Aid Climbing Equipment

Aid climbing is a style of climbing where the climber actually uses protection to hang from and pull on to climb harder sections of rock, unlike free climbing where the protection is only used to protect the climber should they fall. Aid Climbing is a style of climbing in it's own right and even has it's own grading system and specialised equipment.

By placing a piece of gear the lead climber can then clip in one set of Etriers/Aiders (mini set of ladders made from webbing), clip in a daisy chain and then reach up to place the next piece of gear, clip in the second set of Etriers/Aiders and then the whole process is repeated. The lead climber clips the rope into the protection as they progresses.

The second will then climb up the rope using a pair of ascenders cleaning the pitch as they climb. Whilst normal Rock Protection like cams and wires are used, Aid Climbers can also use Pitons, Pegs, Blades, Copperheads and other interesting things to hammer or place in cracks that me be otherwise unprotectable, although 'Clean' aid ascents using only a normal rack of gear are now more increasingly popular and widely accepted.