Vertical caving terminology and methods > Ladders, climbs and older techniques
A vertical or nearly vertical part of a cave, that can be negotiated by pushing directly onto the cave rock, mud or formations, using the limbs or other body parts. It will be steep enough that it is not possible to simply step down it, and attempting to do so would likely result in a fall. This will normally involve the use of handholds and footholds, but unlike with the surface sport of rock climbing, there is no purism with caving. A climb may make use of hands, feet, knees, elbows, shoulders, buttocks, back, belly, head or whatever other body part might be useful with a particular climb. Flopping up a climb like a fish on your belly, relying on the friction from your clothing, is not an impossibility. The three dimensional nature of caves makes this very different from rock climbing, since opposing walls can frequently be used to provide friction on holds that would not be usable in two dimensional rock climbing. The rock may even be polished smooth. It could be a chimney involving just the back and toes. Unlike rock climbing, chalk is never used, and dedicated footwear is never used. While many rock climbing techniques are involved, this is usually much more limited when caving. Intricate balancing techniques, tiny grips, and overhangs are largely avoided. Mud can make many climbing grips impossible anyway, though the odd hand jam is a possibility. Cavers do not normally expect to fall off a climb, and the climbing grade is normally only up to what would be considered a scramble in rock climbing terms. In general, the term is not used for a traverse, but is otherwise the most generic term. A climb may be risky enough that a lifeline is needed, or may be considered safe enough to treat as a free climb. It may be a rope climb. The term may technically include lead climbs and aid climbs, but those would normally be considered to be a pitch instead.
Verb; to ascend or descend a climb or ladder. In the USA, this term may also be used for prusiking. Confusingly, this term is also used for the sport of rock climbing, which is most commonly just called climbing. This page uses the same word for both rock climbing and climbing within a cave, but as a caving term, it refers specifically to vertical caving.
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