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Is there a standard term for putting your leg behind the rope?

James Warner · · Tustin · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 0

Dude, watch out your about to bust your head. You can use dudette I guess:)
If she still doesn't get it, I would show her a video. There are a couple of you tubes showing someone tangling a foot in the rope, falling, and banging their head that should get the point across. I always wear a helmet as anyone can snag something, including the rope, on the way down and go upside down on accident-I've done it a couple of times. However, to foot tangle with frequency without knowledge of the danger is a traumatic brain injury waiting to happen - a nightmare injury or death!

Edit: I didn't see the other pages when I posted. Hilarious, but multiple pages of banter. You guys are killing me! He asked (I think while shrugging my shoulders). The OP is lucky he hasn't seen blood yet and it would be a shame being as they are gorgeous Russians.

Khoi · · Vancouver, BC · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 45
Jon H wrote: Careful, you're letting the rest of us know how old you are. I seem to recall that phrase was coined by Angry on RC.noob.
I'm pretty sure it was John Long AKA Largo at Supertopo
Ed Bustamante · · accord · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 60

There's a few problems language barrier no helmet and a leader that is no aware of her rope ,a slip there could be. A real bad day.

John Byrnes · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 392

Holy Cow, I get back from a 4-day climbing trip and find MP has its leg behind the rope!

Hamilton Kibbe wrote:I think the standard term is anything that both the leader and belayer understand to mean "the rope is behind your leg".


This seems (to me) the right answer, although I'm sure that calling it "backstepping" is wrong regardless if two gymby's understand each other.

Hamilton Kibbe wrote: "watch your leg" or "watch the rope" pretty self explanatory, even if the leader has no idea what you're talking about...
I agree, except the two gals in question don't understand why having the rope behind the leg is a problem (Fiona, thanks for that video). For example, I just received email from the woman in the photo where she explained to me that there was no problem because she didn't feel she would fall there!!!!! I disabused her of that notion.
Caz Drach · · C'Wood, UT · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 310

I yell entrapment...

jaspur Chafer · · tucson, az · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 235

Love it! Entrapment. Haha

M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911

sometimes I just like livin on the edge and I climb with the rope wrapped around my ankle so that if I fall I will pay the price of being a sucky climber. I do demand a soft catch though.

dave Hause · · carrboro, nc · Joined May 2013 · Points: 325
csproul wrote: You were taught wrong. A backstep is climbing technique. Any time you step through such that your hip is facing the rock, usually with the outside of your foot against the rock, that is a backstep. climbingtechniques.org/inte…
Chapeau!
Dan Alroy · · Boston, MA · Joined Dec 2018 · Points: 15

The AMGA CWI (American Mountain Guide Assoc, Climbing Wall Instructor) manual for teaching lead-climbing refers to this mistake as "leg behind the rope". calling it "backstepping would be dangerous as it could cause confusion.

Here are other examples of both terms used correctly.

The use of "back step" as a climbing move


https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/climbing-techniques.html#:~:text=Back%20Step,toe%20side)%20of%20your%20shoe.

The use of "leg behind the rope" as a dangerous mistake as a lead climber

https://gripped.com/profiles/three-common-lead-climbing-mistakes-to-avoid/

I hope this is helpful.

Climbing Weasel · · Massachusetts · Joined May 2022 · Points: 0
Christian RodaoBack wrote: "Quitate la pierna de enfrente de la cuerda ó te vas a chingar toda la madre, pendeja!" that should work nicely

Lmaoooo

Tim M · · none · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 293

After climbing gyms took the initiative to further confuse an entire generation of confused as to what rock climbing is climbers using the term “backstep” rather than “move your fkn foot from behind the rope”, I believe the corrected term is “tangle toe”.

Matt Robinson · · Saint Petersburg, FL · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 15

Danger-footing

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Dan Alroy wrote:

I hope this is helpful.

Wasn't this sorted out 8 years ago when it was posted?

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
Dan Alroy wrote:
The use of "leg behind the rope" as a dangerous mistake as a lead climber

Shouldn't it be the other way around - you don't want the rope behind the leg?

Kevin Worrall · · La Jolla, Ca · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 264

Definitely not back stepping

Back slapping perhaps

Rasputin NLN · · fuckin Hawaii · Joined Aug 2018 · Points: 0

When I open long threads started in 2015 i think: "oh the discussion has been going on and off for a couple years". Then I realize 2015 wasn't two years ago. 

Yeah I just tell my partner to watch the rope behind their leg. Often times it's not immediately corrected because it's a hard/scary move, which is exactly when it shouldn't be behind the leg. Most of the time they are too focused to hear commands from the ground, pull thru the hard section then I double down and have them correct it. 

On very easy terrain I don't worry too much about it, but I try to get the rope running correctly as soon as it's convenient.

Colonel Von Spanker · · Santa Cruz, CA · Joined Mar 2022 · Points: 5

Let's collectively coin a new term. 

I propose "Ropadope"

Eric Metzgar · · Pacifica, CA · Joined Jan 2020 · Points: 0

Sorry to have to squirt a stinky drop of reality into the pool of 'historical rock climbing jargon' ... but gyms are now calling this leg-behind-the-rope thing "backstepping." You can hate it all you want, but a sh*t ton of new climbers are learning it this way, i.e. "Watch your backstep!"  The flagging move that you truebloods know as "backstepping" is, in the gyms, now being called "back flagging" (flagging leg behind other) or "inside flagging" (flagging leg steps inside and through other).  But I'm not going to die on this hill. I'll just top rope it.

Kevin Worrall · · La Jolla, Ca · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 264

Sorry to have to squirt a stinky drop of reality into the pool of 'historical rock climbing jargon' ... but gyms are now calling this leg-behind-the-rope thing "backstepping.

Same kooks that think freeclimbing is free soloing.

Then you’ve got “feminists” who think FFA means first female ascent

And the masses that think traditional climbs are trad climbs and they don’t have bolt protection.

Gyms have dumbed down “climbing’s” participants to an average American level. Fortunately, most plastic jockeys are afraid to go rock climbing

Tradiban · · 951-527-7959 · Joined Jul 2020 · Points: 212
Eric Metzgar wrote:

Sorry to have to squirt a stinky drop of reality into the pool of 'historical rock climbing jargon' ... but gyms are now calling this leg-behind-the-rope thing "backstepping." You can hate it all you want, but a sh*t ton of new climbers are learning it this way, i.e. "Watch your backstep!"  The flagging move that you truebloods know as "backstepping" is, in the gyms, now being called "back flagging" (flagging leg behind other) or "inside flagging" (flagging leg steps inside and through other).  But I'm not going to die on this hill. I'll just top rope it.

Good thing there’s people like me and the Warbler to set ‘em straight!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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