rock climbing catagories

[kevbone]

I dont know Chuck, when I think of class three....I usually dont think "roped up". This looks more like 5 class climbing. Although....I have never climbed the route, so I am only going by the nice pic.

[Tanner]

The class 3-5 system is hard to define. 4th class often crosses into low 5th class 5.6 or less. 3rd class can mean low 5th class or easy scambling depending on who you ask. That pic that dru posted is a really good representation of what a class 3 could look like. Oh, and short roping and simo-climbing is a good way to go for challenging steps.

Edited January 21, 2007 by Tanner

[timy]

Are there any other photo sites or does anyone have any pics of the mountaineers rt. simular to the ones at the alpineskills site mentioned above? Particularly, looking up from Iceberg lake and what the last 500 to 1000 ft from the summit look like?

Pics say a thousand words.

timy

Edited January 21, 2007 by timy

[hemp22]

Summitpost - Click on the Mountaineer's link on the left. lots of pictures & detailed beta.

 

 

[dmuja]

This is how I think of class 3,4,5 - sorry, I know this has probably been sprayed to death before.

 

--

 

Class 3 = Scrambling (generally less than vertical but perhaps with short vertical steps) with frequent hand and foot holds and some exposure to an injurious fall. Fear is surmounted by alot of confidence in ones ability to grab the easy and numerous holds. No rope is used ala the phrase "lets third class this bitch".

 

Class 4 = Simple climbing (maybe even vertical) with fatal exposure, but with large easy holds for hands and feet. Fear can be very present along with occasional thought of how easy it would be to slip off one of the "easy" holds. In Class 4 climbing, a rope and pro might be used by some (certainly not all) climbers, mostly however a rope would be used ONLY for the followers and not for belaying the leader. Generally this means no pro is used as well.

 

Class 5 = Technical climbing (up to or beyond vertical) requiring strength and calculated body positioning or "technique" with absolute exposure to deadly falls and generally smallish or difficult holds. Fear is surmounted by mental focus on the task at hand (and foot). In Class 5 climbing, the norm is to belay all parties using a rope and multiple anchors (pro).