For climbing definitions used within this web site and the world of climbing please select a letter from below.
EB - A legendary brand of sport climbing shoes - started the free climbing revolution. Frequently searched for on Ebay by misty-eyed Morris’s who get overcome with nostalgia.
Edge – n. Speaks for itself! A sharp edge on a rock face.
Edging - Foot technique where one uses the edge of the climbing shoe to stand on small footholds. The opposite of smearing. See also Egyptian, a foot technique using the inner or outside of the foot.
Edge - n. a small, horizontal hold. 2. (vb.) to stand on an edge with the corner of a shoe maximizing the pressure applied to a small area of rubber.
Egyptian – style of foot hold, where the feet are pointing the same way with the inner or outer edge of the foot against the wall – giving the look of characters depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphs etc
Elvis leg - n. the uncontrollable shake of a leg/s during a climb. It is due to a combination of nerves and a build up of Lactic Acid in the muscles and or inadequate foot hold i.e. only getting a toe edge on a hold and therefore the pressure of the whole body going through that point causing the muscles to tire quickly. Also called sewing machine leg or Disco Leg.
Epic - adj. A term often used by climbers as readily as “The one that got away” by Fishermen. Denotes a climb that was charged with danger, high risk but through all the adversity resulted in the climber ending up in the pub and telling anyone who will listen what he went through. For a true epic account, read or watch ‘Touching the Void’ by Joe Simpson. The Boney M sequence still makes me hide behind the sofa in uncontrollable fits of shrieking.
Etriers - n. The original French term for Aiders. Nylon webbing steps for use when aid climbing. A kind of portable ladder.
Exposure – Being high above your
last piece of protection and hence climbing with the risk of a long drop.
Also means to be open to the elements. Exposure is a condition that alpine
climbers face when the weather turns nasty and the climber is lashed with
wind and snow. Exposure for a period of time can result in hypothermia and
death.
