Face climbing is a type of
climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders), to small boulders. Climbing is done fo ...
where climbers use features and irregularities in the rock such as
finger pockets and
edges to ascend a vertical
rock face
In geography and geology, a cliff is an area of rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. Cliffs are common on coa ...
. Face climbing is contrasted with
crack climbing
Crack climbing is a type of rock climbing in which the climber follows a crack in the rock and uses specialized climbing techniques. The sizes of cracks vary from those that are just barely wide enough for the fingers to fit inside, to those that ...
. Face climbing is less reliant upon
technique
Technique or techniques may refer to:
Music
* The Techniques, a Jamaican rocksteady vocal group of the 1960s
*Technique (band), a British female synth pop band in the 1990s
* ''Technique'' (album), by New Order, 1989
* ''Techniques'' (album), by M ...
than crack climbing, but instead relies more upon body position.
Techniques
Holds can be used in a variety of ways by your feet and hands as you move up the rock
Manteling
The mantel is a specific use of down-pressure technique. Pushing down with your hands you allow your feet to reach the same hold your hands are on.
Stemming
Stemming is a counterforce technique where you support yourself between two spots by pressing in opposite directions.
Undercling
A hold that requires your palms to face upwards instead of downwards.
Your arms will pull while your feet push.
References
Types of climbing
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