Copperhead (climbing)
Encyclopedia
For other uses of the word see copperhead
In rock climbing
, a copperhead is a small nut
made of a soft metal, originally copper
or brass
, later usually 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. 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.
Copperhead
Copperhead may refer to:Snakes:* Agkistrodon contortrix, a venomous pit viper species found in parts of North America.* Agkistrodon piscivorus, a.k.a. the cottonmouth, another venomous pit viper species found in North America....
In rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, a copperhead is a small nut
Nut (climbing)
In rock climbing, a nut is a metal wedge threaded on a wire, used for protection by wedging it into a crack in the rock. Quickdraws are clipped to the nut wire by the ascending climber and the rope threads through the quickdraw. Nuts come in a variety of sizes and styles, and several different...
made of a soft metal, originally copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
or brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
, later usually 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. Their small size and low strength makes them among the poorest kinds of protection
Protection (climbing)
To make climbing as safe as possible, most climbers use protection, a term used to describe the equipment used to prevent injury to themselves and others.-Types of climbing:...
; their main use is in aid climbing
Aid climbing
Aid climbing is a style of climbing in which standing on or pulling oneself up via devices attached to fixed or placed protection is used to make upward progress....
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.