Climbing Terms and Definitions

Term - Description	Piture of area/item		Term - Description	Piture of area/item
Arete - a narrow (more or less - but often more less than more - horizontal) ridge.			Belay, to - the act of tending a climbers rope to take out slack and secure a fall.
Belay Station - a safe stance consisting of an anchor, a rope, and a belayer (aka "the belay").			Belayer - the person at the belay station securing the climber.
Bolt - not to be used as a climbing hold (can cause serious injury).  Bolts are used only for pieces of lead gear.			Bucket - a large hold.
Chalk/Chalk Bag - magic powder that makes the hands stick to even the smoothest rock.			Climbing Shoe -  shoes made of sticky rubber that would have fit you comfortably when you were ten.
Corner - inside corner or outside corner.			Crack, in Rock -  a gap or fissure in the rock varying in width from nail to body width.
Crimp -  a very small hold that accepts only the finger tips.			Daisy Chain - a sling sewn (or tied) with numerous loops, used as an adjustable sling in aid climbing.
Deck - the usually unfriendly surface that welcomes you at the end of a grounder.			Hueco - a beautifully shaped pocket with a positive lip (named after these incredible features found at the Hueco Tanks bouldering area in Texas).
Hold - anything that can be held on to.			Horn - spike of rock that can be for a great hold or not so great protection (aka chickenhead).
Jug - very large hold (short for jug handle).			Overhang - rock (or ice) that is "more than vertical."
Pillar - outside corner.			Pocket - a hold formed by a (small) depression in the rock.
Quick draw, quick - short sling with carabiners on either side.			Rope - long and round nylon fabrication. Climbing ropes are generally between 10 and 11 mm in diameter (with the exception of "half ropes" which are between 8.5 and 9mm in diameter).
Route - a certain path up a rock, mountain or wall. For indoor walls, usually marked with different colors of tape or tape patterns.			Side Pull - a hand hold that needs to be held with a horizontal (sideways) pull.
Crash Pad - a cushion used for bouldering.			Sloper - aathetic downward slanting hold (usually looks like buckets from below.).
Undercling - a hold that would be a perfect bucket if gravity were upside down. As it is, underclings are usually awkward holds that require lieback type moves.