Handhold

Vertical caving terminology and methods > Ladders, climbs and older techniques

Handhold, hold, jug, pocket

View image
Rock ledge being used as a handhold. Cross Joint, Tunnel Cave.
View image
A series of artificial notched holds in a concrete tube, which can be used for hands or toes.

Anything that can be gripped in some way and used to support a hand, and take the partial or complete weight of a climber, during a climb or traverse. This might be a ledge, a nodule, a rock, a fracture, a pocket, a lip, a flat spot which is not too slippery, a stalagmite, a piece of metal, or anything else that might be at the place that you need it. It could be an artificial notch, created to facilitate climbing. A series of artificial notched holds may sometimes be used in place of a ladder, particularly with concrete lined shafts. The name "jug" is used for particularly large handholds, that are very easy to hold on to. When there are several in the same area, these are collectively known as a groupe of jugs.


|

This page is not intended to be viewed this way, please load the . This version exists only to make it easier for search engines to understand the contents.