downclimb
Reverse your ascent
To downclimb is to descend a rock face or climbing route by climbing rather than rappelling or jumping.
It requires finding holds while facing the wall and moving downward—often more difficult than ascending because you can't see where your feet are going.
The route was too short to justify setting up a rappel, so we downclimbed.
The noun refers to such a descent: The downclimb off the summit was sketchy.
Move to lower position
- rappelControlled rope descent
- abseilControlled rope descent
- lowerReduce or move downward
- reverseTurn to opposite
backtrack · retreat · descent · mantle · stemming · chimney · traverse · handhold
Act of taking away
- backtrackReverse one's position
- turnaroundShift in opposite direction
- bailoutEmergency aid preventing bankruptcy
- escapeFlight from captivity
disengage · reverse · fallback · abort · descend · evacuate · backoff · reroute
Exercising caution and attention
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- vigilantKeenly aware of danger
mindful · methodical · controlled · calculated · steady · patient · gradual · conservative
descend
Move to lower position
reverse · backtrack · retreat · descent · mantle · stemming · chimney · traverse · handhold · foothold
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- backtrackReverse one's position
- turnaroundShift in opposite direction
- bailoutEmergency aid preventing bankruptcy
escape · disengage · reverse · fallback · abort · descend · evacuate · backoff · reroute · safety
careful
Exercising caution and attention
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
vigilant · mindful · methodical · controlled · calculated · steady · patient · gradual · conservative · meticulous
belay
Anchor a rope
pitch · multipitch · route · crag · exposure · traverse · ledge · hold · grip · footwork
- climbingbelay, bouldering, carabiner, chalk, crimp