king line n.— «“I want to climb hard routes, but I want something that inspires me” Sharma, 26, has the ability to climb just about anything anywhere. But he said he turns up his nose at any problem—no matter how challenging—that’s not also...
dyno v.— «Conquering Es Pontas entailed deep-water soloing, a climbing style fairly new to Sharma in which he would use no rope and rely on the water below to break his falls. Near the top of the climb was a 7-foot blank stretch, which he would...
nuff-nuff n.— «Rachel simplified for us: “If you’re chewing on your handlebars to stay in the break, you’re probably with good breakaway partners who will make the break stick.” Helen clarified: “Yes, and if you’re able to sing while you climb...
14-er n.— «As a man in his 70s, Dr. Reed started climbing the “14-ers,” as they are called: the dozens of mountains in Colorado that rise to 14,000 feet or higher. Friends said that on those steep mountains, where the air grows thin, he outclimbed...
scrambling n.— «They were doing what’s known as “scrambling,” or climbing without special gear—but were apparently doing so in a “no scrambling” area. Climbers are required to have a permit and proper gear if they climb above the ten-foot mark in...
chicken head n. in skiing and other snow-based sports, a small chunk of frozen snow; in climbing, a small, round protrusion on a rock face. Editorial Note: A common but unrelated general meaning of chicken head is “a loose or immoral woman...