Big Wall Climbing Trivia Quiz

Answer: Warren Harding

The first ascent of "The Nose" of El Capitan (the most famous route ascending the 3000' granite monolith in Yosemite, CA), was first conquered in 1954 over the course of a year, culminating in a heroic all night lead, by Harding, to overcome the final overhangs on El Capitan. This climb would change the paradigm of what could be accomplished for the next generation of rock climbers.

Answer: Pendulum

A pendulum is where the climber places an anchor at the highest point in the crack system, lowers down, and swings back and forth until you're able to reach the adjacent crack system. Hooking would likely be impossible on a blank wall, and bolting would be considered bad ethics, unless absolutely necessary.

Answer: Pelican hook

A bong is a very large piton. A pecker utilizes the functions of a small piton and a hook simultaneously. A cam hook is common for quick movements up 1/2"-1" cracks. A pelican hook is used in the industrial fall protection industry.

Answer: Munter mule

The Munter mule is basically a "Munter hitch" (a hitch that can be used to belay, rappel, etc.) that has been tied off with a mule knot. It comes in handy when the belayer must lower the bag out for the next haul.

Answer: A flake

There's nothing scarier than climbing, and protecting yourself behind a dubious flake. Though sometimes, that's all you get.

Answer: Tommy Caldwell

Not only did Tommy Caldwell free-climb over 6000' of climbing in under 24 hours (including several pitches of 5.12 and 5.13), but so did his wife Beth Rodden. Free-climbing, not to be confused with free-soloing, means that the climber climbs through every move of every pitch in a single push without falling, and without the assistance of aid-climbing techniques.

Answer: Black Canyon of the Gunnison

A big wall, simply put, is a rock climb that takes more than one day to finish. Many routes in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, take several days to climb due to the extreme nature of the aid-climbing involved and the overall length of the routes. At 2300' tall, the Painted Wall (in the Black) is the third biggest wall in the lower 48.

In the 1970s, The Diamond on Long's Peak would have been considered a big wall. However with the advancement of free-climbing techniques, this cliff has become a very attainable one-day objective. Chiefshead can also be done easily enough in a day, and Zion is in Utah.

Answer: Pamir Alai

The Pamirs dominate much of Central Asia. The Ak Su Valley is like a 'Yosemite of the East', chock full of granite big walls and surrounded by such high-altitude peaks as Mt. Piramidalny. Unfortunately, this part of Central Asia is hard to access due to complicated border crossings, permit issues, and the threat of war.

The Hindu Kush border Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Karakoram border Pakistan, India, and China. And the Caucusus mountains are in Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.

Answer: Vinson Massif

Northeastern Pakistan's Karakoram is one of the most sought after destinations for big wall climbers and mountaineers alike with peaks like K2 (second highest mountain in the world), or Shipton Spire (a 4000'+ spike of granite protruding from the Trango Glacier). The Vinson Massif is a high altitude peak in Antarctica.

Answer: The Dolomites

The Dolomites, near Cortina D'Ampezzo in Northern Italy are made of limestone. Most big wall venues of the world are made of granite, the preferred type of stone for your average big wall climber due to its integrity.