Belaying

Belaying is managing a climbing rope to arrest a climber’s fall or control their descent. A belayer regulates rope movement while maintaining a system that can hold the climber’s weight.

Belay device: A belay device is equipment that adds friction to a climbing rope so a belayer can control its movement. It creates much of the friction used to hold or lower a climber.
Climbing rope: A climbing rope is a rope designed to support people during climbing and related activities. Belaying controls this rope to connect the climber to the protection or belayer.
Lead climbing: Lead climbing is a style in which a climber ascends while attaching the rope to protection along the route. The belayer feeds rope as the leader climbs and takes in slack between protection points.
Self-belay: Self-belay is a technique in which a climber manages a safety connection to a rope without a separate belayer controlling it. It shifts rope management from a partner to the climber.
Brake hand: The brake hand is the hand that controls the rope strand running from a belay device toward its free end. Keeping this hand on the brake strand is central to managing rope movement.
Climbing harness: A climbing harness secures a climber or belayer to a rope through a fitted system of straps and attachment points. The belayer and climber connect their bodies to the rope through harnesses.
Top-rope climbing: Top-rope climbing is a style in which the rope passes through an anchor above the climber. The belayer takes in rope as the climber ascends, with the anchor above limiting slack.
Via ferrata lanyard: A via ferrata lanyard connects a climber to a fixed route cable through energy-absorbing branches. It attaches a climber directly to fixed protection instead of relying on a belayer.
Dynamic rope: A dynamic rope stretches under load, absorbing energy during a climbing fall. Its stretch reduces the force transmitted through the belay system during a fall.
Climbing anchor: A climbing anchor is a system of points and connections used to secure a climber or rope to rock, ice, or another structure. Anchors can secure the belayer or redirect the rope in a climbing system.

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