Reply To: climbing commands

G’day Di. My version of the Aussie calls is comprehensible even in crashing surf. There are only 3 calls that I would normally make while on lead:

“SLACK” (i.e. give me more rope, note this is a single sharp sound; if this does not work I will just repeat it until I get desired action. As last option I rarely say “Give me more slack, you bastard”.)

“TAKE-IN” (i.e. give me less rope, note 2 long sounds, pronounced Teeeeeyk-iiiiiin. I would strongly advise against people using just “slack” and take” as they are of the same length.)

“ON BELAY CLIMB WHEN READY” (when I’m all all sorted, lots of sounds).

I generally don’t say “I’m safe” or “safe” unless I have clear view of belayer and there is clear hearing and no room for ambiguity. The fact that the belayer keeps belaying me while I’m setting up the belay does not bother me although it slows things a bit.

As an aside, the English language is all full of similar sounds meaning opposite things: like “on” and “off”, numbers “nine” and “five” or “fifteen” and “fifty”. So it’s a struggle.

Best to agree on calls with your belayer first (as in diving signals before going underwater) and keep chitchat to minimum while on the job. Like “hey, niiice dolfin, what the fcuk…falleeeng!” Be well.