Pitch (climbing)

In climbing, a pitch is a section of a climbing route that requires a rope between two belay points, and is most commonly related to the task of lead climbing (going up), but is also related to abseiling (going down). As climbing ropes are between 50 and 70 metres long, a given pitch will obviously be shorter than this distance, and will sometimes lie between two convenient ledges; longer climbing routes are called multi-pitch, and require the re-use of the rope each time. In rock climbing, ice climbing, and mixed climbing, each individual pitch will have a grade classification for its difficulty and risk.[1]

The Nose climbing route on El Capitan is almost 1,000 metres high, and requires 31 pitches (i.e. average pitch length of over 30 metres) to reach the top of the route

In climbing

In advanced climbing or mountaineering, another definition of pitch is not restricted by the length of the rope. On easier terrain or when moving quickly, the length of a pitch can be extended by means of simul climbing, effectively combining several pitches together by means of a running belay. Speed climbers will often state that they completed a long route with a reduced number of pitches, effectively calling a pitch any time a fixed belay was used or a changeover in the lead occurred. This definition is used loosely, since the length of a pitch is only limited by the nature of the terrain and the confidence of the individual climbing party.

In caving
Pitch in a cave, Little Carpathians
Underground pitch, Haviareň Cave

The term pitch is also used by cavers to refer to a very steep or vertical section (called a drop, pit, or shaft) in a cave that needs ladders or single rope technique to descend and ascend (a drop that can be descended and ascended without equipment is a climb). As caving rope lengths are not standardized, the length of a pitch is usually equal to that of the drop. The deepest underground pitch is 603 m (1,978 ft) in Vrtiglavica Cave in the Julian Alps, Slovenia.

In some cases, cavers may choose to split one drop into two or more distinct pitches. However in most cases a single rope or ladder is used for the entire drop, so in practical usage, pitch has become synonymous with the terms drop, pit or shaft. In England, the term pot is often used to refer to a pitch, although this may also refer to the entire cave, particularly in northern areas where vertical caves are predominant.

While a pitch refers to a drop that can be descended, the term aven refers to a pitch when discovered from below. If not free-climbable, avens can be ascended by means of a bolt climb, where a caver places an ascending series of bolts in the walls and gradually ascends to the top. A rope can then be rigged to the bottom, allowing following cavers to pass the obstacle. Some avens have been tackled by lifting ropes or ladders using long poles (Maypoling). Narrow avens can be climbed by pushing against opposite walls (chimneying).

See also

References
  1. Variety of pitches over 30 stages illustrated superimposed on the successful ascent of the Dawn Wall, as photographed on El Capitan in Yosemite.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.