Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Importing Wikidata short description: "Steep section of a climbing route requiring a rope" (Shortdesc helper)
{{short description|Steep section of a climbing route requiring a rope}}
In [[rock climbing]] and [[ice climbing]], a '''pitch''' is a steep section of a route that requires a rope between two [[belay]]s, as part of a [[climbing system]]. Standard climbing ropes are between 50 and 80 metres long, so a pitch is always shorter, between two convenient ledges if possible; longer routes are multi-pitch, requiring the re-use of the rope each time. In free climbing, pitch refers to classification by climbers of the difficulty of ascent on certain climbing routes.<ref>[http://www.rockandice.com/lates-news/chris-sharma-to-try-dawn-wall-project-on-el-cap Variety of pitches over 30 stages] illustrated superimposed on the successful ascent of the Dawn Wall, as photographed on El Capitain in Yosemite.</ref>
==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 [[Anchor (climbing)|running belay]]. [[speed climbing|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.
<gallery mode=packed caption=Comparative scale>
File:Joshua Tree NP - Double Cross - 1.jpg|''Old Woman'' formation in [[Joshua Tree National Park]] is climbed in a '''single''' pitch
File:Joshua Tree - Wonderland of Rocks South Astro Dome.jpg|''South Astro Dome'' formation in [[Joshua Tree National Park]] is climbed in '''two''' pitches
File:Joshua Tree - Moosedog Tower 1.jpg|''Moosedog Tower'' in [[Joshua Tree National Park]] is climbed in '''three''' pitches
File:Seneca southwest.jpg|[[Seneca Rocks]] is usually done in '''four''' pitches.
File:Pywiack Dome.jpg|[[Pywiack Dome]] is usually done in '''five''' pitches.
File:Tuolumne Meadows - Fairview Dome from Daff Dome descent - 3.JPG|[[Fairview Dome]] originally done in '''twelve''' pitches.
File:El Capitan 01.JPG|[[The Nose (El Capitan)|The Nose]] on [[El Capitan]] has '''31''' pitches.
</gallery>
== Caving ==
[[File:Pitch in a cave.jpg|thumb|right|Pitch in a cave, [[Little Carpathians]]]]
[[File:Pitch in Haviaren.jpg|thumb|right|Underground pitch in Haviareň Cave]]
The term 'pitch' is also used by [[caver]]s 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 {{convert|603|m|ft|abbr=on}} in [[Vrtiglavica|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'' is used to refer 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'').
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[Pit cave]]
*[[Grade (climbing)]], a subjective numerical code for athletic difficulty (also referred to as ''pitch'' in free climbing, for example at Yosemite on ascent of the near vertical El Capitan Dawn Wall).
==External links==
* [http://www.caverbob.com/pit.htm The world's deepest pitches, by Bob Gulden]
* [http://www.showcaves.com/english/explain/Statistics/DeepestDrop.html Caves with the deepest drop, by Jochen Duckeck]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitch (ascent descent)}}
[[Category:Climbing]]
[[Category:Caving]]
[[Category:Subterranea (geography)]]
In [[rock climbing]] and [[ice climbing]], a '''pitch''' is a steep section of a route that requires a rope between two [[belay]]s, as part of a [[climbing system]]. Standard climbing ropes are between 50 and 80 metres long, so a pitch is always shorter, between two convenient ledges if possible; longer routes are multi-pitch, requiring the re-use of the rope each time. In free climbing, pitch refers to classification by climbers of the difficulty of ascent on certain climbing routes.<ref>[http://www.rockandice.com/lates-news/chris-sharma-to-try-dawn-wall-project-on-el-cap Variety of pitches over 30 stages] illustrated superimposed on the successful ascent of the Dawn Wall, as photographed on El Capitain in Yosemite.</ref>
==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 [[Anchor (climbing)|running belay]]. [[speed climbing|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.
<gallery mode=packed caption=Comparative scale>
File:Joshua Tree NP - Double Cross - 1.jpg|''Old Woman'' formation in [[Joshua Tree National Park]] is climbed in a '''single''' pitch
File:Joshua Tree - Wonderland of Rocks South Astro Dome.jpg|''South Astro Dome'' formation in [[Joshua Tree National Park]] is climbed in '''two''' pitches
File:Joshua Tree - Moosedog Tower 1.jpg|''Moosedog Tower'' in [[Joshua Tree National Park]] is climbed in '''three''' pitches
File:Seneca southwest.jpg|[[Seneca Rocks]] is usually done in '''four''' pitches.
File:Pywiack Dome.jpg|[[Pywiack Dome]] is usually done in '''five''' pitches.
File:Tuolumne Meadows - Fairview Dome from Daff Dome descent - 3.JPG|[[Fairview Dome]] originally done in '''twelve''' pitches.
File:El Capitan 01.JPG|[[The Nose (El Capitan)|The Nose]] on [[El Capitan]] has '''31''' pitches.
</gallery>
== Caving ==
[[File:Pitch in a cave.jpg|thumb|right|Pitch in a cave, [[Little Carpathians]]]]
[[File:Pitch in Haviaren.jpg|thumb|right|Underground pitch in Haviareň Cave]]
The term 'pitch' is also used by [[caver]]s 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 {{convert|603|m|ft|abbr=on}} in [[Vrtiglavica|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'' is used to refer 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'').
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[Pit cave]]
*[[Grade (climbing)]], a subjective numerical code for athletic difficulty (also referred to as ''pitch'' in free climbing, for example at Yosemite on ascent of the near vertical El Capitan Dawn Wall).
==External links==
* [http://www.caverbob.com/pit.htm The world's deepest pitches, by Bob Gulden]
* [http://www.showcaves.com/english/explain/Statistics/DeepestDrop.html Caves with the deepest drop, by Jochen Duckeck]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitch (ascent descent)}}
[[Category:Climbing]]
[[Category:Caving]]
[[Category:Subterranea (geography)]]