Mountaineering Dictionary - Mountaineering Terms and Definitions

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	ABLATION ZONE (submitted by: joyasto) The area of a glacier where yearly melting meets or exceeds the annual snow fall.
	ABSEILING It is the technique of descending on a steep rock. It is done either before a climb or where there is difficult access at the start of the climb. Read more about it in our section on Climbing Techniques - Abseiling.
	ACONCAGUA, MOUNT It is the South American component of the Seven Summits. Found in the Andes Mountain Range, it stands at a towering 22,834 ft. which makes it the tallest mountain in the Westen Hemisphere and the second tallest among the Seven Summits, just after the Everest. Our section on The Seven Summits - Aconcagua will help you know more about this mountain.
	AID CLIMBING (submitted by: marlonborreo) A form of rock climbing that requires artificial assistance, i.e. ropes, to ascend.
	ALLUVIAL FAN (submitted by: therectors) fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain.
	ALPINE START (submitted by: marlonborreo) To make an efficient start on a long climb by packing all your gear the previous evening and starting early in the morning, usually before sunrise.
	AMS (submitted by: rockster) It stands for Acute Mountain Sickness. It is the condition that a Climber goes through if he/she tries to ascend too fast without properly acclimatizing.
	APRON (submitted by: mec-mec) The wide, lesser angled area beneath a chute or couloir, usually comprised of loose talus and other piled debris.
	ARETE (submitted by: headNcloudz) Typically referred to as the edge of ridge. Normally caused by glacial forces.
	BACK CLIPPING It is a wrong way of clipping a carabiner when a climber mistakenly lets the rope run along the gate instead of the carabiner's spine. Read that and more in our Climbing Techniques - Back Clipping and other Mistakes page.
	BELAYER It is the person assigned in securing the rope of the climber during the climb. Read more about the belayer's function and the process of belaying by going to our section on Climbing Techniques - Belaying.
	BELAYING It is a part of the climbing technique in which a person secures a climber while scaling the mountain. The section on Climbing Techniques - Belaying will teach you more about the technique of belaying.
	BERGSCHRUND (submitted by: mec-mec) This is a crevasse that forms between a glacier and the permanent snow pack above.
	CAIRN (submitted by: therectors) an artificial pile of stones, often in a conical form. It is usually found in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops or near waterways.
	CARSTENSZ PYRAMID Found in the Indonesian-controlled area of Papua, it is also known in its Indonesian name, Puncak Jaya. This mountain was named after Dutch explorer Jan Carstensz and it stands at 16,023 ft. It is being hotly debated whether it is the Australian part of the Seven Summits or Mount Kosciuszko. Read on for more information at The Seven Summits - Carstensz Pyramid section.
	CIRGUE (submitted by: therectors) a semicircular or amphitheater-shaped bedrock feature created as glaciers scoured back into the mountain. This is where the snow and ice forming the glacier first accumulates; it is the "headwaters" of a glacier.
	CLOVE HITCH It is one of the most common knots used as an anchor knot. Learn how to tie it by going to our Climbing Knots - The Five Most Essential Climbing Knots page.
	COL (submitted by: therectors) a low spot or pass along a cirque or an arete
	CRAG (submitted by: joyasto) A small area with climbing routes, often just a small cliff face or a few boulders.
	CREVASSE (submitted by: mec-mec) A fracture or split in a Glacier's ice. Crevasses tend to form perpendicular to tension in the snow pack and are thus most often seen as horizontal gashes across the face of a glacier. These are often hidden by thin layers of snow at their tops. Even when visible, crevasses pose a significant threat to passing climbers.
	DAISY CHAIN (submitted by: joyasto) A type of sling with multiple sewn, or tied, loops. In many situations this can be more versatile than a normal sling.
	DENALI, MOUNT It is the other name for Mount McKinley which is the North American portion of the Seven Summits.The Seven Summits - Mount McKinley section will help you know more about it.
	DOUBLE FISHERMAN'S KNOT It is a knot usually used for the construction of equipment and can also be used to join two ends of a rope. Learn how to do it by going to the Climbing Knots - The Five Most Essential Climbing Knots section.
	ELBRUS, MOUNT Found in the Caucasus Mountain Range, it is the European Component of the Seven Summits. It towers at 18,150 ft. More information can be found in our section on The Seven Summits - Elbrus.
	EVEREST, MOUNT Found in Nepal, it is the tallest mountain in the world at 29,000 ft. It is also a part of the Seven Summits as its Asian component. Read more about the Everest in our The Seven Summits - The Mount Everest section.
	FALL LINE (submitted by: mec-mec) The most direct path down the mountain from any given point. Experienced skiers and snowboarders tend to innately develop a feel for the fall line.
	FIGURE EIGHT KNOT One of the most commonly used techniques in tying climbing knots. Read about the two methods of trying the figure eight knot in our Climbing Knots - The Five Most Essential Climbing Knots section.
	FLAKE (submitted by: marlonborreo) A thin slab of rock detached from the main face.
	FREE CLIMBING (submitted by: marlonborreo) Climbing without unnatural aids, other than those used for protection.
	FRENCH TECHNIQUE (submitted by: mec-mec) Also known as Flat-Footing, an efficient means of ascending moderate-angled snowfields in which the feet are positioned across the hill.
	GLISSADE (submitted by: mec-mec) Literally, to slide down a snowfield on one's feet, belly, or bottom, usually while using an ice axe as a brake.
	GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM Otherwise known as GPS, it is a modern tool for determining your location with the help of satellites when you are in the outdoors. Learn how to use it by reading our GPS Navigation & Using a GPS Device section.
	HAND TRAVERSE (submitted by: marlonborreo) Traversing without any footholds.
	HORN (submitted by: headNcloudz) Highest points in an Arete. The mountain summits and false summits. The most famous is the Matter Horn in Switzerland.
	ITALIAN HITCH It is a knot that is used for belaying, abseiling and rigging. Learn how to do it by going to the Climbing Knots - The Five Most Essential Climbing Knots section.
	KILIMANJARO, MOUNT Standing at 19.340 ft, it is the tallest mountain in Africa and is one of the Seven Summits. Read more about it in our section on The Seven Summits - Kilimanjaro
	KLEMHEIST KNOT (submitted by: joyasto) An alternative to the prussik knot, useful when the climber is short of cord but has plenty of webbing.
	KOSCIUSZKO, MOUNT This mountain that stands at a lowly 7310 ft. can be found in New South Wales, Australia. It was named after the Polish patriot Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who also fought in the American war for independence. Debate is going on whether it is the Australian part of the Seven Summits or the Carstensz Pyramid in Papua. Read more about this mountain at The Seven Summits - Kosciuszko page.
	LEADER As the name suggests, it is the person who leads the climb. It is usually the one with sufficient climbing experience since he or she is the one in charge of setting up the protective measures in climbing. The section on Climbing Techniques - Leading will tell you more about it.
	LEADING It refers to the act of leading the climb. It is an act that requires sufficient climbing experience. Learn more about leading by going to our section on the Climbing Techniques - Leading.
	LOWERING It is the method of descending after a climb. It is the belayer's job to secure the climber being lowered. More of it can be found in the Climbing Techniques - Lowering section.
	MCKINLEY, MOUNT Found in Alaska, it is the tallest mountain in the North American continent at 20,320 ft. Also known as Mount Denali, this mountain is a part of the Seven Summits. Our section on The Seven Summits - Mount McKinley will help you know more about it.
	MORAINE (submitted by: therectors) refers to any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past ice age.
	MOUNTAINEERING (submitted by: climbercd) Mountaineering is the sport or hobby or profession of walking, hiking and climbing up mountains. It is also sometimes known as alpinism, particularly in Europe. It may be said to consist of two main aspects, rock-craft and snow-craft, depending on whether the route chosen is over rock or over snow and ice. Both require great gymnastic and technical ability, but experience is also very important part of the latter.
	MULTI-PITCH CLIMBING (submitted by: marlonborreo) Climbing on routes that are too long for a single belay rope.
	PLUNGE STEP (submitted by: joyasto) An aggressive step pattern for descending on hard or steep angle snow.
	PUNCAK JAYA Pronounced as pun-chak jai-ya, it is the Indonesian name of the Carstensz Pyramid that stands for Victory Peak. Read more about it at the section on The Seven Summits - Carstensz Pyramid.
	RAPPEL (submitted by: joyasto) The process by which a climber may descend on a fixed rope. Also known as Abseil.
	SEVEN SUMMITS It is the collection of the tallest mountains of each of the seven continents. For more information on the Seven Summits, check our section on the Seven Summits - Facts & Figures of the Seven Summits.
	SHARP END (submitted by: marlonborreo) The end of the belay rope that is attached to the lead climber.
	SLAB (submitted by: marlonborreo) A relatively flat and featureless block of rock.
	SPORT CLIMBING (submitted by: marlonborreo) A form of climbing where grace and technical (or gymnastic) ability are considered more important than danger, exhilaration or brute strength. Sport climbing routes tend to be well protected with pre-placed bolt-anchors.
	STEEZ (submitted by: outdoor4ever) Lots of style!!
	TAPE KNOT It is a knot that used to be done when tying two ends of a tape together. It is now mainly used for emergency procedures. Learn all about it at the Climbing Knots - The Five Most Essential Climbing Knots section.
	TARN (submitted by: therectors) a glacial lake produced by scouring. This is often found in cirques.
	TENT It is an equipment used to shelter mountaineers during very rough or extreme weather. They can be made from a variety of materials that make them able to withstand different kinds of weather. Read more about this gear at the Hiking Tents - All About Outdoor Tents section.
	THREE LAYER SYSTEM This is the generally accepted best way of dressing up for outdoor activities. The three layers are the Base Layer, the Insulation Layer, and the Outer Shell which all have their specific functions to ensure maximum protection against cold temperatures, moisture, and outside influences. For more information, read our Three Layer System section.
	TYING IN It is an essential part of the climbing technique. It involves the attachment of the rope to the climbing harness. Learn how to do it by going to the section on the Climbing Techniques - Tying In.
	VINSON MASSIF This mountain lies on the Sentinel Range in Antarctica. Standing at 16,023 ft., it is the tallest mountain in one of the most inhospitable regions of the planet. More information about it can be found at The Seven Summits - Vinson Massif section.
	WAND (submitted by: marlonborreo) A bamboo stick with a small flag on top used to mark paths over glaciers and snow fields.
	YOSEMITE DECIMAL SYSTEM (submitted by: marlonborreo) A numerical system for rating the difficulty of walks, hikes, and climbs in the United States. The rock climbing (5.x) portion of the scale is the most common climb grading system used in the USA.
	Z-CLIPPING It is a potentially dangerous mistake that occurs when one pulls the rope from below the last clipped quickdraw instead of pulling the rope from the top end of the last quickdraw and brings it up and clips it to the new quickdraw. Read more about it in our Climbing Techniques - Back Clipping and other Mistakes section.