been made
available from the USGS's National Center for Earth Resources
Observation and Science (EROS).
-
STABO :
-
a full-body rappel or extraction harness integral with web
gear for infantry operations, consisting of D-/V-rings at each
shoulder strap for eye-linkage, quick attach/release leg loops,
and descender attachment on the waist belt. The STABO system was
also compatible with "Hot Hoist" and "Skyhook" extractions.
Invented at the MACV Recondo School by MAJ Robert L. Stevens, CPT
John D.H. Knabb, and SFC Clifford L. Roberts in 1968 to remedy
the defects of the McGuire rig. The STABO name includes parts of
the surnames of its inventors (STevens, knABb, rOberts), but is
officially known as "STAbilized Body Operations" harness. It has
been erroneously identified as "Stabilized Tactical AirBorne
Operations" harness. STABO was superseded by Fast Rope
Insertion/Extraction System (FRIES) after the Vietnam War.
-
stage :
-
a division of stratified rocks corresponding to a single geologic
age.
-
stalactite :
-
a deposit (usually of calcium carbonate) shaped like an icicle by
the dripping of percolating calcareous water that hangs from the
roof of a cave or the like; as derived from "dripping" (stalakt).
-
stalagmite :
-
a deposit (usually of calcium carbonate) resembling a cone or
spire shaped by the dripping of percolating calcareous water that
forms on the floor of a cave or the like.
-
stance :
-
a secure place between pitches at which the climbing leader can
rest and belay his second climber, or vice versa, as long as well
anchored. Also, a well balanced posture taken at (or on) a secure
position.
-
standing-end :
-
the stationary, fixed, static, or nonworking end of the rope or
line; also called "standing part", as opposed to running-end.
-
Starved Rock :
-
a 140ft cliff in northern Illinois, between La Salle and Ottawa,
overlooking the Illinois River; a national historic landmark
commemorating the 18th century death (by thirst and starvation)
of a band of Illinois indians at the hands of Ottawa warriors;
situated in a state park (established 1921) where the caves and
canyons were frequented by outlaws seeking refuge.
-
stash :
-
to put things away for safekeeping; a hiding place where things
are concealed, as for storage.
-
static climbing :
-
a stolid technique wherein slow but steady controlled movement
and three-point suspension is the rule; a method of ascent of a
steep slope or cliff that's less than one rope length in height,
where the belayer is always situated above (toproping) the
climber ... as opposed to rapid dynamic motion.
-
static rope :
-
designed not to stretch significantly when loaded, so used for
training, toproping, abseiling, and hauling; as opposed to
dynamic rope.
-
steam fog :
-
fog formed when water vapor is added to air that is much colder
than the vapor's source, most commonly when very cold air drifts
across relatively warm water. No matter what the nature of the
vapor source, the water vapor, upon becoming mixed with and
cooled by the cold air, rapidly condenses. It should be noted
that although advection of air is necessary to produce steam fog,
it differs greatly from an advection fog in the usual sense,
which is caused by warm, moist air moving over a cold surface.
Steam fog is commonly observed over lakes and streams on cold
autumn mornings as well as in polar regions. It is sometimes
confused with ice fog, but its particles are entirely liquid.
Steam fog is also called "arctic/antarctic smoke", "frost smoke",
"sea smoke", "arctic/antarctic sea smoke", "stream smoke", "water
smoke", "sea mist", and "steam mist".
-
steep :
-
a declivity or acclivity with a relatively high gradient, slope
or pitch, as an ascent or hill; extremely high or lofty as a
result of having an almost vertical slope.
-
stem :
-
a method used to maneuver in a chimney or cleft by extending the
arms and legs from the torso, so as to ascend or descend by
friction exerted by bodily pressure as a span; also called
"bridge" or "layback". Also, the simultaneous use of two widely
spaced footholds; to bridge the distance between two holds with
one's separated feet, as to push against adjacent or opposing
walls with the feet. Also, climbing using two faces that are at
an angle of less than 180° to each other. Also, to check or
restrain the forward motion of skis by spreading the heels, often
as a preliminary to turning or stopping; also known as "wing" or
"snowplow". Also, to stop, halt, check, hold, restrain, or
stanch; as a belay.
-
stem christie / stem christy :
-
a skiing turn in which the skier, traversing across the slope
with skis parallel, spreads the ends of the skis (forming a
snowplow) with the skier's weight on the downhill ski, then at
the point of the turn, transfers his weight to the uphill ski
(pointing downhill), and follows through with the completed turn
by picking up the unweighted ski on the inside of the turn and
placing it alongside the weighted ski so that the skis are again
parallel; the snowplow slightly slows the action before the turn,
and the transfer of weight tends to make the skis skid slightly
during the turn.
-
stemflow :
-
rainwater or snowmelt that runs along the stems, branches, and
trunks of plants to reach the ground.
-
stemple :
-
(forthcoming)
-
steptoe :
-
an isolated hill or mountain surrounded by lava.
-
step-turn :
-
an incremental method of changing direction on skis, especially
while gliding downhill, which alteration is achieved by lifting
the ski in the direction of the desired turn and placing it down
on the slope so that it's no longer parallel with the other ski,
then shifting the skier's weight to the ski pointed in the new
direction and drawing the other ski alongside ... which slight
adjustments continue to be made until the proper direction has
been attained. This maneuver also works on relatively level
terrain when cross-country touring on Nordic (X-C) skis.
-
Sterno® :
-
the trademarked brand name of a fuel made from denatured and
jellied alcohol, being a flammable hydrocarbon jelly that's
packaged in a small can for use as a portable heat source for
cooking; this privately purchased convenience was a refinement
(ca1900) of its predecessor, an alcohol burner called the "Sterno
Inferno" (ca1893), as recommended for doughboys going overseas
during WWI, and is also known generically as "canned heat".
-
stevedore's knot :
-
see stopper knot.
-
Sticht plate® :
-
a belay device consisting of a flat plate with a pair of slots;
eponymously after its inventor Franz Sticht.
-
stick clip :
-
a device used in sport climbing to clip the first pre-positioned
bolt when it has been positioned too uncomfortably high for the
climber to initiate his ascent; specimens are commercially
available, or may be improvised by attaching a stick to a
quickdraw extender with a rubber band.
-
sticks :
-
slang for ski poles.
-
sticky boots :
-
slang for the specialty footwear developed for climbing that
features an adhesive rubber-coating extending up the sides from
the cleated sole; used as an aid to smearing and jamming.
-
stile :
-
a step or set of steps for scaling a fence, dike, wall, or other
barrier.
-
stirrup / stirrup-line :
-
an eye, noose, ring, sling, or other loop fashioned at the end of
a line or strap that's used for standing or when ascending; as
derived from "ascending rope".
-
stocking cap :
-
a soft conical cap, knitted of wool, or a wool-like fleece
alternative (eg: cashmere, alpaca, qiviut, Orlon, Acrilan, etc),
in various colors, often with a tassel or pompom / pompon at the
end, and worn with a turned-up cuff folded at the bottom, which
is suitable for wear during cold or windy weather; also known as
a "watch cap" when knitted in subdued colors. [v: Jeep cap; cf:
balaclava]
-
Stokes litter :
-
a rigid wire-basket litter that can safely transport a properly
secured patient either horizontally or vertically; devised in
1942 by the 10th Mountain Division as a field expedient stretcher
for evacuating injured persons during winter weather conditions
by using chicken wire and a mummy-style sleeping bag; it's also
called Stokes rescue basket, basket litter, basket stretcher,
alpine litter, and rescue sled. [nb: the 'Stokes' eponym is
properly spelled without the possessive apostrophe]
-
stone :
-
a piece of rock, being of a particular size or shape, composition
or characteristic. Also, one of various units of weight,
especially the British unit equivalent to 14 pounds. Also, a
gravestone or tombstone, as a cenotaph for an imprudent climber.
-
stone bruise :
-
a bruise on the sole of the foot that's caused by walking on or
striking against a small stone or other hard object. Also, any
bruise (eg: livedo) or contusion resulting from hard impact with
a rock that produces a hematoma without breaking or rupturing the
skin.
-
stone louse :
-
(petrophaga anoplura) a small, flat, wingless, gray, rock-eating
insect that reproduces asexually and is covered by a mineralized
chitinous shell, enabling it to withstand extremes of temperature
and pressure, making it impervious to anaerobic or phytotoxic
conditions, albeit detectible by its telltale excretions, a sandy
scat. It was first discovered in Scandinavia (steinlaus) where
scientists proposed it as the ontogenic source of potholes and
wells, vents and fjords, calling the theory of diastrophism into
question ... this lousy hypothesis has inspired British
scientists to speculate on the gnawing of the stone louse being
equally responsible for the Pillars of Hercules. Some American
geologists believe the Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns are the
work of the stone louse, while Russian commissars are panicking
over Lake Baikal being outletted by a tributary, since Canadian
scientists have lately proclaimed that the Saint Lawrence flows
from Lake Ontario by the persistent munching of this
globetrotting grayback. Now that German politicians are
attributing the fall of the Berlin Wall to the depredations of
the insidious stone louse, ecologists around the world are
reconsidering the rationale for the propagation of deserts,
wondering if the explications of erosion and tectonics aren't too
simplistic ... and rock climbers worry about this shrinkage
lessening conspicuous elevations. [cf: 1983 German medical
encyclopedia entry (Pschyrembel Klinisches
Wörterbuch)]
-
stopper / stopper knot :
-
a knot that's used to form a lump in a line so as to prevent it
from passing through a grommet or hole, an eye or any other open
device through which it's threaded; also called "stevedore's
knot". Also, a wedge-shaped nut; a squarish metal swage of
varying sizes attached to a loop of flexible wire, which is
fitted into cracks and depressions in the rock to provide
protection for an ascending climber.
-
storm :
-
a disturbance of normal atmospheric conditions that manifests
itself by strong or heavy winds, and often accompanied by rain,
thunder and lightning, snow, hail, or sleet. Alternatively,
either an instance of heavy precipitation (eg: rainstorm,
snowstorm) unaccompanied by strong winds, or a sudden and violent
wind (ie: windstorm) alone. [nb: on the average, 10" of snowfall
is equivalent to 1" of rain]
-
storm warning :
-
a showing of storm signals subsequent to an alert notification of
severe winds and threatening weather, especially cyclonic
conditions [nb: Tropical Depression: 20-34 kts/23-39 smph;
Tropical Storm: 35-64 kts/40-73 smph; Hurricane: 65+
kts/74+ smph].
[nb: due to axial tilt during earth's rotation, the hemispheric
seasons are not the same length, with the southern summer /
northern winter being the shortest season, and northern summer /
southern winter being the longest]
-
straps :
-
the safety straps (of rubber, leather, nylon cord, and so forth)
that are hooked, snapped, tied, or interlaced (often loosely)
between the ski boot and its ski, so that this connection may
prevent a runaway ski after a fall that releases the binding;
this sensible precaution is required at some downhill (Alpine)
resorts, especially those served by chair lifts, but this is no
guarantee that a bad spill will not detach one or both skis.
-
stratigraphy :
-
a branch of geology dealing with the classification,
nomenclature, correlation, and interpretation of stratified
rocks.
-
stratum / strata :
-
a single bed of sedimentary rock, generally consisting of one
kind of matter representing continuous deposition; term derived
from "spread" or "strew". Also, a layer of natural or artificial
material, often formed in levels, one upon another.
-
stria :
-
any of a series of parallel lines, as a slight or narrow furrow,
ridge, stripe, or streak, on glaciated rock surfaces or the faces
of crystalline structures.
-
Strobel construction :
-
a variant method of slip lasting for footwear wherein the upper
is stitched to a light flexible insole that's often made of a
canvas-like material.
-
stuff-sack / stuff sack :
-
a waterproof bag intended for stowing a sleeping bag, but widely
used for other utilitarian storage; also called 'bivy', "bivy
bag", or "dry sack".
-
stull :
-
a timber prop, wedged in place between two walls of a stope as
part of a protective covering or platform.
-
stumbling block :
-
an obstacle or hindrance to progress, literal or figurative,
physical or mental, actual or hypothetical.
-
stupa :
-
a monumental pile of earth or other material, as a sacred marker
commemorating a person or event.
-
subapical :
-
located below the apex. [cf: penultimate]
-
subfossil :
-
a partially fossilized organism that's less than typical
(paleolithic) age.
-
subluxate / subluxation :
-
a partial dislocation, as of a joint; sprain.
-
submontane :
-
under or beneath a mountain. Also, belonging or pertaining to the
lower slopes of mountains.
-
sub-zero :
-
a reading below zero on a temperature scale, especially
Fahrenheit, as an indication of severe cold or freezing. Also,
characteristic of or appropriate for the potentially harmful
conditions of such a sub-zero climate.
-
suicide pact :
-
being roped together on a safety line without a set anchor;
because if one end of the safety rope is not secured to fixed
protection, then this arrangement is not safer but more
dangerous, making everyone vulnerable to the accident or failure
of a single member of the party.
-
summit :
-
the highest point or part of a hill; the top of a mountain; the
apex, vertex, pinnacle, mountaintop, peak, or zenith ... being
the climactic raison d'état of climbing, as opposed to
mere exploration.
-
sunbow :
-
an arc of prismatic colors, like a rainbow, appearing in the
spray of waterfalls and cataracts, fountains and the like.
-
sundog :
-
a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a mock sun: usually one
of two or more such spots seen on opposite sides of the sun, and
often accompanied by additional luminous arcs and bands; derived
by alteration of "beside the sun", also called "parhelion". Also,
a small or incomplete rainbow.
-
sunglow :
-
a diffuse, hazy light seen around the sun, caused by atmospheric
dust.
-
sunn :
-
an East Indian shrub (crotalaria juncea) of the legume family
which has an inner bark that yields a hemp-like fiber used for
making ropes, sacking, and other products; also called "sunn
hemp", "Bombay hemp", and "Madras hemp".
-
sun pillar :
-
a halo phenomenon in which a vertical streak of light appears
above and below the sun; believed to be caused by the reflection
of sunlight by ice crystals with vertical axes.
-
sun shower :
-
rain that falls while the sun continues to shine; also called
"liquid sunshine".
-
sunspot :
-
one of the relatively dark patches that appear periodically on
the surface of the sun and affect terrestrial magnetism and
certain other terrestrial phenomena.
-
sunspot cycle :
-
a cycle wherein the frequency of sunspots varies from a maximum
to a minimum and back to a maximum of occurrence within an
average duration of slightly more than eleven years.
-
Sun Valley sled :
-
a wooden rescue toboggan surmounted by a Stokes basket litter.
-
surcingle :
-
a belt, band, girdle, or girth passing around the body of a horse
to bind fast a saddle or pack to the horse's back. Also, the belt
or tie for a robe; the cincture of a cassock.
-
surgeon's knot :
-
a knot resembling a square or reef knot that's used by medicos
for tying ligatures and the like; a secure nonslipping knot that
adds an additional turn before tightening with the crossover.
-
survival :
-
to endure under adverse conditions by mental and physical
determination. [v: Rules for
Survival]
-
survival candle :
-
a molded piece of tallow or wax with an embedded wick , usually
supplemented with the addition of resin or oil so as to protract
its burning time; available in various compact sizes for ready
portability or storage, and suitable for emergency light or heat
... may be flaked to augment tinder as a fire starter, or
combined to warm food and liquids.
-
swale :
-
a low area or depression in a tract of land that usually collects
or retains water; also called "slack" or "sink".
-
swallow :
-
informal reference to a well-like depression, which shaft or
chamber is typically caused by water erosion.
-
Swami® belt :
-
a waist band used to construct a boatswain's seat, or to assemble
a harness by the addition of leg loops, but also used as a gear
sling; it's a product brand name that's used generically ... this
prototype climbing harness could be improvised from extra-wide
(2"-3") webbing strap tied with a water knot. [cf: cummerbund]
-
sweat suit :
-
a physical training ensemble consisting of a loose shirt and
pants of a moisture absorbent material, cushion-insole socks, and
hightech running shoes (eg: trainers, cross-trainers, joggers,
sneakers, tenny runners, court shoes); also called a "track
suit", this outfit is often emblazoned with silk-screened crests
or logos, brand names or affiliation names, and is banded at the
wrists, ankles, collar, hem, and waist so as to maintain relative
fit during workouts.
-
sweep :
-
the last run of the day by the Ski Patrol to ensure that the
control areas are clear of all skiers before closing the slopes,
runs, and trails for the night.
-
swinging-layback / swinging-lieback :
-
a dynamic version of the incremental layback / lieback wherein
the climber rotates off one foot while maintaining a grip with
the hand on the same side, then grabbing a higher handhold at the
deadpoint of the swing; this maneuver is frequently reversible,
unlike some more aerial dynos.
-
Swiss seat :
-
(forthcoming)
-
switchback :
-
a route or path that reverses direction in order to ascend (or
descend) a steep grade by lesser increments of traverse; the
hairpin or zigzag track so used to progress (or regress) in
elevation; a deliberate diminution in the acute angle of
approach.
-
synclinal :
-
pertaining to or composed of rock strata of a structure or fold
that slants downward from opposite directions so as to meet in a
common point or line, or that slopes upward on both sides from a
median line or central axis; dipping in both or opposite
directions.
-
syncline :
-
rock strata that slants in both or opposite directions;
originating as a back-formation from synclinal.
-
Synergy Liner® :
-
proprietary name of a high-tech, triple-layer laminate from 3M
that consists of synthetic microfiber insulation sandwiched
between a waterproof breathable membrane and a hydrophobic
three-bar wicking knit, which protects against cold and wet
without being heavy or bulky.
-
tableland :
-
a mesa or plateau.
-
tack :
-
a course of action, especially one differing from some preceding
course, or from some other direction. Also, one of the movements
of a zigzag course or route on land. Also, to secure by some
slight or temporary fastening, as when joining things together,
or when attaching something supplementary, as "tacking on the
appended items".
-
tackle :
-
any specialized apparatus, equipment, or gear, including rigging.
Also, a leverage system of pulleys, as a hoisting "block and
tackle".
-
tailing :
-
the residue of any product, as in mining; leavings, tailings.
Also, gravel or aggregate of a size that fails to pass through a
given screen. Also, the projecting part of a stone inserted in a
wall; tailed.
-
tailings :
-
the residue of any product, as in mining; leavings. Also, gravel
or aggregate of a size that fails to pass through a given screen.
-
take up the slack :
-
literally, to make a loose section of a rope or other line taut,
tight, or tense by gathering the excess; and figuratively, to
supplement or compensate for something inadequate or incomplete
by providing its lack.
-
talus :
-
an unstable, fan-shaped slope; a steeply sloping mass of loose
rocky fragments accumulated at the base of a cliff, crag, or
hill.
-
tapioca snow :
-
see snow pellets.
-
Tarbuck knot :
-
a non-jamming running knot with relatively good grip that was
developed by Kenneth Tarbuck to enable multiple strand laid ropes
to slightly slip or gradually slide when suddenly subjected to
the shock of heavy loads; this protective feature was made
obsolete by the advent of nylon kernmantle ropes.
-
tarn :
-
a small mountain lake, pond, or pool, especially one situated in
a cirque.
-
tarp :
-
informal designation of TARPaulin, as derived by shortening;
refers to a sheet of waterproofed canvas or other material used
as a protective covering for objects exposed to the weather.
-
taut :
-
anything drawn tightly or tensely; not slack. Also, in good order
or condition; neat and tidy, trim and shipshape.
-
taut-line hitch :
-
an adjustable friction loop knot for use on lines under tension;
it's useful for when the length of a line will need to be
periodically adjusted in order to maintain tension without
retying the knot; tension is maintained by sliding the hitch to
adjust the size of the loop, thus changing the effective length
of the standing part without retying the knot. When tied with
stiff or slick rope (eg: polypropylene), this knot tends to slip;
furthermore, if finished with a half hitch tied in the opposite
direction, this (magnus) knot is less likely to twist under a
load; also known as tent-line hitch, rigger's hitch, adjustable /
adjustable grip hitch, and midshipman's hitch.
-
T-bar lift :
-
a T-shaped device that's designed to carry two skiers at a time
up a slope by positioning them on the horizontal bar to each side
of the vertical bar that's suspended from a motor-driven overhead
cable. [nb: to suddenly release (snapping-off) the poma disk or
T-bar lift when dismounting at the top of the hill is not only
discourteous, but could endanger anyone standing nearby or
following, as the erratically swinging device moves unpredictably
after departure]
-
tea-bagging / teabagging :
-
a belayer suspended in midair from inserted protection by the
counterbalance of a climber who has fallen with enough force to
lift the belayer off of his perch, like a tea bag on a string.
-
technical climbing :
-
rock climbing involving a rope and some means of protection ...
as opposed to scrambling or free climbing or glacier travel.
-
telemark :
-
a skier's turn in which the tip of the forward ski is gradually
angled inward, being a technique that combines elements of Alpine
and Nordic skiing; so-called after a county in Norway. [nb:
telemark skiing demonstrated by Sondre Norheim (ca1866)]
-
telpherage :
-
a transportation system in which cars or similar carriers are
suspended from wire cables and run from station to station,
especially by electrical operation.
-
tension / tension climbing :
-
a method of maintaining balance during an ascent using a taut
rope through a point of protection; a method of ascent wherein
the climber maintains contact with the rock slope by tension
exerted on the climbing rope by the belayer.
-
tephra :
-
clastic volcanic material (eg: scoria, dust, etc) that's ejected
during an eruption; as derived from "ashes".
-
terminal moraine :
-
detritus deposited at the farthest extent of an encroaching
glacier; a mass of unstratified drift marking the farthest
advance of a glacier or ice sheet.
-
terrane :
-
a distinctive geologic formation, or group of rocks, or the area
in which such features occur; derived as a spelling variant of
'terrain'.
-
tether :
-
a rope or other attachment serving as a retainer or restraint; a
fastening or connection. Also, the utmost length or extent of
action, ability, or resources.
-
thaw wind :
-
a raw and piercing wind that's saturated with moisture scarcely
above freezing point, and is therefore more uncomfortable and
penetrating than one colder or drier; it's so-called a "Robin
Hood wind"for being unbearably punishing to outdoorsmen, who can
endure most other conditions.
-
thermae :
-
a natural hot spring; a public hot bathing establishment of the
ancient Greeks or Romans.
-
thimble :
-
a metal ring with a concave groove on the outside, used to line
the outside of a ring of rope to prevent chafing.
-
Thinsulate® :
-
proprietary name of a lightweight synthetic microfiber insulation
from 3M that's resilient and durable.
-
3 C's / Three C's :
-
a program by which skiers can improve their outdoor experience:
Courtesy, Control, and Conditioning, as advocated by the National
Ski Patrol.
-
3-pin binding :
-
see rattrap. [v: 4-pin binding]
-
throughfall :
-
precipitation that falls directly to the ground, passing through
spaces in the canopy or dripping through the foliage onto the
ground.
-
through traveler :
-
a trekker or climber who undertakes the accomplishment of a
significant or substantial goal in a single effort, or a stint of
continuous time and effort; probably a truncation of "through to
the end" ... as opposed to flip-flop or sectional travel.
-
throw line :
-
a light cord or thin rope, with its trailing end weighted by a
knot, that's used to cast across an intervening space or to toss
between footholds for transferring larger cables; also known as a
"messenger line" or "heaving line".
-
thrutching :
-
slang for exhibiting bad climbing technique, or "body climbing",
as coined at Mount Arapiles.
-
tibloc :
-
a device that allows the rope to move in only one direction,
which is intended to prevent the second climber from accidentally
dislodging the leader in the event that the follower would slip.
-
till :
-
glacial drift consisting of an unsorted mixture of clay, sand,
gravel, stones, and boulders. Also, a stiff clay. Also, to plow,
harrow, or cultivate the soil for raising crops; as derived from
"strive after".
-
timber hitch / timberhitch :
-
a knot made by taking a turn on a fixed object, wrapping the end
around the standing part of the rope, then several times around
itself.
-
timberline :
-
the altitude above sea level at which trees cease to grow, which
demarcation varies depending upon soil condition, moisture,
temperature, and winds; stunted and distorted growth is a
precursor, while cessation is factored by geographical location.
-
time lamp :
-
an oil lamp originating in the 17th century that burns at a fixed
or consistent rate, and has a reservoir graduated in units of
time; a periodic or interval lamp.
-
tip roll / tip-roll :
-
a maneuver in which a skier simultaneously pivots on his ski
poles and ski tips; a skiing stunt wherein a very agile skier
rotates around both tips of his skis, together and parallel,
after firmly planting his ski poles on the downhill side of the
turn, so as to dramatically change the direction of traverse
across the slope.
-
toboggan / tobogan / tarbogan :
-
a flat-bottomed sled, relatively long and narrow, with one or
both ends curved upward, used for drawing or sliding across snow
and ice; derived as corruptions of "to drag a sled by a cord"
(odabagan). [v: slipe]
-
toehold :
-
a small indentation that only supports a portion of the climber's
boot. Also used figuratively to mean any small advantage that
enables significant progress to be made.
-
toe hooking :
-
see hook.
-
topo :
-
a sketch of a climbing route showing its line, bolt placements,
belay stances, crux, and rating.
-
top of the world :
-
an expression representing the arctic region or the far north,
including the Arctic Circle and North Pole; also known as the
"end of the earth", and contrasted by the "bottom of the world".
Also, an allusion to the highest mountains or to the most
elevated mountain ranges.
-
topographic feature :
-
a prominent part, conspicuous characteristic, or distinctive mark
that's representative of certain terrain or a given region.
-
topographic map :
-
a map showing topographic features, usually by means of contour
lines.
-
topography :
-
the relief traits or surface configurations of a delimited area;
the detailed mapping and description of a relatively defined
area.
-
top-out :
-
completing a route by ascending over the top of the structure
being climbed.
-
toprope / toproping :
-
to belay an ascent from a fixed anchor point above the climb; a
static rope belayed along the leader's route that the other's in
the party follow in due course.
-
tor :
-
a rocky pinnacle, as the bare peak of a mountain or hill, heap or
pile; derived from 'rocky height' ["twr" (Welsh)].
-
touchstone :
-
a standard of measure or criterion for testing the qualities of a
thing. Also, a black siliceous stone (schist, or Lapis Lydius)
formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by examining
the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either
metal. ["Gold is tried by the touchstone, and men by gold." by
Roger Bacon]
-
tour / touring :
-
to travel around from place to place; a sightseeing journey
visiting a number of places, as in a group led by a guide. Also,
a brief trip through a place in order to view or inspect it.
-
towline :
-
a LINE, ROPE, CABLE, HAWSER, or the like, by which anything is
(or may be) drawn, hauled, or towed.
-
track suit :
-
see sweat suit.
-
traditional climbing / trad climbing :
-
an emphasis on the adventure and exploration of climbing using a
rope, rack, and protection ... as opposed to sport climbing and
free climbing.
-
trail angel :
-
someone who not only voluntarily monitors and maintains a portion
of accessible countryside, but freely donates food and water to
transient outdoorsmen passing through a particular sector.
-
trailhead :
-
the source, origin, or beginning of a route; situated at the
front or start ... often where the pavement ends, where
civilization meets wilderness.
-
trailing-end :
-
(forthcoming); also dragrope
-
trail magic :
-
potable water in sealed containers, long shelf-life packaged
foodstuffs, and minor items of field gear (eg: antiseptics,
bandages, moleskins, matches, bandanas, etc) which "goodies" are
stowed in animal-proof containers, often near overnight shelters,
for the use of any transient outdoorsmen passing through a
particular sector.
-
trail marker :
-
a wooden or metal signpost, a blaze or cairn placed at intervals
along a specific route for positive identification under less
than ideal conditions, such as fog or storm, or when recent
passage has been obliterated.
-
trail mix :
-
a high-energy snack, variously composed; properly called 'gorp',
and improperly called 'Granola'. [nb: called "scroggin" in
Australia] [nb: people living above 12,000ft altitude must
consume 11% more nutriments to compensate for anoxia or hypoxia]
-
trail name :
-
a nickname or sobriquet bestowed upon a trekker or climbing
companion during an outing, usually as a result of a faux pas or
humorous incident; a designation that will haunt someone far and
wide, regardless of any compensatory "good deeds". [v: alter ego]
-
tramming :
-
the process of cleaning protection and gear from a steep route
while belayed on a toprope, often with the aid of a quickdraw
extender.
-
tramontane :
-
pertaining, situated, or derived from "the other side of the
mountains". Also, foreign (people, culture, winter wind, etc), as
"beyond the mountains"; originally the Italian Alps. Also
expressed as 'transmontane' or 'transalpine'.
-
tramway :
-
a crude railroad of wooden rails or of wooden rails capped with
metal treads, as for primitive or temporary conveyance. Also, a
system for carrying passengers and freight in vehicles suspended
from and operating along overhead cables ... an aerial tramway.
-
trap / traprock :
-
any of various fine-grained, dark-colored igneous rocks having a
more or less columnar structure resembling stairs, so-called from
the stepped appearance of these outcrops.
-
traprock :
-
informal reference to any of various fine-grained, dark-colored
igneous rocks, especially some form of basalt; derived as a
variant of stair (trappa) from the stepped appearance of its
outcrops. [nb: not a deadfall]
-
traverse / traversing :
-
to cross a slope at an angle or slant, as a diagonal route or an
oblique course; to move laterally or horizontally across the fall
line of a slope while ascending or descending. Also, a suitable
place or point for crossing over snow, ice, or rock, as a pass or
gap, ford or bridge. [v: hand traverse, pendulum traverse,
Tyrolean traverse]
-
travertine / travertin :
-
a form of limestone deposited by springs, especially hot springs,
as used for building.
-
travois :
-
a transport device consisting of two poles, joined by a frame,
and drawn by an animal; from "travail", a framework for an unruly
animal.
-
tray landscape :
-
that category [bontei] of miniature plants and small rocks that
are arranged for display on a tray so as to inspire the viewer;
including a landscape [suiseki] of water-polished stones, a sand
painting [bonseki] of colorful grit and gravel, a diorama
[bonkei] setup with small plants and other objects, or a small
planting [saikei] of carefully pruned plants [bonsai].
-
trefoil knot :
-
a triple-lobed knot, such as the prolonge knot; a knot having a
clover-like form.
-
trek / trekker / trekking :
-
walking a long distance in remote terrain; a slow and difficult
expedition, being an arduous journey as an odyssey by a traveler;
originating from "moving a load" during migration. Trekking (or
hill walking) does not involve the use of any special climbing
equipment, such as ropes or crampons.
-
tremendous :
-
that which is extraordinarily great in size, amount, or
intensity, being something that inspires astonishment or awe; as
derived from "to be shaken".
-
trench :
-
a deep ditch or furrow, especially one that's been excavated; as
derived from "cut".
-
Triassic :
-
noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Mesozoic Era,
occurring from 230 million to 190 million years ago and
characterized by the advent of dinosaurs and coniferous forests.
-
tri-cam :
-
a triplex piece of rock climbing protection.
-
'trier :
-
see etrier.
-
triple crown :
-
the three most significant hiking trails in America: the
Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental
Divide Trail ... by an allusion to horse racing.
-
triple fisherman's bend / triple fisherman's knot :
-
see double fisherman's bend, barrel knot, blood knot, or
grapevine knot.
-
trog :
-
slang for a caver or spelunker, by truncation of troglodyte.
-
trogging :
-
the systematic search of ground surfaces for cave entrances; also
called "ground trogging".
-
truelove knot :
-
a complicated ornamental knot, especially a double knot having
two interlacing bows, regarded as an emblem of 'true love' or
interwoven affections.
-
tube :
-
a relatively smooth cave passage of nearly circular or elliptical
cross-section, such as a lava tube.
-
tuck :
-
a crouching body position in skiing wherein the head is lowered
and the legs are drawn up, so the thighs touch the chest, with
the arms extended while holding the ski poles against the sides
of the body; this aerodynamically compact posture is also called
"egg" or "comma", and is used in downhill (Alpine) racing. [cf:
diving, gymnastics]
-
tufa :
-
a porous, light yellow crystalline limestone, often exhibiting a
spongy appearance, that's deposited in solution from spring or
surface water. [eg: Mega Tufa Wall, Majorca (Spanish Balearic
Islands)]
-
tuff :
-
a fragmental rock consisting of the smaller kinds of volcanic
detritus, usually more or less stratified.
-
tumble / tumbling :
-
a skiing stunt wherein an upright acrobatic skier rolls forward,
end over end with the fall line, landing first on the hands (or
forearms) and then back up onto the feet ... sometimes executed
in a ball-like tuck, but may also be performed in a full layout
from a ski jump launch. Other than style, this maneuver serves no
practical purpose.
-
tumpline :
-
a strap or sling passed across the forehead to help support a
backpack; as derived from Algonquian usage.
-
tumulus :
-
an artificial mound raised over a grave or midden, as a barrow.
-
tunnel :
-
a nearly horizontal cave open to the surface at both ends, being
fairly straight and uniform in cross-section, but not necessarily
in sight of daylight. Also, a spacious cave passage that's fairly
straight and uniform in cross-section, but not open to the
surface.
-
Turk's head / Turk's head knot :
-
a large decorative knot, used to finish a special line or
lanyard; sometimes called "Nigger head".
-
turn :
-
to pass or twist a rope entirely around an object; as derived
from "round off" or "make circles". Also, a single circular or
convoluted shape, as of a coiled or wound rope.
-
turnbuckle :
-
a rotating link or sleeve with internal screw-threads at each
end, used to connect and tighten the ends of a cable or rod.
-
turquoise :
-
an opaque bluish-green or greenish-blue mineral (hydrous copper
aluminum phosphate, often with trace iron) that's typically cut
cabochon as a gemstone; purportedly protects its wearer against
injury in a fall.
-
tweak :
-
slang for injure or afflict, offend or insult. Also, slang for
anger or irritate; as derived from a sharp twisting pull or jerk.
-
twice-laid :
-
a line made from strands of used rope. Also, a line made from
makeshift or used material.
-
twilight :
-
the period of diffused light at the beginning or end of the day
when the sun is below the horizon; also called "gloaming" or
"pink time". [v: nautical twilight, civil twilight, astronomical
twilight]
-
twilight glow :
-
airglow observed at twilight.
-
twilight zone :
-
the part of a cave where daylight penetrates, gradually
diminishing to black in the dark zone; usually situated near an
entrance or exit.
-
twin rope / twin ropes :
-
best used on mountain routes because they are lighter than double
ropes or half ropes.
-
twine :
-
(entwine)
-
Type-II Fun :
-
ironic (or sardonic) reference to the inordinate pleasure derived
from pursuing a risky pastime, enduring its necessary travails
and surviving its occasional mishaps; being the kind of enjoyment
that non-participants consider abusive or punishing, if not
clinically masochistic.
-
Tyrolean traverse / Tirolean traverse :
-
a line or cable suspended along a decline for use as a
single-strand rope bridge that's negotiated using a pulley under
the force of gravity; also known as Tyrolean crossing, zip-line,
zip-wire, flat line traverse, aerial ropeslide, aerial runway,
flying fox, foefie slide, death slide or slide-for-life. Used to
conveniently transport equipment and supplies, specimens and
personnel (especially when injured); and may be used in reverse
when ascending an incline by a draw rope (guy or towline) or by
other motive force. Originating as a method to resupply or
evacuate mountain troops, it's now commonly used for outdoor
recreation and vacation tourism ... as such, sometimes provided
with a boatswain's chair, it is the minimalist version of the
telpherage gondola or cable-car. [nb: some Tyrolean traverse
setups use constriction or friction brakes, and safety is
provided by net or secondary attachment; all Tyrolean traverse
lines sag, with the sagging "belly" of the line almost always
lower than the finish or terminus, so continuation beyond the sag
requires either momentum or motivation] [nb: although
steeplejacks have used ropes to haul materials and a ropeslide to
descend from their work since the 18th century, this practice is
more akin to rappelling than to the Tyrolean traverse]
-
UIAA :
-
Union des International Alpine Association; includes a rating
system used in Europe.
-
UL :
-
abbreviation for ultralight, being a minimalistic approach to
outdoor activities, especially lightweight gear and spare
resources.
-
Ultima Thule :
-
the farthest point or the most extreme limit of any journey.
Also, the greatest goal or highest degree attainable.
-
umbilical cord :
-
sardonic allusion to the line running down the rock face, from a
hanging camp or bivvy to the deck or ground level, as used for
resupply, communications, security, emergency evacuation, and the
like.
-
umsprung :
-
a jump turn that's executed from a stationary position by
planting both ski poles on the downhill side of an upright skier.
[ety: German loanword / lehnwort]
-
unbend :
-
to loose or untie; to unfasten a connection. Also, to straighten
from a bowed or bent posture; stand upright. Also, to relax; to
remove strictures or constraints.
-
under a rock :
-
a metaphor representing any place of concealment, as for
protection or banishment, especially a source of unexpected harm
or unknown evil; as where Hercules buried the immortal head of
the monstrous Hydra after chopping it off during his second
mythological labor; also, where Galatea, the sea nymph, spied
upon Polyphemus, the cyclopes, before finally taking refuge in
the water from his passions; also, the only passage by which
entry could be made to a spacious valley in the kingdom of
Amhara, surrounded on every side by mountains, where the
Abissinian princes were confined in a private palace to await
their call to the throne; also, where the fiend is imprisoned low
underneath the ground, far from the view of day: "And if thou
ever happen that same way / To travel, go to see that dreadful
place; / It is a hideous hollow cave (they say) / Under a rock
that lies a little space, / From the swift Barry, tombling down
apace / Amongst the woody hills of Dynevor; / But dare not thou,
I charge, in any case, / To enter into that same baleful bower, /
For fear the cruel fiends should thee unwares devour."
-
undercling :
-
an awkward or tenuous hold, such as an upside down hold, that
often requires a layback move, or some other exceptional effort.
-
ungroomed :
-
a slope or trail that's been left in its natural state; untended,
untidy, unstructured, unprepared, not made neat and accessible.
-
unhitch :
-
to unfasten or free from attachment; to be disconnected or
uncoupled.
-
unitard :
-
a unisex leotard (qv) with full-length arms and legs, as worn
during exercise, dance, gymnastics, and other sporting or
performance renditions. [v: bodystocking]
-
unknot :
-
to untie, as if by undoing a knot. Also, to straighten out
something tangled or confused.
-
untie / untied / untying :
-
to disassemble, disconnect, or untangle something (ie: cord,
rope, webbing strap, etc), as a knotted interlacement. [nb: not
"un-..."]
-
up rope :
-
the voice command shouted by a climber when requesting a tighter,
more secure belay; sometimes truncated to just "Rope!"
-
U-shaped valley :
-
characterized by steep, straight sides and a flat bottom, which
feature somewhat resembles an upright letter 'U' shape; also
known as a glacial trough, it's formed by the process of
glaciation wherein a glacier travels across and down a slope,
carving the valley by the action of scouring.
-
vale :
-
valley; also the earthly world or mortal life, as "this vale of
tears".
-
Velcro :
-
the tradename of a nylon fabric closure that consists of two
complementary pieces of fastening tape, one with tiny hooks and
the other with a dense pile, that interlock when pressed
together, which is used as a substitute for buttons or snaps on
garments, luggage, and the like; invented in 1948, Velcro is also
called "hook 'n' loop fastener" and "hook 'n' pile fastener".
-
verglas :
-
a thin coating of ice covering all cracks and holds on the rock
face making movement extremely treacherous; also called "glaze",
"glazed ice", "frost", "silver frost", or "rime". [ety: French
loanword literally meaning 'glass-ice']
-
vertex :
-
the highest point, apex. Also, the farthest or most extreme
point, as the point farthest from the base; the intersection of
three or more planes.
-
vertigo :
-
a disordered or bewildered condition in which one feels oneself,
or one's surroundings, whirling about in an unstable manner; the
dizzying sensation caused by this disorienting confusion, often
associated with heights. [v: vertiginous]
-
vesicle :
-
a small, usually spherical cavity in a rock or mineral, formed by
the expansion of a gas or vapor before the enclosing body
solidified; derived from "little bladder".
-
vestibule :
-
the antechamber serving as a passage to the interior of a
dwelling, such as a fly-covered portico at the entrance to a
tent. Also, an enclosed passageway between separate segments or
sectors of a construction. [v: forecourt]
-
V-grade :
-
a technical grading system for bouldering problems, which rating
was invented by John Sherman.
-
via ferrata :
-
a protected mountain climbing route using fixed hardware, such as
cables or ladders, for recurrent passages; term is known as
"climbing step" (klettersteig) in German. First used in WWI to
quickly and safely move infantrymen, they are now used to assist
people of varied abilities and employing minimal equipment to
negotiate passages that are regularly traveled, causing the least
amount of damage to the terrain. Although the emplaced hardware
makes the route safer and more secure than regular climbing, when
accidents do occur, the climber typically suffers more or greater
injuries due to a lack of secondary safeties. Like their
topography, these installations are variously rated according to
route difficulty or climber fitness. The harness worn while
moving along these routes requires a Y-shaped anchor, alternately
clipped as progress is made, and requiring carabiners rated for
steep falls (marked with a circled-K symbol), which are operated
one-handed. [ety: an Italian loanword literally meaning "iron
way"]
-
Vibram :
-
the foremost manufacturer of lugged or cleated outer soles for
hiking boots when trekking, and outsole extrusions for
mountaineering boots when smearing or edging. [v: Montagna,
Mulaz, Lavaredo, XS Grip, SuperTrek, etc]
-
vitamin A / vitamin A+ :
-
sardonic allusion to Advil®, or any ibuprofen
product, especially in its "extra strength" dosage, being a
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that's used for reducing
local pain and swelling, as of the joints. [ety: ibuprofen: by
contraction, rearrangement, and respelling of its chemical name
isobutylpheny propionic acid
(C13H18O2)]
-
vitamin M :
-
sardonic allusion to Motrin® tablet, or any
ibuprofen product, being an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic
analgesic that's used for reducing local pain and swelling, as of
the joints.
-
volcano :
-
a hill or mountain having a cup-like crater at its summit, which
is formed around the vent in the earth's crust through which
lava, ashes, steam and other gases are expelled into the
atmosphere, either continuously or at irregular intervals.
-
vorlauf / vorlaufer :
-
to forerun the course of a scheduled race; a forerunning skier
who shadows or skirts the course of a race so as to familiarize
himself with the layout of the route, to study the snow
conditions, and to estimate the time for completion. [ety: German
loanword / lehnwort] [nb: it's illegal for a competitor to ski on
the actual track of the forthcoming event]
-
votive candle / tealight :
-
a compact, unscented, long-burning candle, often screened from
extinguishment by being housed in a translucent container, as for
burning during prayer, but suitable for warming cookware or
lighting a tent.
-
V-shaped valley :
-
characterized by steeply sloping sides and an insignificant
bottom, as formed by the process of drainage erosion; which
feature somewhat resembles an upright letter 'V' shape.
-
vug :
-
a small cavity in a rock or vein, often lined with crystals; as
derived from "pit" or "cave".
-
wacke :
-
a poorly sorted sandstone containing fragments of rock and
minerals in a clayey matrix, such as graywacke; derived from
"pebble".
-
wadi :
-
the channel of a steep-sided watercourse that is dry except
during periods of rainfall; a gulch or ravine.
-
Wag Bag® :
-
proprietary name of a go-anywhere plastic toilet kit consisting
of a puncture resistant double-layered pouch containing a super
absorbent medium (aka: "poo powder"), a sanitation catalyst, and
a deodorizer that was developed for military field usage by
CleanWaste (formerly Phillips Environmental); after use, this
zip-closed human waste container can be deposited with other
trash for daily (or periodic) disposal by burning ... each
"toilet in a bag" waste kit includes toilet paper and a cleansing
wipe.
-
walkabout :
-
the absence from work for the purpose of roaming or wandering,
yondering or roving; to emulate a natural lifestyle that conforms
only to necessity.
-
Matthew Walker :
-
a knot formed on the end of a rope that's made by partly unlaying
the strands and tying them off; eponymously after the presumed
inventor (1855) of the technique.
-
wall :
-
an extremely steep rock face or sheer unbroken vertical front
(usually of 70° or more), with its ascent advanced by leads,
sometimes extending over more than one day.
-
wall rock :
-
the rock forming the walls of a mineral vein.
-
wand :
-
a long bamboo pole or rod with a signal flag affixed at the top,
as used for marking a safe path across glaciers and snowfields.
-
warm spring :
-
a thermal spring having a temperature of up to 98°F /
37°C, which water is usually heated by emanation from or
passage near hot or molten rock.
-
washout :
-
the hole or break, as in an embankment from the loss of soil and
gravel, caused by erosion from heavy rain. Also, slang for a
person who has failed to complete a study course or training
program.
-
watch cap :
-
a soft stocking-cap, knitted of wool, or a wool-like fleece
alternative (eg: cashmere, alpaca, qiviut, Orlon, Acrilan, etc),
in various subdued colors, and worn with a turned-up cuff folded
at the bottom, that's suitable for wear during cold weather by
military and paramilitary personnel. [cf: balaclava, biggin,
coif, pileus/pîlos, calotte, skullcap]
-
water gap :
-
a transverse gap in a mountain ridge, giving passage to a stream
or river.
-
water knot :
-
a knot used to join two ends of webbing strap together, as when
making a sling (runner); constructed by forming an overhand knot
on one end and then interlacing the other end back through the
same configuration; the ends should be left long on both sides to
allow for slippage, and to permit the tying of secondary half
hitches on either side of the knot. Although once seized into
place by pressure, it is difficult to untie this knot on leather
or nylon tape, but it should be closely inspected before each
subsequent use. It's also known as tape knot, grass knot, ring
bend, overhand follow-through knot, and todesknoten ["death knot"
(German)].
-
water-laid :
-
noting a rope that's laid left-handed from three or four
plain-laid ropes, in the making of which water was used to wet
the fibers instead of the more customary oil or tallow.
-
watershed :
-
the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas. Also, an
important point of division or transition, as between phases or
conditions. Also, the region drained by a stream or river; a
drainage area.
-
wax :
-
a natural or man-made substance, solid at ordinary temperatures,
that's applied to sled runners and ski bottoms so as to improve
their glide, or to increase their resistance, over snow and ice;
typed by moisture and temperature conditions, waxes are applied
by warming, and removed by warming and scraping.
-
webbing :
-
nylon tape or tubing, variously sized and colored, as used for
slings and harnesses.
-
webelette :
-
a piece of webbing, with eyes sewn into the ends, that's used to
tie into several anchor points, in the same way as a long loop of
accessory cord (cordelette).
-
web walker :
-
slang for a type of pathfinder who is the first to break trail
along an isolated stretch, being the first person to encounter
the fresh spider webs that're beginning to restore the
uncultivated wilderness.
-
wedel / wedeling :
-
(vay-dul) to engage in 'wedeln', as disseminated from Austria,
wherein a series of high-speed skiing turns are made in rapid
succession with both skis parallel, often without the use of ski
poles. [ety: German loanword literally meaning "wagging the tail"
(wedeln / wedeiln)]
-
wedge / wedging :
-
any piece of hard material (eg: iron, steel, stone, wood, etc)
with its two principal faces meeting in a sharply acute angle, as
used for raising, holding, or splitting objects. Also, a V-shaped
chock or block, cam or other climbing aid, especially used in
wider cracks or fissures. Also, any V-shaped arrangement, as of
herringbone or snowplow skis. Also, to thrust or stuff, insert or
insinuate something into an opening so as to fill it or to pack
it tightly.
-
weighted / weighting :
-
the security testing of exposed rope or installed protection by
putting them under pressure or strain; to simulate a minor fall
by cautiously bouncing on a suspended rope.
-
well :
-
any deep space or sunken enclosure, as a vertical shaft or
reservoir, a hollow receptacle or chamber; being any natural or
artificial hole, drilled, bored, or otherwise constructed, that
permits the movement of air, water, or other elements or objects.
-
Welsbach® burner :
-
a trademarked brand of gaslight that essentially consists of a
Bunsen burner or Meker burner upon which an incombustible mantle
(ie: Welsbach mantle), composed of thoria and some ceria, becomes
brilliantly incandescent when exposed to flame.
-
whaleback :
-
a bedrock knoll smoothed and rounded on all sides by glacial
erosion, reminiscent of the back of a whale.
-
whip :
-
to overlay or cover cordage or rope with thread or line, as for
prevention of damage by friction, fraying, or raveling. Also, a
tackle consisting of a fall rove through a single standing block
(single whip), or a fall secured at one end and rove through a
single running and a single standing block (double whip). Also, a
lashing, beating, whisking, whirling, wrapping, or winding
motion. Also, to sew with a light overcasting stitch. Also, to
urge, inspire, train, or castigate by words or deeds, as if from
flogging or flailing.
-
whipper :
-
a long fall, especially beyond the last clipped or emplaced piece
of protection, as when the leader falls from above his belay,
past his protection, and usually pendulum swings in an arc after
being arrested.
-
whipping :
-
an arrangement of cord, twine, or thread wound about something.
-
whirlwind :
-
a rapidly rotating mass of air that advances over land or sea.
Also, anything resembling the speed or force of such, as a
frenzied rush or violent course.
-
whirly :
-
a violent whirlwind carrying snow.
-
white night :
-
a night without sleep. Also, the period when the sky does not
completely darken during a solstice in the fartherest latitudes
of the polar circles, which perpetual daylight is also called the
"midnight sun".
-
Whittaker wheeze :
-
see pressure breathing.
-
wick :
-
a twist or braid of soft cotton threads, or a woven fiber strip,
that serves to draw the flammable liquid to be burned in a candle
or lamp. [v: mantle; cf: spill] Also, to draw (attraction or
repulsion) moisture or liquid by capillary action.
-
widow maker / widow-maker :
-
slang for any natural accident waiting to happen to some
unsuspecting wool-gatherer, such as a tottering rock, a poised
tree / tree limb, or any other deadfall ready to be triggered.
-
williwaw :
-
a violent squall that blows in near-polar latitudes.
-
windbreaker :
-
an outerwear jacket made of wind-resistant and moisture-repellent
material with close fitting elasticized cuffs and hip band, and a
storm-flapped placket; formerly a trademarked brand name.
-
windchill factor :
-
the apparent temperature felt on the exposed human body owing to
the combination of temperature and wind speed; also spelled
wind-chill factor or wind chill factor, and also known as 'wind
chill', 'windchill index', or 'chill factor'.
-
wind gap :
-
a cut that indents only the upper part of a mountain ridge,
usually a former water gap.
-
window jump :
-
a stunt wherein the skier, while supporting himself on his ski
poles, swings his skis between them, then turns his skis in
midair; being a type of jump turn.
-
windslab :
-
a type of avalanche that occurs when a snow layer, compacted by
wind, settles insecurely atop old snow; when it detaches, it
falls in large slabs or blocks of compressed snow.
-
windstorm :
-
a sudden or violent heavy wind of 64-72 mph but with little or no
precipitation.
-
wing :
-
aka: chicken wing, stem
-
wired :
-
slang for having the moves required for the completion of a climb
memorized.
-
wires :
-
inclusive slang referent for any aid climbing hardware or
climbing protection supplied with a flexible wire loop connector
(eg: nut, copperhead, etc).
-
woodie :
-
slang for an homemade climbing wall; although more easily
assembled and modified with add-on holds, the wooden climbing
wall has a tendency to splinter as it ages, which can injure
students more than metal or composite constructions.
-
work for stay :
-
a method of compensation offered by some youth hostels wherein
manual labor, performed satisfactorily, pays the cost of room and
board; with the prior approval of management, a labor exchange
made in lieu of monetary payment at a transient's shelter.
-
X :
-
a rating (R/X) that can be added as a suffix to any Class 5
designation in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), indicating the
existence of a run-out on that climbing route; on portions of
this route, the placement of intermediate protection is not
possible, such that if a fall occurs, the climber will impact the
ground.
-
X-C :
-
cross-country, as in Nordic tour skiing.
-
xenolith :
-
a rock fragment foreign to the igneous rock in which it is
embedded; also called inclusion.
-
X-Games™ :
-
extreme recreational activities that are subdivided into summer
and winter events, organized like Olympic competitions
(OLYMPIAD), but with medals and prize money awarded since 1995 by
the sponsors, the ESPN and ABC Sports networks; these so-called
'extreme' activities have been selected for their popular
commercial appeal, being non-traditional semi-professional events
that include sport climbing and bouldering. [nb: 'X-Games' is a
proprietary trademark]
-
Yabo :
-
a seated start for climbing; eponymously after John "Yabo"
Yablonski.
-
yard :
-
to test a handhold by applying pressure or exerting tension
before actual use.
-
yawn :
-
a deep open space, as a chasm or hiatus.
-
YDS :
-
Yosemite Decimal System; a scale (1-5) used to rate the
difficulty of routes of hikes and climbs in mountainous terrain
in North America. [ie: Class 1: hiking trail; Class 2: off-trail
scramble; Class 3: climbing with ropes (or moderate scrambling);
Class 4: belayed climbing (or difficult scrambling); Class 5:
free climbing with exposure and protection; classes may be
subcategorized by numeral (eg: 5.9), letter (eg: 5.10d, 5.8R), by
plus or minus sign (eg: 5.7-), and by asterisk (eg: 5.5**)]
-
yeti :
-
a legendary humanoid creature, disproportionately large and
hairy, that's reputed to inhabit the wilderness and alpine areas
of Asia; also known as abominable snowman or mountain demon,
bigfoot or sasquatch; this Nepalese term supposedly derived from
an erroneous translation of a spurious Tibetan phrase meaning
"man-bear" (mi t'om) or "snowfield man" (k'ang mi). [nb: known as
"barmanu" in the Karakoram]
-
yoga pants :
-
tight-fitting, ankle-length pants with a flat waistband that're
worn during aerobic exercises and sports competitions by men and
women; made of a blend of variously colored fabrics (including
nylon, polyester, polypropylene, cotton, and the like) that allow
four-way stretch, with either a straight-leg or boot-cut cuff,
and no pockets ... breathability and moisture wicking features
have been improved since their initial introduction during the
1970s. [v: yoga mat, yoga brick, yoga bolster, yoga strap]
-
Yosemite Decimal System :
-
see YDS.
-
Z-clipped / Z-clipping :
-
attaching to a belay line or anchor for protection by using the
segment of rope from beneath the previous anchor, resulting in an
unsafe configuration of the belay rope.
-
Zen garden :
-
a stylized Japanese rock garden that's usually enclosed and
generally viewed from only one perspective, which was developed
to represent the essence of nature and to promote "sitting
meditation" [za-zen]; imitative of the older Chinese gardens that
honored the traditional Eight Immortals [Horai], the Japanese
version is of two types: a dry landscape [karesansui] arrangement
of symbolic rocks emplaced upon raked sand or gravel, and an
artificial mountain [tsukiyama / kasan] landscape of plants and
water, rocks and gravel. The Japanese style may be representative
of a mountain range or archipelago, marsh or ocean, hills and
ravines, replete with dry streams or fish ponds, dry waterfalls
or sculpted trees, which creates a sense of isolation and
detachment from the world ... these gardens have become veritable
compositions in stone. [v: the garden (chaniwa) attached to the
tea-ceremony house (chashitsu); cf: flat garden (hiraniwa)]
-
zenith :
-
the highest point or state; culmination; derived as a medieval
scribal error for 'road above (over) one's head', as the opposite
of nadir.
-
zero day / zero-day :
-
ostensibly, a day that doesn't count ... but since each and every
day must ultimately be accounted for, this is a non-productive
day that neither advances nor accomplishes the goal; a
catch-phrase for a day of rest, a slack day, a holiday, or a day
off from work that nonetheless consumes resources.
-
zigzag :
-
a line or course that progresses by sharp turns, to one side and
then to the other; a series of alternating side-to-side turns
that forms a path or route of maneuver; derived as a gradational
compound from "zickzack" (zacke tack).
-
zip :
-
to move quickly or swiftly, with great energy; to act suddenly,
with vim or vigor, making a hissing sound.
-
zip-line :
-
a line or cable suspended along a decline for use as a
single-strand rope bridge that's negotiated using a pulley under
the force of gravity; also known as a zip-wire, Tyrolean
traverse, Tyrolean crossing, flat line traverse, aerial
ropeslide, aerial runway, flying fox, foefie slide, death slide
or slide-for-life. Used to conveniently transport equipment and
supplies, specimens and personnel (especially when injured); and
may be used in reverse when ascending an incline by a draw rope
(guy or towline) or by other motive force. Originating as a
method to resupply or evacuate mountain troops, it's now commonly
used for outdoor recreation and vacation tourism ... as such,
sometimes provided with a boatswain's chair, it is the minimalist
version of the telpherage gondola or cable-car. [nb: some
Tyrolean traverse setups use constriction or friction brakes, and
safety is provided by net or secondary attachment; all Tyrolean
traverse lines sag, with the sagging "belly" of the line almost
always lower than the finish or terminus, so continuation beyond
the sag requires either momentum or motivation] [nb: although
steeplejacks have used ropes to haul materials and a ropeslide to
descend from their work since the 18th century, this practice is
more akin to rappelling than to the Tyrolean traverse]
-
zipper :
-
a closure device consisting of two parallel tracks of teeth or
ridges that can be interlocked or separated by the movement of a
slide between them, so as to fasten parts of clothing, baggage,
or the like; this formerly trademarked Americanism is also known
as a "slide fastener". [nb: mechanical zipper invented 1905,
registered 1921 by B.F. Goodrich]
-
zipper fall :
-
a fall of such length and velocity that the climber's protective
devices are ripped from the rock in rapid succession; a dynamic
fall in which each piece of protection fails in turn.
-
zodiacal light :
-
a luminous tract in the sky, which is seen in the west after
sunset or in the east before sunrise, and is thought to be the
light reflected from a cloud of meteoric matter that's revolving
around the sun.
-
zone :
-
a contranym meaning, depending upon context, either total and
intense focus ("zoned-in"), or complete inattention and
abstraction ("zoned-out"); that mental or emotional region where
someone is either fully aware or spaced-out. [eg: "in the zone"
versus "out of the zone"]
-
Z-pulley / Z-system :
-
a particular zigzag configuration of rope, anchors, and pulleys
that's typically used to extricate a climber after falling into a
crevasse.
-
Zytel® :
-
brand name for a number of different formulations of high
strength, abrasion and impact resistant nylon engineered by
DuPont with varying proportions of fiberglass (13%-60%) added for
stiffness; some of these thermoplastic polyamide formulations
(including polyphthalamide) are reinforced with glass, mineral,
rubber, Kevlar, or Teflon in order to achieve specific
characteristics, some of which deform over time.
|
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Mountaineering Quotes
Reference Notes
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It is not the goal of grand alpinism to face peril, but it is
one of the tests one must undergo to deserve the joy of rising
for an instant above the state of crawling grubs.
by Lionel Terray
The first question which you will ask and which I must try to
answer is this, 'What is the use of climbing Mount Everest
?' and my answer must at once be, 'It is no use'.
There is not the slightest prospect of any gain whatsoever. ...
So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which
responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet
it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and
forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from
this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end
of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make
money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what
life is for.
by George Herbert Leigh Mallory [on lecture tour in New York
(1922)]
Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used
to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the
hell of it.
by Edmund Hillary
Because they are there, and so am I.
by George Herbert Leigh Mallory [facetiously on lecture tour
in
New York (1923)]
Why do I climb mountains? Quite simply because the mountains and
I had to meet. I go for my pleasure and to conquer myself. I know
nothing more deadly than inaction, whether physical or mental.
One needs to try one's strength and one's willpower, to triumph
over one's destiny, to remake oneself, to put one's muscles to
use. I do not climb mountains in order to break records of height
or altitude. Those things do not interest me. I do it because I
love the beauty and simplicity of a way of living which brings
confidence, which confirms resolution and calls for courage.
by Collete Richard
The secret of survival is to climb ... even in the dark, even
when the climb seems pointless ... the climb, not the summit, is
the important thing. And the great don't just climb mountains,
they also carve them as they go aloft.
paraphrase of Richard Paul Evans
Nothing is too high for the daring of mortals: we would storm
heaven itself in our folly.
by Horace [Quintus Horatius Flaccus] [cf: Otus and Ephialtes]
It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.
by Edmund Hillary
Have we vanquished an enemy? None but ourselves. Have we gained
success? That word means nothing here. Have we won a kingdom? No
... and yes. We have achieved an ultimate satisfaction ...
fulfilled a destiny .... To struggle and to understand –
never this last without the other; such is the law ....
by George Herbert Leigh Mallory [written on the dome of Mont
Blanc]
She wanted no distractions. She hadn't climbed all this way
'just' to enjoy the view; she'd come up here for a
purpose. It meant something to climb, to haul this sack of bones
and flesh all this way, and then look, then think, then
'be'. Arriving at the summit without the effort and risk
would be too easy. It wouldn't have meant anything.
paraphrase of Iain M. Banks
If all you wanted was a magnificent view, you could easily ride
to it in a balloon or airplane with no discomfort or strain; but
climbing, which is an entirely unnecessary chore full of
multitudinous agonies, is a self-indulgence wherein you happily
terrify yourself at every stage ... wearing your scrapes and
bruises like a badge of honor.
anonymous
I experienced the partnership of the rope, the link between you
and your partner, each literally holding the other's life in his
hands. I learned about doing what was necessary. I learned to
keep a sharp eye on weather, rock formations, and everything
around us. I learned to find more inside than I thought was
there. I learned about fearing death, and choosing life. Most of
all, I learned how it felt to live. The soul does not cry out:
'I made the summit!' You suck in the air, relish the
feel of the sun on your skin, and exalt quietly: 'I am
alive.'
by Win Blevins
Mountaineering, what some call the sport of mountain climbing,
could more accurately be described as the art of climbing
mountains. The stark simplicity of the aim coupled with the
multitude of divergent techniques and styles means that any
ascent can be a personalized one. How one plans and executes ones
ascent of this blank canvas of an idea determines how well you
fit into the equation. By knowing your options, understanding
your own body and just as importantly, using your imagination,
climbing a mountain can be a true expression of who you are.
by Peter Croft
For some, mountains are an obstacle; for others, they are a
canvas.
by Richard Paul Evans
You don't just climb with your hands and feet, but with your
mind. If you can't imagine yourself on the rock, the way you
should move and where, then you have no business being on the
rock at all.
paraphrase of Rodney W. "Trevanian" Whitaker
Mountains are the means; the man is the end. The goal is not to
reach the tops of mountains, but to improve the man. Climbing
only makes sense if you consider the man.
by Walter Bonatti
I really suffered today, but the quality of my suffering was
good.
by Dan Pate
Pain is just weakness leaving the body.
proverbial
Climbing is an arduous pastime that, after extended travel,
causes great suffering and incredible inconvenience while
constantly threatening one's life at every stage ... for the
dubious reward of returning to the point from which one began the
entire ordeal.
anonymous
Mountaineering is all about PAIN! ... so save the development of
those finer motives and higher sensibilities for afterwards, when
your exhausted body and brutalized mind will better appreciate
them!
unknown climbing guide
There have been joys too great to be described in words, and
there have been griefs upon which I have not dared to dwell; and
with these in mind I say: Climb if you will, but remember that
courage and strength are naught without prudence, and that a
momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do
nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning
think what may be the end.
by Edward Whymper [Scrambles Amongst the Alps (1865)]
There are two kinds of people: those who climb mountains, and
those who sit in the shadow of the mountains and critique the
climbers.
by Richard Paul Evans
When all is well, then look for rocks ahead.
by Sophocles
To lovers of the wild, these mountains are not a hundred miles
away. Their spiritual power and the goodness of the sky make them
near, as a circle of friends.
by John Muir
It would prove a good climb, I thought, for those who love
mountains are incurable dreamers. Even before they have recovered
from one defeat, they begin unconsciously to plan a new attempt.
I chased away such thoughts.
by Felice Benuzzi, No Picnic on Mount Kenya (1946)
Geologic time includes now.
by Gerry Roach [Classic Commandments of
Mountaineering]
A good scare is worth more than good advice.
by Horace [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
If it's not hard, you're probably not learning anything.
unknown
Suffering is but another name for the teaching of experience,
which is the parent of instruction and the schoolmaster of life.
by Horace [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
On our way to some great good or magnificent success, we will
invariably commit some unpardonable evil ... it is as inevitable
as the shadows cast in the brilliance of daylight.
The Book of Days
People who succeed and do not push on to greater failure are the
spiritual middle class. Their stopping at success is proof of
their compromising insignificance. How petty their dreams must
have been. As for me, I still have plenty of dreams left on which
to fail.
by Carlos Buhler
If you're not uncomfortable and scared, then you brought too
much gear. And if you made it to the top of the mountain, then
the route you took was too easy!
unknown
Reducing a climb to your [skill] level through technological
means is the murder of the impossible.
by Reinhold Messner
In great things, it is enough to have tried.
by Desiderius Erasmus
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous,
leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into
and above the clouds.
by Edward Abbey
Soar, eat ether, see what has never been seen; depart, be lost,
but climb.
by Edna Saint Vincent Millay
Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not
reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in
them, and try to follow where they lead.
by Louisa May Alcott
It's important not to mistake the rough edge of rim rock
immediately under your nose for the far horizon of your greatest
yearning.
anonymous
Challenging from below, from above, the mountains seemed almost
deferential. She looked from them to the moon, and the stars
hanging far above, and for the first time she understood the true
allure of mountain climbing: there was elation, there was
triumph, there was pride in achieving the summit, yes, but most
of all, there was a shift in perspective. From below the view was
of the mountains and the heavens, equally unattainable; but from
here, it was the mountains below and the heavens above and
herself in between. Herself, a puny little insignificant mortal
poised between immense immortals.
by Dana Stabenow
To those who have struggled with them, the mountains reveal
beauties they will not disclose to those who make no effort. That
is the reward the mountains give to effort. And it is because
they have so much to give and give it so lavishly to those who
will wrestle with them that men love the mountains and go back to
them again and again. The mountains reserve their choice gifts
for those who stand upon their summits.
by Francis Younghusband
Just because you love the mountains doesn't mean the mountains
love you.
by Lou Whittaker
The most dangerous part of any climb is the drive to the
mountains!
unknown [paraphrase of skydiving maxim]
To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to
lose oneself.
by Soren Kierkegaard
One of the gladdest moments in human life is the departure upon
a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty
effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the
cloak of many cares, and the slavery of civilization, man feels
once more free.
by Richard Francis Burton
Without the possibility of death, adventure is not possible.
by Reinhold Messner
To have a great adventure, and survive, requires good judgment.
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience, of course, is
the result of poor judgment.
by Geoff Tabin
It costs so much to be a full human being ... one has to abandon
altogether the search for security, and reach out to the risk of
living with both arms.
by Morris West [The Shoes of the Fisherman]
Anyone who's afraid of dying is also afraid of living.
unknown
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in Nature,
nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding
danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life
is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
by Helen Keller
Our ignorance [of the mountain] proved an insuperable handicap
from the point of view of material achievement, but from the
spiritual point of view, which is of far greater importance to
the true mountaineer, it was in the nature of a gift from God.
Every step led to new discoveries, and we were continually in a
state of amazed admiration and gratitude. It was as though we
were living at the beginning of time, before men had begun to
give names to things.
by Felice Benuzzi, No Picnic on Mount Kenya (1946)
To pile Pelion upon Olympus.
by Horace [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to
the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its
own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no
more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labour .... You
have already grasped that Sisyphus is the absurd hero. He is, as
much through his passions as through his torture. His scorn of
the gods, his hatred of death, and his passion for life won him
that unspeakable penalty in which the whole being is exerted
toward accomplishing nothing. This is the price that must be paid
for the passions of this earth. At the very end of his long
effort – measured by skyless space and time without depth
– the purpose is achieved. Then Sisyphus watches the stone
rush down in a few moments toward that lower world whence he will
have to push it up again toward the summit. He goes back down to
the plain. It is during that return, that pause, that Sisyphus
interests me. A face that toils so close to stones is already
stone itself! I see that man going back down with a heavy yet
measured step toward the torment of which he will never know the
end. That hour, like a breathing space which returns as surely as
his suffering, that is the hour of consciousness. At each of
those moments when he leaves the heights and gradually sinks
toward the lairs of the gods, he is superior to his fate. He is
stronger than his rock. I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the
mountain! One always finds one's burden again. But Sisyphus
teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises
rocks. He too concludes that all is well. This universe
henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor
futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that
night-filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle
itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One
must imagine Sisyphus happy.
by Albert Camus [The Myth of Sisyphus (1955)]
The man on top of the mountain did not fall there!
unknown
Observers claim that I flew up the mountains, but nobody ever
flies uphill. A climber struggles slowly and painfully to advance
upwards, and maybe, after a great deal of very hard work, that
climber may reach the remote summit ... even if that ascent looks
simple and easy from far away.
unknown
Our remote homeland was once a peaceful faraway place, then
climbers arrived to pound nails into our mountains. Our priests
had ascended those very mountains for centuries, so that they
could better talk to the gods and listen to their wisdom.
Climbers now visit these mountains because they are a little
higher than others ... if there was a pole set at the summit,
they would climb it too! Some climbers carry charms to propitiate
the unknown spirits dwelling in those wounded mountains, but they
only want to survive so that they can boast about their triumph
... as if that's the only way to 'touch the sky'. The
mountains are not holy to them.
paraphrase of Eliot Pattison
God made the mountains – the Devil made the towns.
by Robert J. Horton
You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down
again. So why bother in the first place? Because what is below
does not know what is above, but what is above knows what is
below. One climbs, one sees. one descends, one sees no longer,
but one has seen. There is an art to conducting oneself in the
lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one
can no longer see, one can at least still know.
by Rene Daumal
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my
help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 KJV Bible
A Song of the Ascents. I lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
Whence doth my help come? My help [is] from Jehovah, maker of
heaven and earth ....
Psalm 121:1-2 YLT Bible
And the genie who speaks in the wind poured into my heart the
philter of the Mountain. It was indeed the spirit of the Mountain
who was tormenting me; he was waiting for me, crouching in the
hollow of the rock; his invisible wing had brushed me as I
passed. Thus crossing by the border of the Black Lake, in the
Autumn mist, listening to the plaintive voice of the wind, the
passion, the sublime passion for the Mountain possessed me.
by Pier Giorgio Frassati
Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and
vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a
glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them,
out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant
mountains.
by J.R.R. Tolkien
The mountains are calling and I must go.
by John Muir
Mountaineering is a relentless pursuit. One climbs further and
further yet never reaches the destination. Perhaps that is what
gives it its own particular charm. One is constantly searching
for something never to be found.
by Hermann Buhl
Whatever the struggle / continue the climb / it may be only one
step to the summit.
by Diane Westlake
Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you
were to success when you gave up.
unknown
No person who has yet to discover some of the pleasures of
climbing can possibly realize the intangibles associated with a
day on the mountain.
by J. Gordon Edwards
God devised pests to remind us not to waste all of our time
gawking in stupified awe at all of the magnificent views!
unknown
a passion for the high mountains requires some measure of poetic
imagination, a love of beauty for its own sake and the
appreciation of achievement totally unrelated to any tangible
rewards.
by Arthur Oliver Wheeler
The mountains one gazes at, reads about, dreams of and desires
are not the mountains one climbs.
by Robert McFarlaind [Mountains of the Mind]
I don't really go to the places that feel special; I bring my
special feelings to the places I go.
by D. Barnes Boffey
Better to be in the mountains thinking about God, than to be in
church thinking about the mountains!
by Ace Kvale
Man can climb to the highest summits, but he cannot dwell there
long.
by George Bernard Shaw
Men climb mountains because the valleys are full of cemeteries.
paraphrase of Richard Paul Evans
At eighteen our convictions are hills from which we look; at
forty-five they are caves in which we hide.
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The only way to know the true nature of a rock is to stub your
toe on it.
Ojibwa aphorism
The toughest form of mountain climbing is getting out of a rut.
unknown
Those who are not climbing toward something are descending
toward nothing.
by Richard Paul Evans
When one jumps over the edge, one is bound to land somewhere.
by D.H. Lawrence
It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out, it's the grain
of sand in your shoe.
unknown
On the path to heaven, there will be occasional rocks in your
shoes – yet, the views are magnificent, the pain is
bearable, and turning back is not an option.
by Laura Teresa Marquez
Well, it is sort of like having fun, only different.
by Howard Donner [on climbing Mount McKinley in Denali Park]
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun.
by Barry Blanchard
climbers are always trying in self-defence to maintain the
fiction that they are enjoying themselves.
by Donald Robertson
For a man learns more quickly and remembers more easily that
which he laughs at, than that which he approves and reveres.
by Horace [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
When a wise man hears of the Truth, he tries to accommodate it;
when an ordinary man hears of the Way, he is confused by it; and
when a fool hears of the Tao, he laughs at it! ... not laughing
would make it Unworthy to be called the true Way.
by Lao-Tzu
And while he crawled toward his goal, he discovered, like so
many intrepid mountaineers before him, that the way down is much
worse than the way up.
paraphrase of John LeCarré [David Cornwell (2013)]
We didn't come all the way up here just to go back!
unknown
It's a round trip. Getting to the summit is optional. Getting
down is mandatory.
by Ed Viesturs [No Shortcuts to the Top]
It's a little like one of those Zen koans: going up is optional,
coming down is inevitable.
unknown
It's your attitude and not your aptitudes that gives you
altitude!
unknown
I don't think we'll make it, but we will continue with style.
Austrian alpinist in The Eiger Sanction by Rodney W.
"Trevanian" Whitaker (1972)
There are only three sports – mountain climbing,
bullfighting, and motor racing – all others being games.
by Ernest Hemingway
Mountineering – most sports only require one ball!
unknown
Mountaineering: the pastime of struggling uphill while not
feeling very well.
unknown lexicographer
I'm not really scared of heights. I'm scared of falling from
heights. Actually, I'm not as scared of falling from heights as
much as I am of hitting the ground – now 'that'
really scares me!
unknown amateur (blonde) climber
Remember not to have a fatal accident, because the community
will think climbing is a dangerous thing, your friends will be
bummed ... and you'll be dead.
by Kitty Calhoun
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang
on tight.
by Franklin D. Roosevelt
If you don't let go, you can't fall off [the mountain].
by Jerry Moffat
There are old climbers and there are bold climbers, but there
are no old, bold climbers.
unknown [paraphrase of old aviation maxim]
Be lazy, be crazy, just be a climber.
by Jack Kerouac
No Climbing Beyond This Point.
anonymous sign posted atop Devil's Tower
It's all downhill from here.
anonymous sign posted atop Lone Pine Peak
Mountain climbing would be great if it weren't for all that damn
climbing.
by John Ohrenschall
I've heard that people who climb mountains like to get up real
high where they can let the wind blow through the holes in their
heads.
unknown
We don't stop climbing because we grow old, we grow old because
we stopped climbing!
unknown [paraphrase of Parachutists Over Phorty Society
motto]
The best climber in the world is the one having the most fun!
by Alex Lowe
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