Cleaning the Route

In Lead climbing and Sport climbing, "Cleaning the Route" refers to the process of a climber removing all quickdraws and other climbing gear from the rock face after completing the climb. This ensures the equipment is not left behind and the route is returned to its original state for future climbers. The climber usually cleans the route while descending from an anchor point or while being lowered by their belayer.

Examples

In lead climbing and sports climbing, "Cleaning the Route" refers to the process where the climber or a partner removes all quickdraws and gear from the climbing route. Once the climber finishes the route, they often downclimb or are lowered to remove the quickdraws sequentially, ensuring no gear is left behind. This step is essential for maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the climbing area for others. It typically involves unclipping each quickdraw from the bolts and bringing them back down. It's important in both indoor gyms and outdoor sports climbing locations.