Movement Belay Certification Movement Belay Climbing and Belaying Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which part of a carabiner gate is most critical to inspect for wear before each climb?
- The gate spring and locking sleeve
- The spine opposite the gate
- The rope-bearing basket
- The nose and keylock notch (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The nose and keylock notch
The nose and keylock notch are stress points where gate snagging and cross-loading failures most commonly originate.
Question 2: A tube-style belay device is being used in guide mode on a single pitch. What distinguishes guide mode from standard use?
- The rope passes through both slots simultaneously
- The device clips to the anchor and auto-blocks the rope under load (Correct answer)
- The climber's end of the rope feeds faster
- The device must be oriented with the wide slot down
Correct answer: The device clips to the anchor and auto-blocks the rope under load
In guide mode the device is clipped directly to the anchor, and a loaded fall causes the device to pinch the rope and lock automatically.
Question 3: What is the minimum acceptable gate-closed strength rating (kN) for a general-purpose UIAA/CE climbing carabiner?
- 7 kN
- 20 kN (Correct answer)
- 12 kN
- 5 kN
Correct answer: 20 kN
UIAA and CE standards require a minimum major-axis gate-closed strength of 20 kN for general-purpose carabiners.
Question 4: When threading a belay device with a GriGri, the climber's strand must be on which side?
- The left side regardless of hand dominance
- The side marked with the climber icon on the device (Correct answer)
- The brake-hand side to allow better braking
- Either side — orientation does not matter
Correct answer: The side marked with the climber icon on the device
GriGri devices have a diagram showing which strand goes toward the climber; loading it reversed disables the cam mechanism.
Question 5: A dynamic climbing rope's dry treatment is most important in which condition?
- Hot, dry desert sport climbing
- Indoor gym bouldering sessions
- Wet or icy alpine and ice climbing routes (Correct answer)
- Single-pitch trad routes in summer
Correct answer: Wet or icy alpine and ice climbing routes
Wet ropes can absorb water, dramatically reducing impact force absorption and increasing fall forces; dry treatment repels moisture in wet or icy conditions.
Question 6: Which helmet construction type is generally lightest and offers the best ventilation for warm conditions?
- Hardshell ABS plastic
- Hybrid foam-and-shell
- In-mold EPS foam (Correct answer)
- Full carbon-fiber composite
Correct answer: In-mold EPS foam
In-mold EPS helmets fuse the shell directly to foam, reducing weight and allowing larger ventilation ports compared to hardshell designs.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the sewn loop (tie-in points) on a harness belay loop?
- It is a backup attachment point if the main belay loop fails
- It distributes load between the waist belt and leg loops during a fall (Correct answer)
- It is used to clip the rope directly for top-rope climbing
- It marks the center of the harness for sizing purposes
Correct answer: It distributes load between the waist belt and leg loops during a fall
The belay loop is a continuous sewn loop that connects the waist belt and leg loops, distributing fall forces across both structural elements.
Movement Belay Certification Movement Belay Climbing and Belaying Equipment 2
Which part of a carabiner gate is most critical to inspect for wear before each climb?