Glossary of Mountain and Rock Features
What is an arête, bucket, or a crevasse? Find out here what all the words for mountain and rock features that climbers use.
Cwm
Definition of Cwm, a climbing word for a glacier-carved basin or alpine cirque.
Definition of Cwm, a climbing word for a glacier-carved basin or alpine cirque.
Arête
Definition of Arête, a climbing word for a sharp ridge or steep edge.
Definition of Arête, a climbing word for a sharp ridge or steep edge.
Boulder
Definition of Boulder, a climbing word for a large block of rock.
Definition of Boulder, a climbing word for a large block of rock.
Chickenhead
Definition of Chickenhead, a climbing word for a natural protrusion of rock that is often used for a hold.
Definition of Chickenhead, a climbing word for a natural protrusion of rock that is often used for a hold.
Chimney
Definition of Chimney, a climbing word for a crack that is wide enough to fit inside of.
Definition of Chimney, a climbing word for a crack that is wide enough to fit inside of.
Cirque
Definition of Cirque, a climbing word for a glacier-carved basin.
Definition of Cirque, a climbing word for a glacier-carved basin.
Cornice
Definition of Cornice, a climbing word for an overhang of ice on a mountain ridge.
Definition of Cornice, a climbing word for an overhang of ice on a mountain ridge.
Couloir
Definition of Couloir, a climbing word for an icy or snowy gully on a mountain peak.
Definition of Couloir, a climbing word for an icy or snowy gully on a mountain peak.
Crack
Definition of Crack, a climbing word for a fissure in a cliff face.
Definition of Crack, a climbing word for a fissure in a cliff face.
Crevasse
Definition of Crevasse, a climbing word for a crack in a glacier.
Definition of Crevasse, a climbing word for a crack in a glacier.
Dihedral
Definition of Dihedral, a climbing word for a vertical right-angled corner on a cliff.
Definition of Dihedral, a climbing word for a vertical right-angled corner on a cliff.
Flared Crack
Definition of Flared Crack, climbing words for a crack that flared or wider at its front than back.
Definition of Flared Crack, climbing words for a crack that flared or wider at its front than back.
Gendarme
Definition of Gendarme, a climbing word for a pinnacle on a mountain ridge.
Definition of Gendarme, a climbing word for a pinnacle on a mountain ridge.
Granite
Definition of Granite, a climbing word for a hard crystalline igneous rock that occurs throughout the world
Definition of Granite, a climbing word for a hard crystalline igneous rock that occurs throughout the world
Hueco
Definition of Hueco, a hole in rock used as a handhold and foothold.
Definition of Hueco, a hole in rock used as a handhold and foothold.