What's a beta?

[kij]

...besides a beta test, I mean.

[kioti]

Info on a route/area. The term beta has its roots in video footage of a climbing route. The video was on betamax... or at least the legend goes.

[MattStan]

The term was coined by the late Gunks legend Jack Mileski, who could describe routes in extremely creative and vivid detail (he was an English teacher and writer), i.e., the next best thing to watching it on video. He started asking his partners, "Do you want the Betamax on that?" Pretty soon it got shortened to "beta" and the rest is history.

[Johnny_Tuff]

Also, I would add that it's not "a beta." You would be asking for or receiving "the beta," or just "beta."