Glossary
Anchor The point where rope is secured to natural objects (like rocks or trees) or unnatural objects (like bolts)
Approach The hike to the beginning of a canyon. Often proceeding the "drop-in"
Belay A system of protection, including rope friction, that stops a canyoneer from falling. This usually includes rope, anchors, a belay device, and/or a person at the bottom managing the rope, known as the belayer.
Beta Information about a route provided by previous visitors or canyoneers.
BFR Big Fucking Rock
BFT Big Fucking Tree
Bolt A point of protection permanently installed in a hole drilled into the rock, to which a metal hanger is attached.
Bridging A type of movement, involving hands on one side of a canyon, feet on the other, facing down.
C class A type of canyon that has flowing currents of water
Canyon left Same as LDC
Canyon rating system: There are multiple rating systems. In North America, likely referring to the ACA rating system. In Europe, likely referring to the French rating system.
Canyon right Same as RDC
Chimney A type of movement, involving feet or knees on one side of a canyon, back on the other, facing the opposite wall.
Chockstone Rock or boulder wedged into a narrow canyon or crack.
Choss Rock that is not not suitable for climbing. Chossy rocks are not solid and are likely to dislodge and fall under pressure.
DCL Same as LDC
DCR Same as RDC
Deadman An object buried into the ground to serve as an anchor.
Downclimbing to climb down surfaces rather than rappel down them.
Drop A single rappel in a canyon
Drop in A steep hiking section which brings you from the approach down into the technical section of a canyon.
Egress or Exit
Exposed A canyon or route that has little or no shade, or having to pass uncomfortably close to a vertical drop.
Fireman's belay A belay where a person at the bottom of a rappel pulls on the rope to slow the descent of the rappeller if he loses control.
Free hang Rappelling from an overhang without touching the wall.
Gully A wide, shallow ravine on a mountainside.
Ghost To complete a route or rappel without leaving anchors.
Guided rappel A technique used bypass water hazards such as waterfalls or heavy hydraulics
Handline Rope intended to be held with a hand for safety during a climb or downclimb.
Keeper Pothole A pothole that is too deep to scramble out of without the assistance of specialty pothole escape techniques (ie, partner assist, potshot, packtoss).
LDC Left Down Canyon. As you face downstream, this indicates the wall of a canyon on your left.
LAMAR LAst [hu]Man At Risk. Equivalent to LAPAR.
Meat anchor Human Anchor Where a rappel is necessary, and in the absence of rock bolts or other reliable anchors, a rope may be secured to a fellow canyoneer in order to provide a way for the rest of the group to rappel to the base of the drop.
Multi-stage A single-rappel which spans multiple vertical stages.
Natural anchor Webbing tied to Trees, rocks, or gear that is placed in cracks.
Pack Toss Throwing a full backpack with a rope attached to the escape side of a keeper pothole in order to assist escape.
Potshot A small but durable bag that is filled with sand or rocks which is then tossed on the escape side of a keeper pothole, in order to assist escape.
Prusik A sliding knot method used to ascend a rope or as a secondary brake when descending a rope.
Pull Cord A rope used to retrieve a fixed rappel line. Typically pull cords are more light-weight than rappel lines, and are used exclusively for the retrieval of fixed rappel ropes after descending.
RDC Right down canyon. That is, the feature being described is on the right side of the canyon when facing downstream.
Re-belay The second anchor point part way down the cliff wall or waterfall.
SAR Search and Rescue.
Scrambling A type of movement or travel between hiking and rock climbing.
Scree A slope comprised of loose rock.
Sling Webbing sewn, or tied, into a loop.
Slogging The tedious and monotonous section of a canyon where all you do is hike
Soloing Canyoneering alone without a partner.
Static Rope A low stretch rope commonly used to rappel and ascend.