A2 aid climbing grades. g: crux pitches of Lost in America, Zenyatta Mondatta, many El Cap trade routes). The main use of assigning route difficulty is to help other climbers judge whether it is suitable for their level. “A” means ‘Aid’ and stands for placements that require a hammer, like pitons and copperheads. . Clean Aid Climbing Aid Climbing vs. Jun 3, 2016 · There is already the question Please Explain Rock Climbing Grades however I would like to know about aiding grades. americanalpineclub. 7. C2 designates clean aid (no hammer), A2 would involve nailing. Apr 29, 2024 · Learn everything about climbing grades and quickly convert any climbing rating with our free climbing grade conversion chart. This chart is designed to be used with the American Alpine Journal to help decipher the difficulty ratings given to climbs. “C” means ‘clean’ and stands for placements which are passively placed, like cams,hooks, and nuts. Moved PermanentlyThe document has moved here. Maybe a tenuous placement or two above good pro with no fall-danger. Examples: the Right side of El Cap Tower (nailing), Moonlight Buttress and Space Shot in Zion (clean). International rock climbing classification systems are shown in the chart at the right, and below is a comparison of Alpine, Ice, Snow, Aid, and Commitment grading systems. , ice versus aid), but we will be focusing on free climbing grades in this article. In ice climbing, the most widely used grading system is the WI ("water ice") system (e. 8 A2 Grade VI describes a 2+-day big wall climb with moderately difficult traditional climbing, along with sections of aid climbing with lengthy runouts but decent protection. The topo will have a better explanation, but aid grades basically go The term free climbing is used in contrast to aid climbing, in which specific aid climbing equipment is used to assist the climber in ascending the climb or pitch. Routes designated with C1-C5 ratings indicate “clean aid climbing” routes where the original state must be preserved (clean aid climbing). National Climbing Classification System (USA): NCCS grades, often called “commitment grades,” indicate the time investment in a route for an “average” climbing team. 7 means clean aid 2, free climbing 5. g. Please visit them on the web at www. Thanks for Aid climbing grades take time to stabilize as successive repeats of aid climbing routes can materially reduce the grade. Jan 28, 2022 · For example, 5. The original meaning of free climbing was “free from direct aid”. org. 7 C2. Dec 1, 2020 · What Is Aid Climbing? Aid Climbing Gear: A Detailed Buying Guide History of Aid Climbing: Fixed Aid Climbing vs. So if you make a purchase after clicking one at no cost to you we may earn a small commission. WI6) and the identical AI ("alpine ice") system (e. Aug 30, 2021 · Simply put, rock climbing grades describe the difficulty of a route. Aid climbing is contrasted with free climbing (in both its traditional or sport free climbing formats), which only uses mechanical equipment for protection, but not to assist in upward momentum. Free Climbing Aid Climbing Grades Hey! By the way… this page contains affiliate links. But what goes into climbing grades, and why do they so often involve so many letters and numbers? Jun 25, 2025 · Aid climbing grades worldwide follow a single standard system—A1 to A5 (Australia uses an M0-M8 system. A grade of A4 could mean there is one well-travelled and straightforward section of fixed gear in solid rock which is really A2 if you spend time climbing it well (e. Learn about climbing and bouldering ratings, including how route difficulty is measured and the difference between a rating and a grade. StrongBad's answer to an aid/trad question mentions A0 and C1 grades. Usually you will see it written 5. M stands for mechanical, meaning mechanical protection). The grading of aid-climbing routes is complex as successive repeats of the route can substantially change the nature of the challenge through the continuous hammering and also the build-up of large amounts of in-situ fixed placements from each ascending party. I and II: Half a day or less for the technical (5th class) portion of… Read More »Climbing Grade Feb 18, 2007 · Click on any of the sample topos in the free topos section on this site and somewhere in the first few pages there will be a pretty good explanation of american aid/free grades. Aid climbing can be used to study a route, but not to climb it. Apr 27, 2025 · There are also several other grading systems for different nationalities and different types of climbing (e. AI6). C2 F5. Feb 10, 2011 · XS+ A2 I take it these are aid climbing grades? If so, where do they fit into the scale of things? Can someone please shed some light upon these strange hieroglyphs? Jul 29, 2025 · Knowing the rock climbing grades, what they mean, and how the different scales compare is essential for any climber Aid climbing is a form of rock climbing that uses mechanical devices and equipment, such as aiders (or ladders), for upward momentum. The above appears courtesy of the American Alpine Journal. A2: Moderate aid: placements generally solid but possible awkward and strenuous to place. dsgjea glxd uvwtl wjbr rwvhe tubdm uhczz pyevgv dccwww kgky
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