Rock Climbing in the UK Trivia Quiz

Answer: There is no adjectival grade between HVS and E1

Some people think that the grades HVS (Hard Very Severe) and E1 (Extremely Severe 1) cover too broad a spectrum and would like to introduce an extra grade between the two grades. This theoretical grade is E0, but it doesn't actually exist.

Answer: How hard the hardest move on the climb is

In the UK, two grades are used to describe a climb. The adjectival grade describes the overall difficulty of the climb, including how much protection there is, how exposed the climb is, how long it is, how difficult it would be to escape from the route and how hard the moves are on the climb.

The technical grade simply describes how hard the hardest move on the climb is (the crux of the climb).

Answer: Gritstone

Gritstone is a very hard form of sandstone, with very high friction and rounded holds. Routes tend to be quite short, but require a specialised climbing style, which uses the friction of the rock.

Answer: They would abseil

Although climbers may sometimes scramble down to the bottom of a rock climb, they usually wouldn't actually down climb. Abseiling is the word that is used in the UK to describe rappeling.

Answer: Climb when ready, climbing, safe

"Climb when ready" is used by the second to say that they have the leader on belay and are ready for you to climb. "Climbing" is used by the leader to say that they have started to climb. "Safe" is used by the leader to say that they have reached the end of the pitch, have tied themselves off, and the second can now take them off belay.

Answer: You can never stop that pungent odor of rubber and sweat

Many suggestions have been made for how you can reduce the smell of your sweaty rock climbing boots. However, none of the solutions ever gets rid of the smell completely.

Answer: A rather strange activity where rock climbers pit their wits against the rock without going up

Bouldering means that climbers try problems which are low enough to fall off. The problems may be highly technical. Sometimes problems can be quite high, and are known as Highball problems. A bouldering mat may be placed under the problem to cushion any falls.

Answer: Soloing

In the United Kingdom, it would be called soloing. Although free soloing is correct, this is not commonly used, as the free part of it is assumed. Free climbing simply means that the climber does not put their weight on any of the gear during climbing. The gear is only weighted by a fall.

Answer: Jam, crimp, slap, pinch

Jamming means to wedge a part of your body into a crack. Crimping means to cling onto a small edge with your fingertips locked. A slap is to put the whole of the flat of your hand onto a flat, rounded hold, so that as much of the surface is in contact as possible. Pinch is to grip a small hold between your fingers and thumb.

Answer: Onsight soloing

Onsight soloing means to climb a route for the first time with no protection at all, and would mean that the climber has to trust in their own climbing abilities including being able to read the route. Redpointing means that you may practice the route in advance using a top rope, and then finally free climb the route (using protection, but not resting on the rope at all). Top roping means that you have a rope above you, so that if you fall, you will not fall any distance. Leading means that you go first up a route, placing protection as you go. If there is not much protection, you could potentially fall some distance.