Movement Belay Certification Movement Belay Technical Skills and Knowledge 3

Question 1

What is 'back-clipping' and why is it dangerous for a lead climber?

Accepted Answer

Clipping the rope through a quickdraw from back to front so the rope runs behind the carabiner gate, which can cause the gate to open and unclip during a fall

Answer

Back-clipping routes the rope so a fall-generated tug can press the rope into the gate, forcing it open and causing the quickdraw to unclip from the rope.

Question 2

What is 'Z-clipping' in lead climbing and what is the safest way to fix it?

Accepted Answer

Pulling rope from below the last clipped bolt to clip the next one, creating a Z-shape that limits upward movement; fixed by unclipping the lower quickdraw and re-clipping from above

Answer

Z-clipping pulls rope from below the last bolt, pinning the rope in a Z shape that reduces the climber's upward progress and increases fall distance; the fix is to unclip the lower draw.

Question 3

A belayer using an assisted-braking device (e.g., Grigri) must still keep a hand on the brake strand because:

Accepted Answer

Manufacturer guidelines and safety standards require it, as the cam can fail to engage in certain fall scenarios

Answer

No assisted-braking device is fail-proof; conditions such as a slowly weighted rope or improper orientation can prevent cam engagement, so a brake hand is always required.

Question 4

When lowering a climber with a tube-style belay device, which hand control technique should be used?

Accepted Answer

Brake hand slides in short increments, never releasing the rope; guide hand monitors rope feed

Answer

Lowering requires continuous brake-hand contact using short slides to control descent speed, with the guide hand helping feed rope smoothly through the device.

Question 5

What is the purpose of a 'panic check' or pre-climb check (BARK or similar mnemonic) before a lead climb?

Accepted Answer

To systematically confirm belay device setup, knot, harness, and communication are correct before leaving the ground

Answer

A pre-climb check (Buckles, Attachment, Rope, Knot — or similar) catches setup errors before the climber is exposed to fall risk.

Movement Belay Certification Practice Test

Movement Belay Certification Practice Test

Movement Belay Certification Movement Belay Technical Skills and Knowledge 3