Climbing Terms.com

Tafoni

Word: Tafoni (n)

Definition: A honeycomb-like matrix of pockets/huecos caused by weathering, salt erosion, and other factors, typically found on sandstone, granite, and seaside rock. The pockets are round mouthed and have smooth, concave walls. 

Credit Card

Word: Credit Card (n)

Definition: A tiny, razor-sharp crimp (p. 63 in the Climbing Dictionary) as narrow as the edge of a credit card. 

Col

Word: Col (n)

Definition: A small, alpine depression or saddle between two spires or peaks. Like a pass, but perhaps accessible only by technical means (whereas you can hike up and over most passes).

Column

 Word: Column (n)

Definition: Most often found in hexagonal form on basalt, columns are tall, skinny pillars of unbroken rock. A cliff defined by a series of parallel columns is said to have an accordion-fold appearance. 

Pillar

Word: Pillar (n)

Definition: A tall, slender, pronounced buttress of rock that projects from the main cliff. A leaning pillar is a pillar that slumps or has partially collapsed against the rock adjacent to it.

Velcro

Word: Velcro (n)

Definition: On limestone, the prickly, spiny, spongy gray rock riddled with untold micro-spikes and pores. Your rock shoes stick to this stuff like Velcro, but then again so do your hands—and precious skin.

Tongue

Word: Tongue (n)

Definition: An upside-down horn; a downward-pointing spike of rock, perhaps lodged up in a roof or overlap. 

The Jizums

Word: Jizums (The) (n)

Definition: Brute, abject fear. As suggested by D. Donald: “I get the ‘jizums’ when rapping over ledges or pumped out on a techy trad route.”

Psychage

Word: Psychage (n)

Definition: The level of mental preparedness before committing to a climbing-related task or event. Example: “I need more psychage to finish this route.”

[Submitted by Jeff G.] 

Gingerpoint

Word: Gingerpoint (v)

Definition: To climb a route without hanging, with pre-hung draws, while someone sprays beta and you whine the whole way up out of fear.

[Submitted by Benjamin E.]