Exposure is a climbing and hiking term. Sections of a hiking path or climbing route are described as "exposed" if there is a high risk of injury in the event of a fall because of the steepness of the terrain. If such routes are negotiated without any protection, a false step can result in a serious fall.[1] The negotiation of such routes can cause fear of falling because of the potential danger.
Climber on Ancient Art in Fisher Towers, Moab, Utah, USA. Famous high-exposure route.A technically simple, but exposed arete on the Höfats in Bavaria, Germany
What constitutes exposure on a path is fairly obvious, however, an "exposed" location or section of a climbing route is not uniformly or clearly defined in the literature. There are no threshold values, for example, based on the gradient of the terrain, the height of rock faces or the character of a ridge or arête. Authors tend to use their own definition of the terms "exposure" or "exposed" when describing routes, for example:
Exposureedit
"The distance from the climber to where the climber would likely stop in the event of an unprotected fall."[2]
"Being very far above your last piece of protection or being in a situation in which you are very aware that you are high off the ground or in a remote location."[3]
"The existence of a formidable amount of empty space along a line drawn between the climber and the center of the earth. Similarly, a climb possessing exposure is said to be "exposed." Exposure is the spice of rock climbing. On an exposed pitch a beginner is likely to be needlessly frightened. The experienced climber, however, with many years of experience to steady his nerves, will be calm and level headed throughout the proceedings until he is asked to try the climb himself."[4]
Exposededit
"A route that has parts that remind you of how far up you are and with how little gear."[5]
"The kind of position where you suddenly realise how far away the ground has become; a route or move that takes you into such a position."[6]
Medical and psychological aspectsedit
"Exposed" sections of a path or a route can cause fear as well as serious problems for climbers and walkers in mountainous terrain if they lack a head for heights. However, what may feel exposed to some people, may hardly affect others at all. In critical situations it is therefore necessary, either to turn back or to use a protective measure such as a rope; some paths have fixed ropes, chains, ladders, etc. The anxiety caused by the exposure reduces with habituation, but even experienced climbers often have to get used to heights again at the start of the climbing season.[7]
^Glossary of rock, ice and mountain climbing terms by the Santiam Alpine Club. Retrieved 2 Jun 2014.
^Climbing Dictionary at rockclimbing.com. Retrieved 2 Jun 2014.
^Jan and Herb Conn (16 May 1945). "Definitions" (PDF). Up Rope!. 1 (14): 5. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
^Rock Climbing Glossary, Climbing Dictionary 2014-10-31 at the Wayback Machine at climbfind.com. Retrieved 2 Jun 2014.
^A Glossary of Climbing terms: from Abseil to Zawn, entry by Tony Buckley at UK Climbing. Retrieved 2 Jun 2014.
^Pepi Stückl, Georg Sojer: Bergsteigen: Lehrbuch für alle Spielarten des Bergsteigens. page 26, Bruckmann, Munich, 1996, ISBN3-7654-2859-0
November 16, 2023
exposure, heights, exposure, climbing, hiking, term, sections, hiking, path, climbing, route, described, exposed, there, high, risk, injury, event, fall, because, steepness, terrain, such, routes, negotiated, without, protection, false, step, result, serious, . Exposure is a climbing and hiking term Sections of a hiking path or climbing route are described as exposed if there is a high risk of injury in the event of a fall because of the steepness of the terrain If such routes are negotiated without any protection a false step can result in a serious fall 1 The negotiation of such routes can cause fear of falling because of the potential danger Climber on Ancient Art in Fisher Towers Moab Utah USA Famous high exposure route A technically simple but exposed arete on the Hofats in Bavaria Germany Contents 1 Definitions 1 1 Exposure 1 2 Exposed 2 Medical and psychological aspects 3 See also 4 ReferencesDefinitions editWhat constitutes exposure on a path is fairly obvious however an exposed location or section of a climbing route is not uniformly or clearly defined in the literature There are no threshold values for example based on the gradient of the terrain the height of rock faces or the character of a ridge or arete Authors tend to use their own definition of the terms exposure or exposed when describing routes for example Exposure edit The distance from the climber to where the climber would likely stop in the event of an unprotected fall 2 Being very far above your last piece of protection or being in a situation in which you are very aware that you are high off the ground or in a remote location 3 The existence of a formidable amount of empty space along a line drawn between the climber and the center of the earth Similarly a climb possessing exposure is said to be exposed Exposure is the spice of rock climbing On an exposed pitch a beginner is likely to be needlessly frightened The experienced climber however with many years of experience to steady his nerves will be calm and level headed throughout the proceedings until he is asked to try the climb himself 4 Exposed edit A route that has parts that remind you of how far up you are and with how little gear 5 The kind of position where you suddenly realise how far away the ground has become a route or move that takes you into such a position 6 Medical and psychological aspects edit Exposed sections of a path or a route can cause fear as well as serious problems for climbers and walkers in mountainous terrain if they lack a head for heights However what may feel exposed to some people may hardly affect others at all In critical situations it is therefore necessary either to turn back or to use a protective measure such as a rope some paths have fixed ropes chains ladders etc The anxiety caused by the exposure reduces with habituation but even experienced climbers often have to get used to heights again at the start of the climbing season 7 See also editClimbing protection Head for heights Hiking Scrambling Sure footedness Hazards of outdoor recreationReferences edit Olaf Perwitzschky Dieter Seibert Bergwandern Bergsteigen Alpine Lehrschrift page 71 Bergverlag Rother Munich 2008 ISBN 978 3 7633 6032 1 online Glossary of rock ice and mountain climbing terms by the Santiam Alpine Club Retrieved 2 Jun 2014 Climbing Dictionary at rockclimbing com Retrieved 2 Jun 2014 Jan and Herb Conn 16 May 1945 Definitions PDF Up Rope 1 14 5 Retrieved 4 May 2021 Rock Climbing Glossary Climbing Dictionary Archived 2014 10 31 at the Wayback Machine at climbfind com Retrieved 2 Jun 2014 A Glossary of Climbing terms from Abseil to Zawn entry by Tony Buckley at UK Climbing Retrieved 2 Jun 2014 Pepi Stuckl Georg Sojer Bergsteigen Lehrbuch fur alle Spielarten des Bergsteigens page 26 Bruckmann Munich 1996 ISBN 3 7654 2859 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Exposure heights amp oldid 1138375505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
