Page 176 - Rappelling

Glossary

ABD (assisted braking device): a device that locks bight: a bend in the rope where the two strands do
off the rope when it is suddenly loaded. The not cross; used for knot tying, threading into a
most commonly used ABD is the Petzl Grigri. belay device, etc.
American Triangle: a rigging method whereby a biner, biners: see carabiner
sling or cord is threaded through two anchor bolt: an artificial anchor placed in a hole drilled for
points and tied in such a manner as to create that purpose
a triangular configuration that unnecessarily bomber: absolutely fail-safe (as in a very solid
increases the forces on the anchor points. The anchor or big, big handhold); strong enough
larger the angle at the base of the triangle, the to withstand the greatest possible force that
greater the force on the two anchor points.
could ever be exerted in a given climbing
AMGA (American Mountain Guides or rappelling situation; sometimes called
Association): a national organization that bombproof
trains and certifies professional climbing guides bombproof: see bomber
and instructors, promotes safety in guiding, and
accredits guide services brake bar: an aluminum or steel bar used to create
ATC (Air Traffic Controller): a belay/rappel device friction for braking on a rappel rack or with a
carabiner
made by Black Diamond Equipment
cam: short for spring-loaded camming device; also
backpacker coil: a method of coiling a rope, also refers to the single lobe or cam or camming
known as the “butterfly coil,” that reduces device; also a verb used to describe the act of
kinking in the rope during coiling and counterforce wherein a downward and outward
facilitates carrying the rope like a backpack
force is created against the walls of a crack
bartack: a high-strength stitch pattern used by camming device: common term for a spring-
climbing equipment manufacturers to sew loaded camming device (SLCD)
slings and webbing into loops
carabiner: a high-strength aluminum alloy ring
belay: procedure of protecting a climber by the use equipped with a spring-loaded snap gate;
of a rope sometimes called a biner
belay device: a piece of equipment into which the CE: Certified for Europe
rope is threaded/attached to provide friction
for belaying or rappelling cliff: a high, steep, or overhanging face of rock
belayer: the person managing the rope on the end clove hitch: a secure and adjustable hitch used to
opposite the climber; responsible for holding attach a rope to a carabiner
the climber in the event of a fall

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