page_title: Glossary of climbing terms
section_title: T
hierarchical_section_title: Glossary of climbing terms / T
caption_attribution_description: English: Bouldering in the competition. Host the tenth Munich City Championship in climbing in the climbing center in Munich. Deutsch: Bouldern im Wettkampf. Austragung der zehnten Münchner Stadtmeisterschaft im Klettern im Kletterzentrum München.
context_page_description: This glossary of climbing terms is a list of definitions of terms and jargon related to rock climbing and mountaineering. The specific terms used can vary considerably between different English-speaking countries; many of the phrases described here are particular to the United States and the United Kingdom.
context_section_description: take
  Called out by a climber when requesting that the belayer remove all slack. See hangdogging.
  talus
  An area of large rock fragments on a mountainside that may vary from house-sized to the size of a small backpack. The area, if older and consolidated, may be stable, or the rocks may be precariously balanced. Talus is distinguished from scree in that it is composed of larger rocks and may feature solid interlocking of the rocks, while scree is by definition loose.
  teabagging
  When, after a whipper or long fall, a climber falls past their belayer, who is generally lifted up off the ground.
  technical
  A term often used to describe relatively difficult or complex sequences of moves and/or the degree of ingenuity and creativity required to protect a route. Difficulty ratings of climbs are often based on a combination of the perceived technicality of the climb and the endurance or strength necessary to complete it.
  technical climbing
  Climbing involving a rope and some means of protection, particularly as opposed to scrambling or glacier travel (i.e. non-technical climbing).
  technique
  A specialized move given a name to help communicate to another person what to do.
  tendu
  From the French word meaning "outstretched". In this grip the fingers are close to the position when the hand is open. The relative angle between the finger bones is gradual. The load applied is coming from tension in the forearm muscles.
  tension
  A technique for maintaining balance using a taut rope through a point of protection.
  testpiece
  A climb that is representative of the hardest, best climbs in an area.
  thread
  A runner created by threading a sling around a jammed block or through a hole in the rock.
  thrutching
  Making progress by squeezing into a space and wriggling against opposing rock surfaces.
  tie-in points
  The leg straps and waist belt of a climbing harness create two loops connecting the belay loop. The points which you tie in at.
  toe hook
  A toe hook is securing the upper side of the toes on a hold. It helps pull the body inwards, towards the wall. The toe hook is often used on overhanging rock where it helps to keep the body from swinging away from the wall.
  top rope
  To belay from a fixed anchor point above the climb. Top-roping requires easy access to the top of the climb, often by means of a footpath or scrambling.
  top-out
  To complete a route by ascending over the top of the structure being climbed.
  tracking
  See feet follow.
  traditional climbing
  A style of climbing that emphasizes the adventure and exploratory nature of climbing. While sport climbing generally makes use of pre-placed protection ("bolts"), traditional (or "trad") climbing involves the placement of one's own protection during the climb, which is generally carried by climbers on a rack.
  training
  Getting prepared to climb on difficult mountains or routes. The Hangboard Repeaters protocol is a common method of training for climbing.
  tramming
  A technique that is typically used while lowering and cleaning gear from an overhanging and/or traversing route. A quickdraw is clipped between the climber's harness and the rope that is threaded through the gear. As the climber is lowered by the belayer, the quickdraw holds the cleaner close to the wall and following the line of the route. Without the quickdraw, the climber would lower straight down, further and further from the remaining gear to be cleaned.
  traverse
  1.  Any climbing movement made in a horizontal direction.
  2.  A section of a route that requires progress in a horizontal direction.
  3.  A Tyrolean traverse is crossing a chasm using a rope anchored at both ends.
  4.  A pendulum traverse involves swinging across a wall or chasm while suspended from a rope affixed above the climber.
  Tricam
  A simple camming protection device that has no moving parts.
  tuber
  A tubular belay device.
  tufa
  1.  A limestone rib formation that protrudes from the wall which can sometimes fit within the pinching grasp of a climber's hand.
  2.  A plastic, bolted-on bouldering hold designed to replicate such a formation on an indoor climbing wall.
  twin ropes
  A system
caption: Toe hook
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