Traditional climbing

Traditional climber leading Super Crack 5.9  (5c) in the New River Gorge, West Virginia

Traditional climbing (or trad climbing) is a type of free climbing in rock climbing where the lead climber places the protection equipment while ascending the route; when the lead climber has completed the route, the second climber (or belayer) then removes the protection equipment as they climb the route. ^[1] Traditional climbing differs from sport climbing where the protection equipment is pre-drilled into the rock in the form of bolts. ^[2]

Traditional climbing carries a much higher level of risk than bolted sport climbing as the climber may not have placed the protection equipment correctly as they try to ascend the route, or there may be few opportunities to insert satisfactory protection (e.g. on very difficult routes). Traditional climbing was once the dominant form of free climbing but since the mid-1980s, sport climbing — and its related form of competition climbing — became more popular, and all subsequent grade milestones from 8a+  (5.13c) onwards were on sport climbing routes.

From the early 2000s, there was a resurgence in interest in traditional climbing as climbers began greenpointing sport routes (e.g. Greenspit and The Path at 8b+), and setting new milestones for traditional routes (e.g. Cobra Crack at 8c  (5.14b) by Sonnie Trotter, and Rhapsody at 8c+  (5.14c) by Dave MacLeod). Female climber Beth Rodden created a new traditional route at the same level as the men with Meltdown also at 8c+  (5.14c). In 2019, Jacopo Larcher created what is considered the first 9a  (5.14d) graded traditional route with Tribe.

Description

Climber leading a traditional climbing route, attempting to insert a nut for climbing protection.

Traditional climbing (or "Trad" climbing), is a form of free climbing (i.e. no artificial or mechanical device can be used to aid progression, unlike with aid climbing), which is performed in pairs where the lead climber places climbing protection into the climbing route as they ascend. ^{[3] [4]} After the lead climber has reached the top, the second climber (or belayer) removes this temporary climbing protection as they climb the route. Some consider the hammering in of pitons while climbing the route, as long as they are only for climbing protection and not to aid progression, to also be traditional climbing. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Traditional climbing differs from sport climbing that has the climbing protection already pre-bolted into the route (i.e. the lead climber just clips their rope into quickdraws attached to the bolts); sport climbing is therefore a much safer, and less stressful, form of free climbing. ^[2] Traditional climbing differs from free solo climbing where no climbing protection is used whatsoever. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

First free ascent

With the greater popularity of sport climbing, traditional climbing evolved to embrace some of its redpointing techniques in making a first free ascent (FFA). The previously controversial practices of hangdogging (i.e. practicing on an abseil rope), and headpointing (i.e. practicing on a top rope) are now accepted by the leading traditional climbers. ^{[6] [7]} Traditional climbers subsequently introduced the derived term 'greenpointing' (or the Grünpunkt movement, as a play on the sport climbing Rotpunkt movement), to describe making the first free ascent of a pre-bolted sport-climb, but only using "traditional protection". ^{[8] [9]}

History

As 20th-century rock climbers began to free climb (i.e. avoiding any form of aid), they often used traditional climbing techniques for protection. ^[10] Early traditional climbers relied on crude, and often unreliable, forms of homemade "passive" climbing protection such as pieces of metal or chockstones attached to slings. ^[11]

With the development of "active" traditional climbing protection in the 1970s—called spring-loaded camming devices (SLCDs, or "friends")—the grades of technical difficulty that traditional climbers could safely undertake increased dramatically, ^{[11] [12]} and new grade milestones were set on new traditional climbing routes. ^[4] However, by the mid-1980s, the leading traditional climbers were again facing technical challenges with minimal possibilities for traditional climbing protection (i.e. tiny or no cracks whatsoever in which to insert SLCDs), that required them to accept significant personal risks – Johnny Dawes's 1986 ascent of Indian Face being a notable example. ^[13]

Jonathan Siegrist on The Path 5.14a R, 8b+, at Lake Louise

At this time, French climbers such as Patrick Edlinger began to pre-drill permanent masonry bolts into the almost "blank" faces of Buoux and Verdon for protection (but not as artificial aid); this became known as sport climbing. ^{[12] [14]} It led to a dramatic increase in climbing standards – all future new grade milestones would be set on sport climbing routes. The increased safety of pre-drilled bolts also led to the development and popularity of competition climbing and the emergence of the "professional" rock climber. Sport climbing then became—and remains—the most popular form of rock climbing. ^[15]

Traditional returned to prominence when in 2003, Swiss climber Didier Berthod greenpointed the bolted sport climb Greenspit (E9, 5.14, 8b) to create one of the hardest traditional crack climbing routes in the world. ^[16] In 2006, Canadian climber Sonnie Trotter greenpointed The Path (E9, 5.14a R, 8b+) to create one of the world's hardest traditional climbs at the time. Trotter, and other leading 'trad' climbers such as Dave MacLeod, led a resurgence in traditional climbing by creating new grade milestones on routes such as Cobra Crack (E10, 5.14b, 8c) and Rhapsody (E11, 5.14c R/X, 8c+). The increased prominence of traditional climbing attracted the leading sport climbers who began to repeat—and create—major traditional routes (e.g. Ethan Pringle with BlackBeard's Tears and Beth Rodden with Meltdown). In 2023, when British climber James Pearson created one of the world's first E12 'trad' routes with Bon Voyage, the first repeat was by sport climbing legend, Adam Ondra. ^{[17] [18]}

Protection

See also: Rock-climbing equipment

Equipment

Traditional climbers using various approaches to carrying the extensive protection equipment (or "rack") needed

Traditional climbing requires more rock climbing equipment than sport climbing as the lead climber needs to carry, and insert, protection devices as they climb the route. The choice of equipment carried will depend on the type of route being attempted. Some of the most difficult and dangerous traditional routes (e.g. Indian Face or Master's Edge ) offer very little opportunity to insert protection into the rock, and thus the lead climber carries very little protective equipment.

Classic traditional climbs often involve crack climbing (e.g. Separate Reality ) that offers greater opportunity for inserting protection – into the crack itself – and the lead climber will carry a lot more equipment to secure their safety. ^{[3] [4]}

Two main classes of protection are used in traditional climbing, namely: "passive" and "active". Passive protection devices include nuts, hexcentrics and tricams, and are metal shapes attached to wires or slings, which can be inserted into cracks and fissures in the rock that will act like temporary sport climbing bolts (to which quickdraws and the rope can be clipped into). Active protection consists of spring-loaded camming devices (or "friends"), which are cams that dynamically adjust to the size of the crack or fissure in the rock, but also act like temporary sport climbing bolts. ^{[3] [4]}

Risk

Traditional climber inserting a spring-loaded camming device for their protection while leading Freeblast (5.11b), in Yosemite

Traditional climber leading Coyne Crack (5.11+), Indian Creek; the crack offers lots of opportunity for inserting climbing protection

The traditional climber has two key concerns, or areas of risk, when placing the protection equipment while they are leading the traditional route.

The first concern is related to the quality of the protection placements. Where these placements are considered good and will hold the climber in the event of a major fall, they are called "bomb-proof" (i.e. they behave just like pre-drilled bolts). However, when the placements are poor, and there is uncertainty that they will hold in the event of a major fall – risking a "zipper-fall" – they are described as "thin". ^[19] For example, when Johnny Dawes freed the traditional climb Indian Face (E9 6c) in 1986, the protection was so thin, Dawes assumed if he fell, the protection would rip out, and he would fall to the ground. ^[20]

The other concern is the distance between the protection placements. Where there are many protection placements with small gaps between them (e.g. 2 to 3 metres), then any fall will be short and less onerous; even if one placement fails/rips-out, there are more placements that might still hold. However, large gaps between placements – known as a "run out" – means that any fall will be larger and will place more pressure on the existing placements to hold the fall. Famous extreme traditional climbs such as Master's Edge (E7 6c) and Gaia (E8 6c) have notorious run-outs, where even if the protection holds, the falling climber has a high chance of hitting the ground, as spectacularly shown in the opening sequence of the 1998 British climbing film, Hard Grit . ^{[21] [22]}

To reflect the greater risk of traditional climbing routes over sport climbing routes, an additional grade is often added to the route's grade of technical difficulty (i.e. how hard are the individual moves) to reflect the risks. In the United Kingdom, this is known as the "adjectival" grade (Diff, VDiff, HS, VS, HVS, E1 to E11). In the United States, it takes the form of a suffix (PG – be careful, R – fall will cause injury, R/X – fall will cause serious injury, X – fall likely to be fatal). ^[23]

Grading

The grading of traditional climbing routes starts with a sport climbing grade for the "technical difficulty", and an additional "risk grade" to reflect how hard the lead climber will find protecting the route as they ascend. Some sport grading systems, particularly the French system (e.g. ... 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b, 7c, ...), offer no additional "risk grade", and are thus less likely to be used as traditional climbing grades (but may be quoted alongside one). The most dominant grading system for traditional climbing is the American system (e.g. ... 5.9, 5.10a, 5.10b, 5.10c, 5.10d, 5.11a, ...), which for traditional routes can add the "suffix" of "R" for risk of serious injury in any fall, or "X" for routes where a fall at a particular place, could be fatal (i.e. a "chop route"). ^{[24] [25] [26]} For example, a famous but serious extreme North American traditional climb is Sonnie Trotter's 2007 route, The Path in Lake Louise, Alberta, which is graded 5.14a R. ^{[27] [28]}

One of the most detailed, and still widely used, traditional grading systems is the British E-grade (e.g. ... VS 4c, HVS 5a, E1 5b, E2 5c, E4 6a, ...). ^[26] Two grades are quoted; the first being the "adjectival grade", and the second being the "technical grade". ^[24] The interplay between the two grades reflects the "risk grade" of the route. For each "technical grade", there is a normal equivalent "adjectival grade"; for example, for the technical grade of "6a", the normal "adjectival grade" is "E4". ^[24] Where the "adjectival grade" is lower than normal, for example, E3 6a (or even E2 6a), that means the route is much safer and easier to protect. When the "adjectival grade" is higher than normal, for example, E5 6a (or even E6 6a), that means the route is more dangerous and harder to protect. ^[24] For example, one of the most famous and dangerous extreme British traditional climbs is Johnny Dawes' 1986 route, Indian Face , which is graded E9 6c (instead of the normal E7 6c), or 5.13a X under the American system. ^[29]

Hardest routes

Pre sport-climbing era

Main articles: List of grade milestones in rock climbing § Redpointed by Men, and List of grade milestones in rock climbing § Redpointed by Women

Before the emergence of sport climbing in the early 1980s, almost all new grade milestones in rock climbing were set by traditional climbers. ^{[12] [30]} By the end of the 1970s, male traditional climbers were climbing to 5.13a  (7c+) with Toni Yaniro  [ fr ]'s Grand Illusion, ^[12] while female traditional climbers were climbing to 5.12d  (7c), with Lynn Hill on Ophir Broke. ^[30] During the early 1980s, leading European traditional climbers like Jerry Moffatt and Wolfgang Güllich changed to sport climbing, in which all future new grade milestones would be established. ^[30] Moffatt's last major traditional FFA was Master's Wall (E7 6b) in 1984, where he said afterward: "At that time to be respected, you really had to be putting up really scary new [traditional] routes. That was where it was at, in Britain at least. Master's Wall is probably where I risked most". ^[31]

Post sport-climbing era

North West face of Dumbarton Rock. Rhapsody and Requiem follow the line of the thin and tallest crack in the centre of the face. Rhapsody holds the line of the crack all the way to the top, while Requiem veers right.

While the status of traditional climbing waned during the rise of the safer disciplines of sport climbing (and its related sport of competition climbing), and latterly bouldering, contemporary traditional climbers continued to set new "traditional climbing" grade milestones.

By 2024, the strongest male traditional climbers (e.g. Jacopo Larcher and James Pearson) were climbing just one notch above the strongest female traditional climbers (e.g. Beth Rodden, Hazel Findlay and Barbara Zangerl) at 9a  (5.14d) versus 8c+  (5.14c). In contrast, the strongest male sport climbers (e.g. Adam Ondra and Seb Bouin) were climbing two notches above the strongest female sport climbers (e.g. Angela Eiter and Laura Rogora) at 9c  (5.15d) versus 9b  (5.15b)

As of 2024, the following traditional routes are considered to be some of the hardest-ever ascended: ^{[32] [33]}

• Bon Voyage (at least 5.14d, 9a, E12) in Annot, France, first free ascent (FFA) by James Pearson in 2023; repeated by Adam Ondra in 2024. ^{[17] [18]}
• Tribe (at least 5.14d, 9a, E12) in Cardarese, Italy, FFA by Jacopo Larcher in 2019; repeated by James Pearson in 2020. ^{[32] [33] [17]}
• Crown Royale (proposed 5.14d) in Jøssingfjord, Norway, FFA by Pete Whittaker in 2023. ^[34]
• Blackbeard’s Tears (E11 7a, 5.14c, 8c+) at Redwood, USA, FFA by Ethan Pringle in 2016. ^{[32] [33] [35]}
• Meltdown (E11 7a, 5.14c, 8c+) in Yosemite, USA, FFA (and FFFA) by Beth Rodden in 2008. ^{[32] [33] [36]}
• Pura Pura (E11 7a, 5.14c, 8c+) in Orco Valley, Italy, FA by Tom Randall in 2014. ^{[32] [33] [37]}

• Recovery Drink (E11 7a, 5.14c, 8c+) in Jøssingfjord, Norway, FA by Nicolas Favresse  [ fr ] in 2013. ^{[32] [33] [38]}
• Rhapsody (E11 7a, 5.14c R/X, 8c+) in Dumbarton Rock, Scotland, FA by Dave MacLeod in 2006. ^{[33] [39]}
• Magic Line (5.14b/c, 8c/+) in Yosemite, pinkpoint by Ron Kauk in 1996, redpoint by Lonnie Kauk in 2018, FFFA by Hazel Findlay in 2019. ^{[33] [40]}
• Century Crack (E10 7a, 5.14b, 8c) in Canyonlands, Utah, FA by Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker in 2011. ^{[32] [33] [41]}
• Cobra Crack (E10 7a, 5.14b, 8c) in Squamish, British Columbia, FA by Sonnie Trotter in 2006. ^{[32] [33] [42]}
• Echo Wall (E10 7a, 5.14b, 8c) on Ben Nevis, Scotland, first ascent by Dave MacLeod in 2008. ^{[32] [43] [33]}

In film

A number of notable films have been made focused on traditional climbing including: ^[44]

• Hard Grit , a 1998 documentary film about traditional climbing on extreme gritstone routes in the British Peak District
• Valley Uprising , a 2014 Sender Films documentary film about rock climbing in Yosemite that includes traditional climbing

See also

• History of rock climbing
• List of grade milestones in rock climbing

References

1. "Trad climbing". Cambridge Dictionary . 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023. the style of climbing (= moving on rocks, up mountains, or up special walls as a sport) in which climbers use devices and ropes that they bring with them and remove after the climb, rather than using devices that have already been fixed to the rock
2. Bate, Chris; Arthur, Charles; et al. (8 May 2006). "A Glossary of Climbing terms: from Abseil to Zawn". UK Climbing. Retrieved 29 April 2018. SPORT CLIMBING. Climbing on routes which use bolts. TRADITIONAL "TRAD" CLIMBING 1. Climbing where the leader places protection as they go up.
3. Ellison, Julie (March 2022). "Learn to Trad Climb: A Beginner's Guide". Climbing . Retrieved 28 February 2023.
4. "What Is Trad Climbing? – Get Started With Our Complete Guide". Climber. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
5. Long, John; Gaines, Bob (August 2022). "Chapter 12: Trad Climbing". How to Rock Climb (6th ed.). Falcon Guides. pp. 311–334. ISBN   978-1493056262.
6. Pardy, Aaron (5 November 2022). "Redpoint, Pinkpoint, and Headpoint – What Do They Mean?". Gripped Magazine. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
7. Huttom, Mike (3 November 2022). "How the World's Boldest Climbing Area Got that Way: How headpointing became a legitimate, go-to tactic on Peak District gritstone". Climbing . Retrieved 13 February 2023.
8. "Heiko Queitsch greenpoint climbing in the Frankenjura". PlanetMountain. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
9. "Chasin the Trane greenpoint in the Frankenjura". PlanetMountain. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2022. Greenpoint? OK redpoint, even pinkpoint is tried and tested (i.e. with gear already pre-placed) . But greenpoint? Ay yes, it's the term used to define climbing a sport route without the bolts but using trad gear such as nuts and camming devices! What might at first glance seem somewhat contorted is in fact a movement that is gaining popularity.
10. Zhu, Beifeng; Chen, Ruizhi; Li, Yuan (9 August 2021). "The Origin and Early Evolution of Rock Climbing". Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research. Proceedings of the 2021 5th International Seminar on Education, Management and Social Sciences (ISEMSS 2021). 571. Atlantis Press: 662–667. doi: 10.2991/assehr.k.210806.124 . ISBN   978-94-6239-414-8. S2CID   238693283.
11. Middendorf, John (1999). "The Mechanical Advantage: Tools for the Wild Vertical". Ascent. Sierra Club: 149–173. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
12. "40 years of American Climbing". Climbing. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
13. "The Indian Face by Johnny Dawes, the story of Britain's first E9". PlanetMountain. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
14. Wilkinson, Freddie (14 March 2019). "Rock climbing: from ancient practice to Olympic sport". National Geographic . Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
15. Smith, Craig (22 July 2022). "American Sport Climbing's Contentious Beginnings". Climbing . Retrieved 2 March 2023.
16. "Greenspit, the dream of a generation climbed in Valle Orco by Matteo della Bordella, Francesco Deiana". PlanetMountain. May 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
17. Potter, Stephen (19 March 2024). "Did James Pearson Just Establish the World's Hardest Trad Route?". Climbing . Retrieved 7 April 2024.
18. Clarke, Owen (21 February 2024). "Did James Pearson Just Establish the World's Hardest Trad Route?". Climbing . Retrieved 7 April 2024.
19. "Weekend Whipper: First-time Traditional Climbing Leader Rips-Out 3 (out of 4) Pieces". Climbing. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
20. Hobley, Nicholas (23 December 2012). "Johnny Dawes - the rock climbing interview". PlanetMountain. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
21. Hutton, Mike (3 November 2022). "How the World's Boldest Climbing Area Got that Way". Climbing . Retrieved 13 November 2022.
22. Hutton, Mike (12 November 2019). "No-Bolt Roulette: The Evolution of Headpointing on Peak District Gritstone". Climbing. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
23. "Climbing Grade Conversions". Rockfax Publishing. 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
24. "Grade Conversions: Alpine Grading System". Rockfax Publishing. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
25. "International Grade Comparison Chart". American Alpine Journal . 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
26. Mandelli, Gabriele; Angriman, A (2016). Scales of Difficulty in Mountaineering. Central School of Mountaineering, Italy. S2CID   53358088.
27. "Sonnie Trotter finds The Path 5.14 R at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada". PlanetMountain. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
28. Lambert, Erik (31 August 2007). "Trotter Chops Bolts, Sends Marathon Project". Alpinist . Retrieved 8 February 2023.
29. Campbell, Duncan (17 July 2013). "Ullrich and Muskett Climb Indian Face (E9 6c/5.13a X)". Climbing . Retrieved 10 February 2023.
30. Oviglia, Maurizio (23 December 2012). "The evolution of free climbing". PlanetMountain.com. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
31. Hobley, Nicholas; Grimes, Niall (26 February 2009). "Jerry Moffatt Interview". PlanetMountain.com. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
32. "Top 16 Hardest Trad Climbs in the World". Gripped Magazine. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
33. "The World's Hardest Trad Routes by Winter 2021". Gripped Magazine. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
34. White, Xa (29 September 2023). "Pete Whittaker makes first ascent ascent of trad project Crown Royale". UKClimbing. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
35. Ethan Pringle on Blackbeard's Tears, 5.14c, touchstoneclimbing.com, Sep 23, 2016
36. "Meltdown: Beth Rodden's Unrepeated Yosemite First Ascent", Climbing , Aug 25, 2016.
37. "Valle dell'Orco: Tom Randall climbs Pura Pura 8c+", planetmountain.com, Jul 1, 2014.
38. "Nicolas Favresse climbing The recovery drink in Norway", planetmountain.com, Jan 1, 2015.
39. "Dave MacLeod frees Rhapsody E11 7a at Dumbarton Rock in Scotland". PlanetMountain.com. Apr 12, 2006.
40. "Hazel Findlay Does "Magic Line", 5.14c Trad!". rockandice.com. Nov 26, 2019.
41. "Desert Testpiece Century Crack (5.14b) Sees Third Ascent by Danny Parker", Climbing , Oct 29, 2018
42. "Sonnie Trotter frees Cobra Crack 5.14 b/c", planetmountain.com, Jun 29, 2006.
43. "MacLeod's Boldest: Echo Wall". Alpinist.com. Retrieved 22 February 2006.
44. Bisharat, Andrew (6 September 2022). "The 20 Best Climbing Films of All Time". Outside . Retrieved 28 September 2023.

Further reading

• Long, John; Gaines, Bob (August 2022). "Chapter 12: Trad Climbing". How to Rock Climb (6th ed.). Falcon Guides. pp. 311–334. ISBN   978-1493056262.
• The Mountaineers (2018). Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (9th ed.). Quiller Publishing. ISBN   978-1846892622.
• Croft, Peter; Long, John (2014). Trad Climbers Bible (1st ed.). Falcon Guides. ISBN   978-0762783724.

External links

• Trad Climbing 101: The Complete Beginner’s Guide, 99boulders (2020)
• The Hardest Trad Routes, theCrag (2024)
• Hardest Trad Climbs, HardClimbs (2024)