Traverse
Origin
Middle English travers, from Anglo-French travers (as in a travers, de travers across), from Latin transversum (as in in transversum set crosswise), neuter of transversus lying across
Definitions
- 1: something that crosses or lies across
- 2: obstacle, adversity
- 3: a formal denial of a matter of fact alleged by the opposing party in a legal pleading
- 4a : a compartment or recess formed by a partition, curtain, or screen
- b : a gallery or loft providing access from one side to another in a large building
- 5: a route or way across or over: as
- a : a zigzag course of a sailing ship with contrary winds
- b : a curving or zigzag way up a steep grade
- c : the course followed in traversing
- 6: the act or an instance of traversing : crossing
- 7: a protective projecting wall or bank of earth in a trench
- 8a : a lateral movement (as of the saddle of a lathe carriage); also : a device for imparting such movement
- b : the lateral movement of a gun about a pivot or on a carriage to change direction of fire
- 9: a line surveyed across a plot of ground
Description
A traverse is a lateral move or route when climbing; going mainly sideways rather than up or down. Traversing a climbing wall is a good warm-up exercise.
When moving laterally, the technique of crossing through is more efficient than shuffling. In this, the limbs are crossed so that the moves are longer and more fluid. The longer extension requires coordination between the hands and the feet to avoid over-extension of the upper or lower part of the body.
If two climbers are roped together for protection, the leader should secure the rope both before and after a difficult move when traversing. This enables the following climber to remove the anchorage before making the difficult move while still having good security from the anchor point which was placed after the move.[1]
