Mobile safety device
In mountain sports, mobile securing devices are those securing devices that can be carried by mountaineers and rock and ice climbers and that can be relatively easily attached to natural rock or ice structures from the climbing position and removed again in order to create securing points for securing a climbing route in a non-permanent manner set up. Mobile safety means are usually climbing the lead climber attached either by the climbers removed or the lead climber rappelling or lowering.
The mobile security devices include:
- Ribbon loops (used as hourglass , tree, head and tooth loops )
- Knot loops (in cracks in the rock , especially in traditional sandstone climbing areas , in which potentially rock-damaging securing devices must not be used)
- Clamping wedges
- Clamping devices
- Ice screws
- Firn anchor (used on steep firn slopes)
Normal hooks that are hammered into cracks in the rock do not count as mobile securing means, since they can only be attached and removed from the climbing position with comparatively considerable effort and generally not. Repeated knocking out of the hooks would also permanently damage or destroy the rock structures used.