Copperhead (climbing)

For other uses, see Copperhead (disambiguation).

In rock climbing, a copperhead is a small nut with a head made of soft metal on a loop of wire,[1] originally copper or brass, later aluminium. Copperheads are placed in the smallest cracks and seams where their malleability means that they can conform to the rock and grip better: often they need to be hammered into place.[2] Their small size and low strength makes them among the poorest kinds of protection; their main use is in aid climbing where a placement that will just support the weight of the climber can be used to make progress, even though it would be useless in a fall.

See also

References

  1. ↑ American Alpine Institute. "American Alpine Institute Intro to Aid Technique".
  2. ↑ Climbing. "Copperheading".


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