Hangdog

In lead climbing and sports climbing, "Hangdog" refers to a climber repeatedly resting on the rope or hanging on the protection. The term often implies that the climber is struggling to complete a route and relies heavily on the rope to take breaks or retry difficult sections. This can be contrasted with a clean ascent, where the climber ascends without resting on the rope.

Examples

In lead climbing and sports climbing, "hangdog" refers to a climber hanging on the rope to rest or work out the moves of a route. For example, if a climber is attempting a challenging route but struggles to find the next hold, they might call "take" to hang on the rope, allowing them to rest and study the climb. This practice can be controversial among purists who prefer climbing routes without taking such rests. A climber working a difficult problem might repeatedly hangdog to practice the most challenging sections before attempting a clean ascent.